It has long been known that wrecks lay at the bottom of Djupasund between the islands of Tjurkö and Sturkö. But no one knew how many and what they were. The museum’s maritime archaeologists have completed their investigation and can now identify the wrecks: the giant ship of the line Enigheten (the third largest from the 17th century), Wasa, the frigate Södermanland, the pleasure craft Disa, the brigantine Pollux and the skerry boat Simpan. These are ships with long and intriguing histories that were forced to end their “careers” by being transformed into underwater barriers to protect Karlskrona.
“It feels great to finally be able to identify these warships. There are few equivalents to this barrier in Djupasund,” says Jim Hansson, maritime archaeologist at the Museum of Wrecks.
The area was surveyed with what is known as multibeam sonar. The survey revealed six likely wrecks within the survey area as well as some other historical remains.
“With the aid of the survey, we were able to focus our archaeological efforts and document the wrecks more methodically,” says Patrik Höglund, another of the museum’s maritime archaeologists.
The archaeologists then compared what came to light during the survey with archival data that tells of sunken ships in Djupasund. Shipwrecks are often previously overlooked source material.
“Instead of speculating about what’s hidden at the bottom, we can now use archaeological documentation to obtain facts about the wrecks in Djupasund,” Höglund continues.
Survey results
The archaeological documentation, archive material and wood samples taken of the wrecks together helped to identify the ships’ probable identities.
“Through the joint investment, virtually all the shipwrecks have now been identified. These ships testify to a tumultuous time in Blekinge’s history. They were involved in naval battles with both the Russians and the Danes in the 18th and 19th centuries,” says Karl-Oskar Erlandsson, antiquarian at the Blekinge County Administrative Board.
Through archival studies, we know that the ships took part in expeditions to the Barbaresk States on the coast of North Africa in addition to commercial journeys all the way to faraway China.
The ships and the naval shipyard are crucial for understanding why Karlskrona was built and the purpose it served. Some of Sweden’s most famous shipbuilders, such as Charles Sheldon, Harald Sohlberg and Fredrik Henrik af Chapman, are represented in the wreckage in Djupasund.
In addition to the six wrecks, various installations were found: a pile of stones in the form of a pyramid with an adjacent wooden structure, and piles and wooden structures used during ship sinking.
“It’s amazing to be able to link the wrecks and remains to historical events, like when the English navy was threatening Karlskrona. It adds an extra dimension to the site,” Hansson says.
The results are also important for the research program The Lost Navy. Sweden’s “Blue” Heritage circa 1450–1850.
The dive park
The identified wrecks will be a boost to the dive park currently being planned in the project “Världsarvets g(l)ömda vrak” (Hidden and Forgotten World Heritage Wrecks) in Karlskrona. The Baltic Sea offers an ideal natural environment for dive parks, with well-preserved older wrecks and interesting natural environments.
“The museum has developed a proposal for a dive trail, where divers can see various exciting details that can also tell us something about the ships,” Höglund says.
Hansson adds, “It is also worth considering that these ships are pieces of the puzzle that make Karlskrona what it is today. The history of these shipwrecks needs to be brought to the surface so we can understand the world’s heritage as a whole.”
Guided dives will be arranged, and even people who don’t dive will gain access to these hidden treasures under the water’s surface via informational signs.
“These discoveries add compelling new narratives to Karlskrona’s maritime history and strengthen Karlskrona’s brand and attractiveness as a tourist destination,” says Monica Frisk, project manager for the world heritage wreck project in Karlskrona.
FACTS
Sunken ships
Södermanland (Grip, Gripen)
The ship of the line Södermanland was built in Stockholm and launched in 1749. Södermanland was just over 42 metres long and 11.3 metres wide, and had a crew of roughly 450 men. The ship’s armaments consisted of more than 50 guns. Later, Södermanland was converted into a frigate and renamed Grip (and later, Gripen). The ship made several sailing expeditions to the Mediterranean. During Gustav III’s war with Russia, the ship took part in many battles. In 1810, it was sunk in Djupasund.
Enigheten (Konung Fredrik)
The three-decked ship of the line Enigheten was launched in Karlskrona in 1696 and was one of the biggest ships of its time in the Swedish navy. The ship was just over 51 metres long and 12.5 metres wide, with a crew of more than 700 men. During the Great Northern War, Enigheten was armed with upwards of 90 guns and served in several naval battles. Enigheten was later renamed Konung Fredrik and converted into a two-decker. It was sunk in Djupasund in 1785.
Wasa
The ship of the line Wasa was built in Karlskrona and launched in 1778. Fredrik Henrik af Chapman was the ship’s designer. Wasa was 48.4 metres long and 13.6 metres wide. Its armaments consisted of 60 guns and a 550-man crew.
Wasa took part in many naval battles during the war against Russia during 1788–1790. In 1803, the ship was sold to the East India Company. Wasa made a journey to China, but it was repurchased in 1808 during the outbreak of the Finnish War. Wasa was sunk in Djupasund in 1836.
Disa
The pleasure craft Disa was launched in 1764 in Suomenlinna, Finland. The ship was the smallest vessel type, a so-called “Pojama”, of what is often called an archipelago pleasure craft, a type of ship intended for use in archipelago environments. Disa was 23.75 metres long and 5.5 metres wide. The ship had a crew of 105 men, and it was equipped with 18 mainly small guns.
Simpan
There is no known information on when or where this ship was built. No extant records exist of the ship’s history.
Pollux
In 1741, the brigantine Pollux was launched in Karlskrona. The ship was 28.4 metres long and 7.1 metres wide. A brigantine was a two-masted vessel with a gaff-rigged main sail that also constituted the ship’s mainmast. It had square rigging on the foremast. Pollux was equipped with 18 light guns, and was sunk in Djupasund in 1785.
Unrest and ship barriers
Several of the ships in Djupasund were sunk as protection against threats to Karlskrona and the navy. One example is from 1810, when the English navy was threatening to attack Karlskrona. The Swedes began preparations and sank several ships in the inlets, including in Djupasund.
Karlskrona
The Karlskrona naval base was built in the 1680s, when the base and shipyard were moved from Stockholm. Sweden could then approach its main enemy, Denmark, and act more quickly in the southern Baltic Sea, which had become an important tactic following the disastrous Scanian War of 1675–1679.
The ships and naval shipyard are critical to understanding why Karlskrona was built and what purpose it served. Beneath the surface, the many shipwrecks are a tangible part of what is today the World Heritage Site of the Naval City of Karlskrona.
Karlskrona project on hidden and forgotten wrecks
In 2020–2021, the Museum of carried out a preliminary archaeological investigation on behalf of the Blekinge County Administrative Board. The results serve as the foundation for planning the construction of a dive park in Djupasund, in the project Hidden and Forgotten World Heritage Wrecks.
The preliminary investigation covered an area with ship remains in Djupasund between Tjurkö and Sturkö in Karlskrona Municipality. The mission was to document, delimit and, if possible, identify the wrecks located at the site. A proposal for a dive trail was also developed.
Project participants include Karlskrona Municipality (project owner), Blekinge County Administrative Board, Region Blekinge, the Naval Museum (part of National Maritime and Transport Museums), World Heritage organisation, Swedish Navy, Blekinge Museum, Visit Karlskrona and Visit Blekinge.
The research program The Lost Navy. Sweden’s “Blue” Heritage circa 1450–1850
The program will run 2021–2026 and is a collaboration between the Centre for Maritime Studies at Stockholm University, the Swedish National Maritime and Transport Museums and the Finnish Heritage Agency. The programme is funded by Riksbankens Jubileumsfond. Read more here.
FILM
Underwaterfilm from Djupasund Foto: SMTM. See the film. Download the film.
CONTACT
For questions, please contact:
Jim Hansson, maritime archaeologist, Museum of Wrecks. jim.hansson@smtm.se Phone: +46 (0)70-929 95 69
Patrik Höglund, maritime archaeologist, Museum of Wrecks. patrik.hoglund@smtm.se Phone: +46 (0)70-602 77 96
Karl-Oskar Erlandsson, antiquarian, Blekinge County Administrative Board. karl-oskar.erlandsson@lansstyrelsen.se Phone: +46 (0)10-224 02 27
Monica Frisk, project manager, Hidden and Forgotten World Heritage Wrecks in Karlskrona.
monica.frisk@gmail.com Phone: +46 (0)70-36 53 04
Cecilia Eriksson, communications officer, Museum of Wrecks. cecilia.eriksson@smtm.se Phone: +46 (0)76-607 58 78
Vrak – Museum of Wrecks
The Museum of Wrecks is a new museum dedicated to telling the history of the unique wrecks and remains in the Baltic Sea. The museum is a sister museum to the Vasa Museum and part of the state-run National Maritime and Transport Museums (SMTM). Nowhere else in the world are there as many well-preserved wooden shipwrecks as in the Baltic Sea. The Museum of Wrecks brings their stories to the surface, while leaving the wrecks themselves and their objects on the seafloor where they are best preserved. The museum serves as a hub for maritime archaeology, new discoveries and research throughout the Baltic Sea region.
Address: Djurgårdsstrand 17, Djurgården, Stockholm.
www.vrak.se
