Stora Sofia (Danish: Grand Sofia)[Note 1] was a Danish ship of the line that sank on 25 May 1645 near Buskär outside the harbour of Gothenburg.

Draught of Stora Sofia
History
Danish Navy EnsignDenmark & Norway
NameStora Sofia
BuilderSlottö shipyard in Nakskov
Launched1627
FateSank on 25 May 1645 near Buskär
General characteristics
Length147½ Danish feet[1]
Beam34 Danish feet[1]
Draught14⅓ Danish feet[1]
Complement
  • 1644: 280
  • 1627: 334[1]
Armament54-58 guns

Construction and design

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The ship was built in 1627 on the Slottö shipyard in Nakskov in Denmark after a design of Scottish shipbuilder Daniel Sinclair. Stora Sofia was the flagship of the navy of the Danish king Christian IV. She was armed with 44 cannons on three decks; according to contemporary sources, she had four 48-pounders, eighteen 24-pounders, twenty 8-pounders and several smaller cannons.

Service

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During the short Torstenson War between Denmark-Norway and Sweden in 1645, Denmark put an embargo on the young city of Gothenburg, founded in 1621. Stora Sofia was the flagship of a Danish fleet under admiral Ove Gjedde that was ordered to enforce the embargo. Shortly after the arrival of the fleet, a storm broke loose and threw the Stora Sofia onto the rocks. The ship sank to a depth of 27 metres; her crew was saved.

Discovery of the wreck

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The wreck was rediscovered only in 1961. More thorough explorations and archeological studies began in the 1980s.

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ The name is also sometimes spelled Sophia or Sancte Sophia

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Sailing Warships website". Retrieved 2011-02-26.