The ship Vasa's little sister Falken found

Researchers have identified a shipwreck off Porkkala in the Gulf of Finland as the warship Falken. The ship was built for King Gustav II Adolf and was later used under Queen Kristina. It played a central role in the Swedish navy – both in combat and for transporting high-ranking people. 

The ship was a so-called pinnace and looked a lot like a small version of the warship Vasa. It had three masts, conspicuous sculpted decoration, a long galleon in the bow and cannon ports along the sides. However, the Falcon was smaller than Vasa, about 35 meters long from bow to stern and equipped with between 16 and 20 guns depending on the mission. The Falcon is the best-preserved example of a royal pinnace, a fast, comfortable and lavish little ship.  

The wreck was discovered in 1974 and has so far been known as Varmbådan or Uunihylky. Despite previous research, the ship's identity has been unclear until now.

Archival studies revealed the ship's name

A 3D model of the wreck, made by the Finnish Maritime Archaeological Society, has been studied by Niklas Eriksson, who is a senior lecturer in maritime archaeology at Stockholm University and a researcher in the program Glömda flottan (The Lost Navy). He found many signs indicating that the wreck is a warship from the early 1600s. Through research in the National Archives, he was able to conclude that the wreck is Falken (The Falcon). 

“Falken is the oldest shipwreck in Finland that has been identified in written sources and whose original name is known to us. It is also worth emphasizing that the identification was made possible by making archaeological material freely available on the internet,” says Niklas Eriksson.

Used for war and transport of important passengers

Falken was built in Stockholm between 1630 and 1631, probably by Hein Jakobsson, the same shipbuilder who had completed the ship Vasa a few years earlier. The falcon was considerably smaller, but had been built with large cabins and other facilities at the behest of King Gustav II Adolf. For two decades, the Falken was used not only as a warship, but also to transport councillors, diplomats, kings and other celebrities who traveled in the ship's comfortable cabins.

In the autumn of 1651, Falken ran aground off the Porkkala peninsula at the mouth of the Gulf of Finland. The ship was on its way to Stockholm after transporting Count Erik Stenbock to Narva. The details of the accident are not known, but the smaller ship Ugglan was equipped and sent to the scene to help the crew and salvage as much of Falken's guns and equipment as possible.  

“Falken is a ship that, unlike the large, much more well-known, ships such as Vasa, Kronan, Äpplet or Mars, was used frequently. Falken has been present at many significant and well-known historical events, and the wreck can teach us a lot about how such a ship looked, functioned and how it was decorated," says Niklas Eriksson.

Watch a 3D model of Falken

Important dates in Falken's history

1630-1631 Falken is built on Blasieholmen in Stockholm. The shipbuilder was probably Hein Jakobsson, the same shipbuilder who completed the construction of Vasa. In a letter to Gustav II Adolf it is commented that Falken is built according to the king's wishes with "a cannon deck, figurehead and large cabins and other commodities, the best one can prescribe, so that he can be comfortable for his royal majesty's own needs".

The ship was about 35 meters long between the bow and stern and had 16–20 guns, the number of which varies from year to year. 

1633 The ship participates in the expedition that transported Gustav II Adolf's body from Wolgast to Nyköping. 

1642 The Palatinate Count Karl Gustaf, who later became known as King Karl X Gustaf, sailed to Turku.

1644 In October, the Swedish fleet won a major victory over the Danish fleet at Fehmarn in Denmark. At the time, Falken in convoy to protect merchant ships between Dalarö and Gdansk. When the Swedish fleet returned to Stockholm together with ten captured Danish ships, musicians played with timpani and trumpets from Falken's tyre. 

1646 Russian envoys were transferred to Riga with the ships Falken and Oxen. William VI by Hesse was transferred from Kalmar to Pomerania.

1647 The legate Erik Gyllenstjerna was transferred to Narva.
William VI of Hesse was transferred from Kalmar to Pomerania.

1648 The County Governor of Gotland, Gustaf Banér, was transferred to Visby. Falken took the Palatinate Count Christian August af Sulzbach to Greifswalder Island outside Stralsund, from where the ship went to Stade on the Elbe and brought home the legate Johan Adler Salvius.

1651 Falken in June transferred the Governor-General of Livonia Count Gustaf Horn to Riga and in August the Governor-General Count Erik Stenbock to Narva. On the way back to Stockholm, the ship sank by running aground. Captain Anders Nilsson Crabat and probably most of the crew survived the accident. 

The bojort (a smaller ship) Ugglan was sent in early October from Stockholm to the accident site to help salvage Falken's rig and help the crew.

The research program Glömda flottan

Glömda flottan (The Lost Navy – Sweden's "blue" cultural heritage circa 1450–1850) is an interdisciplinary research programme that maps, documents and studies the Swedish navy. The research programme studies and, if possible, identifies the vessels using maritime archaeological and other methods. Both written sources and archaeological finds are used. The programme runs from 2021 to 2026 and is carried out in collaboration between the Centre for Maritime Studies (CEMAS) at Stockholm University, the National Maritime and Transport Museums (SMTM) and the Finnish Heritage Agency. The Finnish part of the research programme will mainly study the wrecks around Suomenlinna Castle Fortress under the leadership of Minna Koivikko. The project is funded by Riksbankens Jubileumsfond. 

Learn more about Glömda flottan