Swedish warship Mars

Swedish warship Mars‏‎

The Swedish warship Mars‏‎, also known as Makalös (The Peerless), was one of the largest warships of the 16th century. It was built by the Swedish Navy and was launched in 1563 during the Northern Seven Years' War. The ship was named after the Roman god of war, Mars.

Design and Construction

The Mars was designed by Jacob Bagge, a Swedish admiral and shipbuilder. The ship was approximately 48 meters long and 13 meters wide, with a draught of 5 meters. It was equipped with 107 guns of various calibres, making it one of the most heavily armed ships of its time.

The construction of the Mars took place at the royal shipyard in Stockholm, under the supervision of King Eric XIV of Sweden. The ship was built using oak timber, with the hull reinforced with iron plates for added protection.

Service History

The Mars saw service in the Northern Seven Years' War, a conflict between the Kingdom of Sweden and a coalition of Denmark-Norway and the Free City of Lübeck. The ship participated in several naval battles, most notably the Battle of Öland in 1564.

During the Battle of Öland, the Mars was set on fire and subsequently exploded, sinking to the bottom of the Baltic Sea. The wreck of the Mars was discovered in 2011 by a team of Swedish divers.

Legacy

The Mars is considered a significant ship in naval history due to its size and firepower. It represents a transitional period in naval warfare, where ships began to be built larger and with more guns to increase their combat effectiveness.

The discovery of the wreck has provided valuable insights into 16th-century shipbuilding techniques and naval warfare. The site is now a protected marine archaeological site under Swedish law.

See also

• List of shipwrecks in the Baltic Sea
• Naval warfare in the Age of Sail
• History of the Swedish Navy