Svärdet

Svärdet (Swedish: "the sword") was a Swedish warship that sank on 1 June 1676 at the Battle of Öland during the Scanian War under the command of Claes Uggla. Svärdet was surrounded early in the battle, and fought for two hours until her main mast was destroyed and the ship surrendered. Before the surrounding enemies could board Svärdet, a Dutch fireship accidentally set her ablaze. The fire eventually reached the gunpowder store, which set off an explosion that sank the ship. Only about 50 of a crew of nearly 650 men survived.

On 15 November 2011, it was announced that a wreck believed to be Svärdet had been found by divers off the island coast of Öland.

General characteristics

 * Displacement: 1700 tonnes
 * Length: 47.5 meters
 * Width: 12.5 meters
 * Armament: 86 cannons
 * 12 36-pounders (lower gun deck)
 * 4 30-pounders (lower gun deck)
 * 14 24-pounders (lower gun deck)
 * 26 12-pounders (upper gun deck)
 * 4 8-pounders (upper gun deck)
 * 20 8-pounders (weather deck)
 * 6 3-pounders (weather deck)
 * Crew: 650 (both sailors and soldiers)