# Sweden’s oldest warship: Marine archaeologists document 15th-century warship Vrak 5 off Stockholm

> Marine archaeologists document Sweden’s oldest warship Vrak 5, a 15th-century vessel from the 1480s or 1460s, off Stockholm’s coast.
- Title: Sweden’s oldest warship: Marine archaeologists document…
- Summary: Marine archaeologists document Sweden’s oldest warship Vrak 5, a 15th-century vessel from the 1480s or 1460s, off Stockholm’s coast. Marine archaeologists…
- Keywords: vrak 5, stockholm, marine archaeologists, 15th century, carvel boat building, haringe castle, baltic sea, news, world, Sweden, oldest, warship
- Source: Malay Mail — https://malaymail.com/news/life/2026/10/23/swedens-oldest-warship-marine-archaeologists-document-15th-century-warship-vrak-5-off-stockholm/240292
- Published: 2026-10-23T21:00:00+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: vrak 5, stockholm, marine archaeologists, 15th century, carvel boat building, haringe castle, baltic sea, news, world
## Discovery of Vrak 5
Marine archaeologists explore a rare 15th-century shipwreck off Stockholm’s coast, believed to be Sweden’s oldest warship.

> It’s a very big ship, it was around 40-45 metres when it sailed probably
## Vrak 5’s age and origin
The vessel, possibly dating from the 1480s or 1460s, is the oldest warship found off Sweden or Denmark.

> It’s not possible to say if it is Swedish, it could also be Danish
## Carvel boat technique
Vrak 5 uses the carvel boat-building technique, where hull planks are laid edge-to-edge, making it sturdier for heavy cannons.

> This is the first example of a ship in the Baltic that has been built with the carvel technique... in Scandinavia that we know of
## Shipwreck location
The wreck lies off Haringe Castle south of Stockholm, part of the Landfjarden sound where five shipwrecks are found.

> Located off Haringe Castle south of Stockholm, the vessel is thought to be the oldest warship found off Sweden or Denmark
## Food and provisions
Crew ate fish, meat, porridge, and beer on board, with higher-status individuals drinking wine.

> A lot of the food would be boiled. So there would be a lot of pottage, which is basically anything that is cooked in a pot
## Sinking theories
The ship may have sunk during a 1501 attack on Haringe Castle by the Danes, or due to a fire on board.

> Perhaps it was sunk when they (the Danes) attacked the Haringe Castle behind us in 1501
## Current research
Archaeologists are documenting the wreck to understand its construction and life onboard, with findings suggesting a galley and provisions.

> They used special pumps to vacuum up sediment and expose parts of the construction
## Key takeaway

Marine archaeologists discovered a 15th-century warship Vrak 5 off Stockholm, believed to be the oldest warship in Swedish or Danish waters, dating to the 1480s or 1460s.