The Vasa never saw battle, but she was one of the most heavily armed war machines of her time.
In the exhibition Battle!, you can explore the wide array of weapons and equipment that were aboard the Vasa—arms that were never used. In five acts, beginning with the conscription process, the exhibition tells the story of what it might have been like before, during, and after a naval battle around the year 1628. The orders from the officers to their subordinates run as a central theme throughout the exhibition. Here, you can also feel the weight and shape of the weapons and see how they were used.
You can also get a close look at two of Vasa’s 24-pound bronze cannons. These cannons were not only terrifying war machines but also the most valuable objects aboard the Vasa. The cannons on display in Battle! are two of only three cannons from the Vasa that remain today; the other 61 cannons were salvaged in the 17th century.
