Riks-Nyckeln

Riks-Nyckeln ( Reichskey ), also Nyckeln or Nyckelen

Model of the Riks-Nyckeln in the church of Gärdslösa

Ship data flag  Sweden Ship type Galleon (Regalskepp) Owner Swedish Navy Shipyard Bodekull (today Karlshamn) Keel laying 1665 Whereabouts July 20, 1679 ran aground in battle and exploded after enemy fire. Wreck Position: 56 ° 41 '  N , 16 ° 24'  O coordinates: 56 ° 41 '15.8 "  N , 16 ° 23' 50.4"  O

Ship dimensions and crew   crew 550-600

Rigging and rigging Number of masts 3

Armament 84-88 guns 26 × 24 pounder 30 × 12 pounder 10 × 8 pounder 12 × 6 pounder 2 × 4 pounders 6 × 3 pounders

The Riks-Nyckeln (also just known as Nyckeln or Nyckelen ) was a Swedish warship in the 17th century.

The name "Imperial Key" is taken from the Swedish imperial insignia . At the same time, other ships were named after the insignia: Kronan (imperial crown), Riksäpplet ( imperial orb ) and Svärdet ( sword ). Ships with these names were usually the largest in the fleet.

The ship was built in a shipyard in Bodekull in 1665 following an order placed by the Swedish Navy in 1664 .

With 84 cannons and a crew of 550 to 600 men, it was the fourth largest Swedish warship after the Kronan , the Svärdet and the Riksäpplet at the beginning of the Skåne War . Under the command of Johan Bär , the ship took part in the sea ​​battle at Öland in 1676 .

On July 20, 1679, a few weeks before the end of the Skåne War, there was an attack by ten Danish warships against six Swedish warships in Kalmar Sound . The Riks-Nyckeln ran aground and was attacked by the Danish warships Danish Victoria , Christianus Quartus , Neptunus and Flyvende Hjort . After three hours of bombardment, the Riks-Nyckeln burned and finally exploded.

In 1686, 1766, 1841 and 1908/1909 cannons of the Riks-Nyckeln were recovered. In the on Öland located Church of Gärdslösa a model of the ship depends.

Literature / sources

• HJ. Börjeson: List of men-of-war 1650-1700 , Part III (Sweden, Denmark-Norway and Germany), 1936.
• Gustav Halldin: Svenskt Skeppsbyggeri - A general history of Swedish shipbuilding , 1963.

Footnotes

1. ↑ HJ. Börjeson and Gustav Halldin