Lost 17th-century warship found in Sweden
Swedish maritime archeologists have discovered the long lost sister ship of the iconic 17th-century warship "Vasa", which sank on its maiden voyage, the Swedish Museum of Wrecks said.
Launched in 1629, "Applet" was built by the same shipbuilder as the famed 69-metre "Vasa", which was carrying 64 cannons when it sank.
"Our pulses raced when we saw how similar the wreck was to Vasa," said Jim Hansson, maritime archaeologist at the museum.
The huge shipwreck was discovered in December 2021 in a strait off the island of Vaxholm just outside the capital, Stockholm, according to the museum.
Hansson said the construction and the dimensions seemed "very familiar" to them, sparking hope it could be one of Vasa's sister ships.
While parts of the ship's sides had fallen off, the hull was preserved up to the lower gundeck, and the parts that had fallen off showed gunports on two levels.
A more thorough survey of the wreck was carried out in the spring of 2022, which revealed ship details that had previously only been seen on the Vasa.
The museum said technical details as well as measurements and wood samples confirmed that it was "indeed Applet, Vasa's sister ship."
Named after one of Sweden's kings, "Vasa" was originally meant to serve as a symbol of Sweden's military might but instead capsized after sailing just over 1,000 metres.
It was salvaged in 1961 and is currently on display at the Vasa Museum in Stockholm, one of Sweden's most popular tourist spots.
