#surface pukes

[clio-muse-of-history]

August 10

In 1628, after two full years of construction, the 1200 ton, 226-foot-long Swedish warship Vasa--the largest in the world, mind you--sank 20 minutes into its maiden voyage after traveling all of 1400 yards.  

The ship was a physical manifestation of the ambitions of Swedish King Gustavus Adolphus and, as such, it was completely top-heavy.  Since it had been built to the king's precise specifications, after an inquiry, absolutely no one was found at fault.  

If this isn't, like, 40 lessons about humanity wrapped up in one story, I don't know what is.

[clio-muse-of-history]

May 27

In 1967, Jacqueline Kennedy and her daughter Caroline launched the US Navy aircraft carrier USS John F Kennedy.  The ship took four mistresses that day.

[clio-muse-of-history]

July 19

In 1843, the steamship SS Great Britain was launched; at the time, it was the largest vessel in the world at 322 feet long, and was the first ocean-going vessel to feature both an iron hull and a screw propeller.  

So the crew of this ship were the first ocean sailors to literally get the screw.