New insights into warship combat platforms and a unique late medieval weapon chest have been discovered in studies of the Danish flagship Gribshunden/Gripen which sank in the Blekinge archipelago in 1495.

Searching the Vulture Dog

Last spring, marine archaeologists from Stockholm University and Södertörn University dived on Danish King Hans’ flagship Gripen (also known as Griphund or the Vulture Dog) at Stora Ekön in the Blekinge archipelago. The flagship sank together with about a hundred German mercenaries after a fire on board during a trip to Kalmar in 1495.

Although the wreck is partially disintegrated, the wreckage on the bottom is very well preserved. There are also timbers here that are believed to have belonged to the ship’s superstructure, including parts from the ‘castle’, which functioned as raised fighting platforms on the ship.

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Since 2013, investigations have been conducted on the wreck by Södertörn University. Last year’s dives focused on Rolf Warming’s ongoing thesis project at the Center for Maritime Studies (Cemas) and Stockholm University. In the study “Soldiers at Sea”, he examines weapon technology linked to the soldiers on board and the superstructure of warships during the period 1450-1650 AD.

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