Swedish Divers Discovered 17th-Century Warship Applet

Marine archaeologists from Sweden have discovered a 17th-century shipwreck. The warship dubbed Äpplet (Apple) is the long-lost sister vessel of the warship Vasa, which reportedly sank off Stockholm in 1628.

A well-known marine archaeologist named Jim Hansson, Museum of Wrecks, said it was exceptionally well preserved when they reached the wreck. They also saw that the hull had been sticking up from the seabed about 7–8 meters, so they were swimming around on the lower gun deck.

But they also have remains from the upper gun deck, and those from the vessel timbers high up in the stern were compared with Vasa, so the whole vessel seems to be there, and they could also swim up on the inside of the hull within the stern and look out on the highest gun ports. It was thrilling when they witnessed the scenario and the excellent condition of the shipwreck.

Launched in 1629, the Apple was constructed by the shipbuilder who reportedly oversaw building the Vasa ship. The Vasa is known as the world’s best-preserved 17th-century ship. Jim Hansson, a Marine archaeologist associated with the Museum of Wrecks, said they had not found anything that points to a different vessel. Everything they see, the dating, and the analysis suggest that it is Apple. Hansson mentions that Apple will stay on the seabed, where it’s better safeguarded.