The Day the Vasa Sank Before It Even Started

On August 10, 1628, Sweden experienced one of the most embarrassing naval blunders in history. The Vasa, a massive, heavily armed warship intended to be the pride of the Swedish Navy, set sail on its maiden voyage from Stockholm. With great fanfare, the ship left the harbor, only to sail for less than a mile before a light breeze caused it to tilt. Because the ship was top-heavy and lacked sufficient ballast, it immediately took on water through its open gun ports and sank right in front of a crowd of cheering spectators. It was a spectacular, albeit short-lived, debut that turned a symbol of national power into a soggy, sunken lesson in naval architecture! Historical Events on August 10