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Vasa
Vasa var det modernaste krigsskepp som kunde tänkas år 1628. Vid den här tiden höll krigsskepp med flera kanondäck och enorm eldkraft på att slå igenom i Nordeuropa, som samtidigt plågades av ett av sina värsta storkrig, trettioåriga kriget. Geniala innovationer blandades med misslyckanden. För Sveriges del kom både teknologi och kapital från holländarna. Det var med deras hjälp som Sverige slog in på vägen mot stormakten.
Boken presenterar ny kunskap om Vasa och människorna kring skeppet. Men även historien om Vasa som vrak behöver skrivas på nytt, liksom berättelsen om bärgningen. Var skeppet någonsin glömt?
Boken är en skildring på vetenskaplig grund. Unika fotograferingar och historiska rekonstruktioner har gjorts speciellt för boken, som är skriven av Vasamuseets ledande kännare Fred Hocker i samarbete med Klas Helmerson, tidigare museichef.
Boken presenterar ny kunskap om Vasa och människorna kring skeppet. Men även historien om Vasa som vrak behöver skrivas på nytt, liksom berättelsen om bärgningen. Var skeppet någonsin glömt?
Boken är en skildring på vetenskaplig grund. Unika fotograferingar och historiska rekonstruktioner har gjorts speciellt för boken, som är skriven av Vasamuseets ledande kännare Fred Hocker i samarbete med Klas Helmerson, tidigare museichef.
- GenresHistoryNonfiction
212 pages, Hardcover
First published November 30, 2011
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48 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
September 13, 2013
Two months ago my wife I found ourselves in Stockholm, Sweden. During our time in the city we visited one of the most extraordinary museums we have ever experienced, the Vasa Museum. Housed inside this enormous structure was a Swedish ship, the Vasa that was built under the reign of Gustavas Adolphus in the 1620s. The ship had a very short lifespan, despite the fact that it was commissioned by the Swedish monarch to fill the role as the jewel of the Swedish navy during the Thirty Year’s War. For the king the ship “would be a new milestone in his and the country’s journey from the European backwoods to the forefront of the international stage. (47)
Expectations were high on August 10, 1628 when the Vasa was launched. However after sailing about one nautical mile it heeled too far to the port side and sank as water filled the gunports below. I was fascinated by the history of the ship and how it was built and was amazed that after 300 years underwater it could be salvaged and become the focus of such a wonder museum. As a committed “bookaholic” I went to the museum shop and found what I was looking for, a history of the entire project, both past and present in Fred Hocker’s VASA: A SWEDISH WARSHIP.
Mr. Hocker begins his narrative by providing insights into the imperial rivalries of the 17th century that culminated in the Thirty Year’s War (1618-1648). I was surprised to learn that at that time Sweden controlled Lithuania and Finland and their main rival, Denmark controlled Norway, Skane (the site of Henning Mankell’s mystery series!), and Gotland. The author provides a detailed discussion as to how the Vasa was built including copies of the contracts, ledger entries, and a breakdown of all materials purchased to create such an imposing structure. What was amazing to me was that “trees had to be selected carefully, so the natural curves would suit the eventual shape of the timber as close as possible.” (42) Oak trees were chosen by the “Forest Master” for the ship’s hull, and pine for the decks. Over 1000 trees were needed to build the ship, but thousands more were used for fuel to create the necessary bolts, nails, and anchors.
The Vasa was Gustavas Adolphus’ plan to develop a navy strong enough to make the Baltic a “Swedish lake.” The Vasa was a multi-cultural project as is exemplified by the ethnic heritage of those who built her, i.e., Swedes, Danes, Dutch, German and English. The ships name, carvings, and color reflect the glory of the king and its subjects represented throughout the ship leads one to Ancient Rome and highlights the Renaissance influence in Northern Europe. Meticulous detail is evident on each carving and sculpture putting forth its own message and all were painted with colorful pigments. Hocker does a wonderful job explaining the types of sails the ship employed and other technical aspects of how the ship would be powered, steered and set on its proper course.
The author ‘s description of all aspects of life on board allows the reader to imagine that they were present for the first voyage. Whether a discussion of the crew’s clothing, living quarters, the food they ingested, health issues and a myriad of other details one gets the feeling that the clock has been turned back to 1628 and you are on deck as the Vasa is plowing the water of the Baltic Sea.
The tragic sinking of the Vasa in August, 1628 resulted in 30 deaths including women and children. The major reason for the calamity was that the decks were overbuilt and its reinforcing timbers created a poor weight distribution. The hull itself was too heavily built above the waterline and the underwater portion of the ship was to small for the amount of hull above the waterline. In simple terms, the gun decks were farther above the waterline than necessary. An immediate inquest was summoned and it concluded that the admiralty actually knew in advance that the ships design was flawed. The result was that the ship was too narrow at the bottom and it should have been built wider and deeper. No one was personally blamed, but the Captain and others “lacked the courage to tell the king that his glorious ship, named for his family was an accident waiting to happen.” (141) The significance of the Vasa was that it had a major impact on future naval construction as Hocker points out that “her loss was tragic but necessary element in building up the knowledge needed for the development of the ship of the line, the pinnacle of naval technology for nearly two centuries.” (155)
Hocker describes numerous attempts to raise the the ship over the next half century, but all ended in failure though they did recover 61 out of the 64 cannons, most of which were sold as salvage to the Danes who then would use them against Sweden in the Scanian War of the 1770s! The Vasa would remain under water until it was rediscovered by a diver, Per Edvin Falting on September 4, 1956. During the next five years preparations were made to salvage the Vasa and bring her to the surface. Employing the latest technology the Swedish navy and many private companies worked to float the ship on pontoons to recover her. On April 4, 1961 the Vasa broke the surface and ten days later she was completely afloat. The author provides the engineering details with diagrams to supplement the text so even the “nautical novice” would understand the complexity of the task. Experienced Archaeologists were brought in to excavate the Vasa and over 30,000 artifacts ranging from human skeltons, tools, guns, and other equipment were studied. These artifacts have given us a very accurate picture of what life was like during 17th century Sweden. Once the Vasa was floated the decision was made to preserve her and build a museum to house the ship. Hocker describes the process of preserving the Vasa, caring for the artifacts, and the technological process of moving the ship into its new home and building a museum around it that includes numerous exhibits. The museum opened in 1990 and over one million people visit annually to witness a 60 meter structure, 7 stories high enclosed in a weather controlled environment that has taken a moment of history and frozen it in time. (198) The book is fascinating for its narrative, but also for its diagrams which makes the complexity of what is being described understandable for the maritime laymen. I recommend this book to anyone with an interest in maritime history, engineering, technology, or just a wonderful adventure story. Lastly, if you are ever is Stockholm you must put the Vasa Museum on your list of places to visit.
Expectations were high on August 10, 1628 when the Vasa was launched. However after sailing about one nautical mile it heeled too far to the port side and sank as water filled the gunports below. I was fascinated by the history of the ship and how it was built and was amazed that after 300 years underwater it could be salvaged and become the focus of such a wonder museum. As a committed “bookaholic” I went to the museum shop and found what I was looking for, a history of the entire project, both past and present in Fred Hocker’s VASA: A SWEDISH WARSHIP.
Mr. Hocker begins his narrative by providing insights into the imperial rivalries of the 17th century that culminated in the Thirty Year’s War (1618-1648). I was surprised to learn that at that time Sweden controlled Lithuania and Finland and their main rival, Denmark controlled Norway, Skane (the site of Henning Mankell’s mystery series!), and Gotland. The author provides a detailed discussion as to how the Vasa was built including copies of the contracts, ledger entries, and a breakdown of all materials purchased to create such an imposing structure. What was amazing to me was that “trees had to be selected carefully, so the natural curves would suit the eventual shape of the timber as close as possible.” (42) Oak trees were chosen by the “Forest Master” for the ship’s hull, and pine for the decks. Over 1000 trees were needed to build the ship, but thousands more were used for fuel to create the necessary bolts, nails, and anchors.
The Vasa was Gustavas Adolphus’ plan to develop a navy strong enough to make the Baltic a “Swedish lake.” The Vasa was a multi-cultural project as is exemplified by the ethnic heritage of those who built her, i.e., Swedes, Danes, Dutch, German and English. The ships name, carvings, and color reflect the glory of the king and its subjects represented throughout the ship leads one to Ancient Rome and highlights the Renaissance influence in Northern Europe. Meticulous detail is evident on each carving and sculpture putting forth its own message and all were painted with colorful pigments. Hocker does a wonderful job explaining the types of sails the ship employed and other technical aspects of how the ship would be powered, steered and set on its proper course.
The author ‘s description of all aspects of life on board allows the reader to imagine that they were present for the first voyage. Whether a discussion of the crew’s clothing, living quarters, the food they ingested, health issues and a myriad of other details one gets the feeling that the clock has been turned back to 1628 and you are on deck as the Vasa is plowing the water of the Baltic Sea.
The tragic sinking of the Vasa in August, 1628 resulted in 30 deaths including women and children. The major reason for the calamity was that the decks were overbuilt and its reinforcing timbers created a poor weight distribution. The hull itself was too heavily built above the waterline and the underwater portion of the ship was to small for the amount of hull above the waterline. In simple terms, the gun decks were farther above the waterline than necessary. An immediate inquest was summoned and it concluded that the admiralty actually knew in advance that the ships design was flawed. The result was that the ship was too narrow at the bottom and it should have been built wider and deeper. No one was personally blamed, but the Captain and others “lacked the courage to tell the king that his glorious ship, named for his family was an accident waiting to happen.” (141) The significance of the Vasa was that it had a major impact on future naval construction as Hocker points out that “her loss was tragic but necessary element in building up the knowledge needed for the development of the ship of the line, the pinnacle of naval technology for nearly two centuries.” (155)
Hocker describes numerous attempts to raise the the ship over the next half century, but all ended in failure though they did recover 61 out of the 64 cannons, most of which were sold as salvage to the Danes who then would use them against Sweden in the Scanian War of the 1770s! The Vasa would remain under water until it was rediscovered by a diver, Per Edvin Falting on September 4, 1956. During the next five years preparations were made to salvage the Vasa and bring her to the surface. Employing the latest technology the Swedish navy and many private companies worked to float the ship on pontoons to recover her. On April 4, 1961 the Vasa broke the surface and ten days later she was completely afloat. The author provides the engineering details with diagrams to supplement the text so even the “nautical novice” would understand the complexity of the task. Experienced Archaeologists were brought in to excavate the Vasa and over 30,000 artifacts ranging from human skeltons, tools, guns, and other equipment were studied. These artifacts have given us a very accurate picture of what life was like during 17th century Sweden. Once the Vasa was floated the decision was made to preserve her and build a museum to house the ship. Hocker describes the process of preserving the Vasa, caring for the artifacts, and the technological process of moving the ship into its new home and building a museum around it that includes numerous exhibits. The museum opened in 1990 and over one million people visit annually to witness a 60 meter structure, 7 stories high enclosed in a weather controlled environment that has taken a moment of history and frozen it in time. (198) The book is fascinating for its narrative, but also for its diagrams which makes the complexity of what is being described understandable for the maritime laymen. I recommend this book to anyone with an interest in maritime history, engineering, technology, or just a wonderful adventure story. Lastly, if you are ever is Stockholm you must put the Vasa Museum on your list of places to visit.
October 21, 2025
Outstanding! I can’t imagine a more comprehensive, yet engaging, treatment of this famous warship from construction, to sinking, and then recovery.
August 10, 2024
泰坦尼克号的遗憾是她永远睡在海底，人们无缘得见。而瓦萨号，300多年前，世界顶尖的风帆战舰，同样是处女航沉没，却有幸完整保存下来，并被拖出海面，停泊在斯德哥尔摩的港口，每年被近百万的游客观看。这也是目前全世界幸存的唯一的一艘17世纪的风帆战舰。本书就是关于瓦萨号的前世今生的完整介绍。
1628年8月10日，就是距今296年前的今天，瓦萨号的处女航启动。然而在“一阵微风”吹拂下，她仅仅航行了1300米，就侧翻沉进了海底。所幸3000多人，只死亡了30多人。这是当时瑞典皇家以国王名字命名的最先进的战舰，拥有无与伦比的火力，其船载大炮的炮弹几乎达到音速。船身最大宽度11.5米，含桅杆高69米。她不仅是战舰，更是一件艺术品，船体有700多见雕刻品，整艘船装扮得色彩艳丽，极度奢华，彰显了那时瑞典海上强国的强大。值得一提的是，建造过程中，有多位女性作为建造商参与，她们都富有商业头脑，敢于冒险，社会地位极高。和同时代的我国女性地位无法相比。如果不是亲眼所见，你很难想象这艘船的体量和壮美，着实令人震撼。船身加盖了保护性建筑物，超过4层楼高，主桅杆无法保留在里面，于是在博物馆屋顶用刚刚建立了同等高度的桅杆。远远看去，仿佛这艘船还随时可以出海。
尽管瓦萨号当年失败了，可是却成了我们今天的福分。如果她没有沉没，肯定就去参战，战沉沙场。极端严苛的海水条件，使她得以保存，甚至里面的锅碗酒瓶、梳子等和死者的尸骨都得以留存。打捞和保存她也是极端困难的事。找材料防腐、防水、防裂，涂遍船身慢慢干燥，就花了17年。现在5000多个螺钉已经都替换成轻质无锈钢的。博物馆的目标是保存1000年，让更多的人能切身感受到那古老年代的巨型造物。现在每天还有大量的人在做这维护。
读这本书的时候，我也时时想起我们的“定远舰”。可惜于我们，那是屈辱和愤懑。2019年，“定远舰”沉舰遗址在威海发现。我盼望有一天，她也能被打捞起来，让我们的旗帜重新飘扬在桅杆之上。
1628年8月10日，就是距今296年前的今天，瓦萨号的处女航启动。然而在“一阵微风”吹拂下，她仅仅航行了1300米，就侧翻沉进了海底。所幸3000多人，只死亡了30多人。这是当时瑞典皇家以国王名字命名的最先进的战舰，拥有无与伦比的火力，其船载大炮的炮弹几乎达到音速。船身最大宽度11.5米，含桅杆高69米。她不仅是战舰，更是一件艺术品，船体有700多见雕刻品，整艘船装扮得色彩艳丽，极度奢华，彰显了那时瑞典海上强国的强大。值得一提的是，建造过程中，有多位女性作为建造商参与，她们都富有商业头脑，敢于冒险，社会地位极高。和同时代的我国女性地位无法相比。如果不是亲眼所见，你很难想象这艘船的体量和壮美，着实令人震撼。船身加盖了保护性建筑物，超过4层楼高，主桅杆无法保留在里面，于是在博物馆屋顶用刚刚建立了同等高度的桅杆。远远看去，仿佛这艘船还随时可以出海。
尽管瓦萨号当年失败了，可是却成了我们今天的福分。如果她没有沉没，肯定就去参战，战沉沙场。极端严苛的海水条件，使她得以保存，甚至里面的锅碗酒瓶、梳子等和死者的尸骨都得以留存。打捞和保存她也是极端困难的事。找材料防腐、防水、防裂，涂遍船身慢慢干燥，就花了17年。现在5000多个螺钉已经都替换成轻质无锈钢的。博物馆的目标是保存1000年，让更多的人能切身感受到那古老年代的巨型造物。现在每天还有大量的人在做这维护。
读这本书的时候，我也时时想起我们的“定远舰”。可惜于我们，那是屈辱和愤懑。2019年，“定远舰”沉舰遗址在威海发现。我盼望有一天，她也能被打捞起来，让我们的旗帜重新飘扬在桅杆之上。
January 5, 2025
I bought this book during my first visit to the Vasa Museum. The impact of seeing this ship in its setting was quite profound, and reading about its history, discovery and conservation has been fascinating.
The book is very detailed, and I have already started working through the source materials to understand more about the historical context, detailed use and management of the many elements of a wooden sailing ship and the lives of the people who sailed on them.
The book is very detailed, and I have already started working through the source materials to understand more about the historical context, detailed use and management of the many elements of a wooden sailing ship and the lives of the people who sailed on them.
December 2, 2024
Libro meraviglioso sia da leggere che semplicemente tenere in mano. Riccamente illustrato, curatissimo, approfondisce quanto già affrontato nel bellissimo museo di Stoccolma.
Assolutamente consigliato, affronta in modo esaustivo ogni aspetto che riguardi il Vasa con un inglese chiaro e interessante, passando dalla vita sulla nave alla sua costruzione fino al recupero dopo l’affondamento.
Assolutamente consigliato, affronta in modo esaustivo ogni aspetto che riguardi il Vasa con un inglese chiaro e interessante, passando dalla vita sulla nave alla sua costruzione fino al recupero dopo l’affondamento.
January 29, 2025
Beautiful book, very well put together
September 11, 2015
4.5 av 5.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews