NCEIV27 0-0725

Question 1

Lesson 27

Answer 1

Lesson 27 The ‘Vasa’

Question 2

From the sevent

Answer 2

From the seventeenth-century empire of Sweden, the story of a galleon that sank at the start of her maiden voyage in 1628 must be one of the strangest tales of the sea.

Question 3

For nearly thre

Answer 3

For nearly three and a half centuries she lay at the bottom of Stockholm harbor until her discovery in 1956.

Question 4

This was the Va

Answer 4

This was the Vasa, royal flagship of the great imperial fleet.

Question 5

King Gustavus A

Answer 5

King Gustavus Adolphus, ‘The Northern Hurricane’, then at the height of his military success in the Thirty Years’ War, had dictated her measurements and armament.

Question 6

Triple gun-deck

Answer 6

Triple gun-decks mounted sixty-four bronze cannon.

Question 7

She was intende

Answer 7

She was intended to play a leading role in the growing might of Sweden.

Question 8

As she was prep

Answer 8

As she was prepared of her maiden voyage on August 10, 1628, Stockholm was in a ferment.

Question 9

From the Skepps

Answer 9

From the Skeppsbron and surrounding islands the people watched this thing of beauty begin to spread her sails and catch the wind.

Question 10

They had labore

Answer 10

They had labored for three years to produce this floating work of art; she was more richly carved and ornamented than any previous ship.

Question 11

The high stern

Answer 11

The high stern castle was a riot of carved gods, demons, knights, kings, warriors, mermaids, cherubs;

Question 12

and zoomorphic

Answer 12

and zoomorphic animal shapes ablaze with rea and gold and blue, symbols of courage, power, and cruelty, were portrayed to stir the imaginations of the superstitious sailors of the day.

Question 13

Then the cannon

Answer 13

Then the cannons of the anchored warships thundered a salute to which the Vasa fired in reply.

Question 14

As the emerged

Answer 14

As the emerged from her drifting cloud of gun smoke with the water churned to foam beneath her bow, her flags color, she presented a more majestic spectacle than Stockholmers had ever seen before.

Question 15

All gun-ports w

Answer 15

All gun-ports were open and the muzzles peeped wickedly from them.

Question 16

As the wind fre

Answer 16

As the wind freshened there came a sudden squall and the ship made a strange movement, listing to port.

Question 17

The Ordnance Of

Answer 17

The Ordnance Officer ordered all the port cannon to be heaved to starboard to counteract the list, but the steepening angle of the decks increased.

Question 18

Then the sound

Answer 18

Then the sound of rumbling thunder reached the watchers on the shore, as cargo, ballast, ammunition and 400 people went sliding and crashing down to the port side of the steeply listing ship.

Question 19

The lower gun-p

Answer 19

The lower gun-ports were now below water and the inrush sealed the ship’s fate.

Question 20

In that first g

Answer 20

In that first glorious hour, the mighty Vasa, which was intended to rule the Baltic, sank with all flags flying-in the harbor of her birth.