The terror of Europe
People had great expectations of the steam frigate Kong Sverre. When it was launched from the naval shipyard in Horten in October 1860, it was much larger than its predecessors. It had a crew of 600. When it was on the drawing board, it was described as “the terror of Europe”. But the ship shown here doesn’t look very terrifying. What happened?
Too late
The Kong Sverre was already obsolete before it entered into service in 1864. Armoured vessels had already been introduced, bringing an end to the era of wooden warships. This stately ship wouldn’t have stood a chance in a battle against modern vessels, as the Royal Norwegian Navy quickly realised. This project, which was intended to be the pride of Norway, ended up as a fiasco. Whose responsibility is it when something like this happens?
A life on the fjord
What happened to this ship that was supposed to be a fearsome weapon of war? It was laid up in Horten and used as an exercise ship. Such ships are normally obsolete warships, used to provide accommodation for recruits and for exercises.
Chosen by Ann-Kristin, History student (25)
On loan from the Norwegian Armed Forces museum (the Royal Norwegian Navy Museum)