Swedish warship Mars

Drawing of Mars by Jacob Hägg.
History
Sweden
Launched: 1564
Fate: Sank in 1564, location confirmed in 2011
General characteristics
Tonnage: Displacement 1800 tonnes
Tons burthen: 700 tons
Length:
Beam: 45.5 Swedish Feet (13.5 metres)
Propulsion: Sails
Crew: 350 sailors, 450 soldiers
Armament: 107 guns
Notes: Source for dimensions & Tonnage: "Swedish Unrated Warship Mars (1563", Three Decks - Warships in the Age of Sail

Mars, also known as Makalös ("peerless; astounding") was a Swedish warship that was built between 1563 and 1564. It was the leading ship of king Eric XIV of Sweden's fleet, and at 48 meters[1] and equipped with 107 guns it was one of the largest warships of the time, even larger than the famous Swedish ship Vasa. In 1564, during the Northern Seven Years' War, the ship caught fire and exploded during the first battle of Öland in the Baltic Sea.

Wreck location

On 19 August 2011, it was announced that the shipwreck of Mars was possibly found by a team of divers, at a depth of 75 meters and around 18.5 kilometers north of Öland, after several years of research.[2] Although not examined by archaeologists yet, in a statement by technical diver Richard Lundgren, it was announced that "Everything suggests that it is indeed the Mars that we have found".[3]

On 1 November 2011, it was announced that the shipwreck had been confirmed to be Mars. According to Richard Lundgren, one of the divers who discovered the wreck, unique ship cannons had been identified along with "other findings" which confirmed the identity.[4]

References

  1. ↑ "Swedish Unrated Warship Mars (1563", Three Decks - Warships in the Age of Sail
  2. ↑ Martin, Rebecca (19 August 2011). "'New Vasa' shipwreck found on Baltic seabed". The Local. Retrieved 20 August 2011.
  3. ↑ "Shipwreck of 16th-century Swedish vessel found in Baltic". Calgary Herald. Agence France-Presse. 20 August 2011. Retrieved 20 August 2011.
  4. ↑ Holgersson, Jonatan (1 November 2011). "Mars är identifierat". Barometern Oskarshamns-Tidningen (in Swedish). Retrieved 19 November 2011.

Coordinates: 57°08′25″N 17°20′56″E / 57.14028°N 17.34889°E / 57.14028; 17.34889

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