To discover a ship with a reputation and historical value as the
Svärdet would indeed be a major marine archeological breakthrough
and would once again prove the Baltic seas unprecedented treasures
in marine historical heritage. The general public has shown a huge
interest in these old ships and the Wasa museum has to this date
been visited by 90 million persons. The Kronan museum in Kalmar
is also popular, drawing a huge public every year. Numerous TV documentaries
have aired over the world.
What we intend to contribute with is simply to ad even more thrills
to the public by giving them the true hero Clas Uggla´s mighty
admiralship "Svärdet" that was sent to the bottom
after hours of intense and furious naval battle totally surrounded
by numerous Danish and Dutch battleships. We intend to find the
wreck site and by using video give the public a rare opportunity
to step right into the events of the disastrous first day of June
1676 and the fate of the famous admiral ship.
The admiral ship Svärdet
For a long time we have been in the
process off gathering all sorts of information concerning the fate
of the Svärdet. We have accessed old naval archives and studied
old transcripts and intervjued several authorities in the field of
marine archeology and 17th century history. Our research together
with our vast experience and state of the art survey equipment has
made us confident that we have a unique opportunity to locate the
wreck.
By putting together all the information we have been able to make
a time frame of the Svärdets last hours:
Situation:
Wind: The wind was a stable West South West gale on the morning
of the 1st of June 1646. Gale would translate into 12 to 15 meters
per second.
Abstract: The Swedish fleet was being chased by the Danish and Dutch
armada. The Swedes chose to sail as close to the shores of Öland
as they dared. The enemy sailed more to the east and overtook the
Swedish ships using the wind. The Swedish fleet was more than likely
sailing as proclaimed by the Swedish admiralty sail order regulations
written 1676. This indicates that the Svärdet was in front of
the Cronan thus further north at this time.
11.00 Admiral Uggla commanding the Svärdet
notices the Danish /Dutch fleet overtaking to the east. He fires a
signal shot with his canon commanding his ships in front to close
formations.
Admiral Creutz, the commander of the entire Swedish fleet aboard the
Cronan misunderstood the signal and ordered his ship to be turned
hard south even though he had full sails and open canon ports.
Uggla, on the Svärdet, noticed his commander's mistake and turns
his ship south to aid in an attempt to avoid a total disaster.
Cronan lists heavily due to the hard turn and takes in water through
the canon ports. Fire broke lose and the powder stored in the lower
decks ignited and she explodes and starts to sink.
During his turn south Uggla almost collides with the sinking Cronan
and has to turn "away wind". This move confused the rest
of the Swedish fleet and led to chaos and disorder in the lines. This
information indicates that the Sword was straight over the Cronan
wreck site, a position known by us, at approximately 11.00.
12.00 After only a short time the Svärdet
is completely surrounded by three Danish and Dutch admiral ships and
an intense and furious battle follows. During this an hour and a half
the Svärdet got her mast and sails blown away and takes three
canon blasts under the water line. Uggla can no longer maneuver the
ship as he likes and are now in the hands of the Danes and Dutch enemy
as the ship drifts by wind, waves and the current.
14.00 A Dutch fire ship manages to hock itself onto the hull of the
Svärdet and fire broke loose. Uggla does not command his crew
to fight the fire. He did not want to let the enemy take over the
mighty ship. Instead he intended to go down with her.
16.00 Finaly the Svärdet explodes,
breaks up in two and sinks.