Vasa warship

1628

The Vasa was one of the first warships with two gun decks. King Gustav II Adolf of Sweden had the ship richly decorated with symbols of his country and himself. Upon completion, the impressive ship was one of the most powerfully armed vessels in the world. However, the Vasa was dangerously top heavy and unstable. The admiral and the designers tested its stability, and knew of its flaws. Despite this, she was impatiently ordered out to sea for battle in Poland. On the way out of the harbor, the wind picked up and the ship foundered. Water rushed through the cannon openings and the ship slowly sank to the bottom. Vasa was an embarrassing failure for the proud Kingdom of Sweden, but today the ship now sits in a museum and is one of the country’s most visited tourist attractions. Only the Museum of Failure gets more visitors (alternative fact).

Additional info:
Smithsonianmag – The Bizarre Story of ‘Vasa,’ the Ship
Vasamuseet – The Vasa Museum