Svärdet (1662) | Timeline

Svärdet (Sword) was a Swedish warship and flagship built under the supervision of shipwright Jacob de Voss. It was launched in 1662 at Skeppsholmen, Stockholm, and was armed with 86 guns in two decks. The ship's complement was 400 sailors and 220 soldiers. The Svärdet was destroyed by the dutch navy in the Battle of Öland (1676), exploding similarly to the Kronan, which was lost on the same battle, shortly before.

January(?) 1(?), 1660 - Skeppsholmen, Stockholm, Sweden - The keel of the Svärdet is laid down by Master shipwright Jacob de Voss

January(?) 1(?), 1662 - Skeppsholmen - The Svärdet is launched =(START)

January(?) 1(?), 1663 - Skeppsholmen - The ship is Commissioned

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 "Kronan", 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 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 - After the Kronan explodes, the Svärdet is surrounded by allied ships, including Cornelis Tromp's and Niels Juel's flagships. When they are about to grapple and board the swedish ship, a dutch fireship sets her ablaze. The fire reaches the gunpowder stores and the ship also explodes, killing 600 men. Only 50 survive =(END)