Kronan (1668) | Timeline

Kronan, also called Stora Kronan, was a Swedish warship that served as the flagship of the Swedish Navy in the Baltic Sea in the 1670s. When built, she was one of the largest seagoing vessels in the world. The construction of Kronan lasted from 1668 to 1672 and was delayed by difficulties with financing and conflicts between the shipwright Francis Sheldon and the Swedish admiralty. After four years of service, the ship foundered in rough weather at the Battle of Öland on 1 June 1676: while making a sharp turn under too much sail she capsized, and the gunpowder magazine ignited and blew off most of the bow. Kronan sank quickly, taking about 800 men and more than 100 guns with her, along with valuable military equipment, weapons, personal items, and large quantities of silver and gold coins. (Intro from Wikipedia)

October 1(?), 1665 - Skeppsholmen, Stockholm, Sweden - The keel of the Kronan is laid down by Master Shipwright Francis Sheldon

July 31, 1668 - Skeppsholmen, Stockholm - The "Kronan" is launched =(START)

January(?) 1(?), 1669 - Skeppsholmen - Sculptures by Master Sculptor Jost Schütz are finished.

January(?) 1(?), 1672 - Skeppsholmen - After being rigged and armed with 124 guns, Kronan is Commissioned

December 18, 1672 - Skeppsholmen - The ship sails for the first time during the celebrations of King Charles XI's majority

October 1(?), 1675 - Dalarö, SE of Stockholm - Departs from the Dalarö anchorage in a fleet of 28 ships, that included the ships-of-the-line "Svärdet", the "Äpplet" and the "Nyckeln", under the command of Gustaf Otto Stenbock

November(?) 1(?), 1675 - Stora Karlsö, off Gotland - The fleet turns back at Stora Karlsö due to the weather being stormy and unusually cold, with many sailors falling ill

December(?) 1(?), 1675 - Dalarö - Returns to the Dalarö anchorage

January 23, 1676 - Dalarö - The fleet is blocked by ice when it reaches Dalarö

February 14, 1676 - Älvsnabben, Muskö - The fleet reaches the anchorage of Älvsnabben, with the help of hundreds of local peasants, that open a narrow channel through the ice with saws and picks

April 29, 1676 - While at Älvsnabben, Muskö - Danish Admiral Niels Juel arrives at Gotland with 20 ships and lands troops on the island, which surrenders

May 4, 1676 - Älvsnabben - Admiral Lorentz Creutz receives orders to intercept Niels Juel at Gotland, but the winds are adverse

May 19, 1676 - Älvsnabben - The fleet finally leaves Älvsnabben

May 24, 1676 - between the islands of Bornholm and Rügen - Both fleets sight each other

May 25, 1676 - between the islands of Bornholm and Rügen - Battle of Bornholm - Strategic Danish-Dutch victory

May 26, 1676 - between the islands of Bornholm and Rügen - During the battle, Kronan's heavy cannons destroy the beakhead of Philip van Almonde's flagship "Delft", which is forced to disengage

May 27(?), 1676 - Trelleborg, Sweden - The swedish fleet anchors at Trelleborg, where king Charles XI was waiting with new orders to recapture the Island of Gotland

May 30, 1676 - Trelleborg - The swedish fleet departs to the island of Öland. A short while after, the danish fleet pursues the swedes

June 1, 1676 - East coast of Öland, Sweden - Battle of Öland - Decisive Danish-Dutch victory. 

Battle of Öland - The Kronan explodes

In rough weather, as the swedish fleet sharply turns to attempt to engage the allied fleet before it sailed past the northern end of Öland, Kronan turns to port with too much sail and heels so far over that she begins to flood through the open gunports and capsizes. For unknown reasons, the gunpowder store ignites and Kronan explodes, killing 800 men =(END)