Posted in Naval & Aviation History

Swedish Ship Model Vasa 1/65 (II): History of the Unlucky Warship

wLearn about the history of Vasa ship in this post and build the spectacular wooden model of this Swedish warship at 1/65 scale. The Vasa was the flagship of the Swedish crown and empire. Or pretended to be. This is so because a kilometer and a half of being launched at the port of Stockholm, in August 10th 1628, it sank due to its instability.

History of Vasa Ship. Swedish Wooden Warship Model Vasa 1/65.

WHY AND HOW DID VASA VESSEL SINK?

How did such a great vessel sink in its first voyage? The history of Vasa ship is curious. The Vasa carried a lot of cargo, and not being well stowed so, after a strong gust of wind, it moved to the other side of the warship, thus worsening the capsizing of Swedish naval history benchmark.

Everything happened, according to some investigations, by the impatience of King Gustavus II because of the delays, as it was possible to verify, nobody contradicted him and the ship was launched with the known result.

History of Vasa Ship. Swedish Wooden Warship Model Vasa 1/65.

Other studies assert that the Vasa was designed as a smaller ship than it was after, mainly because of the incorporation of a second battery of cannons, already begun its construction. It seems that, for example, the embrasures were too close to the water, so the entry of the sea to the ship was more feasible; the ship was too tall in relation to its beam; and its center of gravity, therefore, was very high.

Once launched in port of Stockholm, the water began to enter through the embrasures of the cannons lower line. Fifteen minutes later the boat was already at the bottom of the sea. Not because of a strong gust of wind, because there was only a small breeze, but really because of the bad design of the Vasa ship.

HISTORY OF VASA SHIP. NAVIGATION AND ARTILLERY POWER

To boost its naval artillery, the aforementioned monarch ordered the Vasa to be built with 64 bronze cannons arranged in three different bridges. The upper one, the high battery and the low battery. In addition to endowing it with a great power to move 1,200 tons.

Real image of the Swedish ship, exhibited in the Vasa Museum in Stockholm.

This great vessel was built along with three others by order of King Gustavus II. He wanted to have some more advanced war resources on the Thirty Years War against Poland. A large one more, like Vasa size, called Tre Kronor -Three Crowns- and two more of smaller size.

History of Vasa Ship. Swedish Wooden Warship Model Vasa 1/65.

Now, the most expert modelers can assemble the most faithful historical replica in the market thanks to the Vasa modeling kit, designed and manufactured by Artesania Latina.

More info about Vasa warship modeling kit, click here.

History of Vasa Ship. Swedish Wooden Warship Model Vasa 1/65.

More info about the history of this vessel, click here.

 

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