MARITIME ROUTE

SWEDEN TOURS – BALTIC CRUISES TO SWEDEN

ROCK CARVINGS IN MÖCKLERYD

Rock carvings dating from the Bronze Age (from before 3000 years ago). Pictograms depict humans, animals, boats as well as solar symbols. Some of them was used as sacrificial recess.

Birdwatching and seal watching

TORHAMN CAPE

The most south-easterly point of Sweden. A paradise for ornithologists. The nature reserve of birds belonged to the Ciconiidae family.

‘WHISKEY ON THE ROCKS’

It was on 27 October 1981 when fishermen living on the rocky islands off the coast near Torhamn stumbled upon a large submarine emerging from water just offshore. It seemed that the army unit ran aground. Fishermen immediately informed authorities about the discovery but their coverage was not initially believed. A patrol boat sent to the spot soon confirmed the sensational information. A Soviet submarine ‘Whiskey’ thrown into the shallows at the edge of rocky islets was lying only a few kilometres away from the Swedish naval base. The presence of Soviet ship was the obvious violation of territorial waters and neutrality of the country. Swedish Commander Karl Andersson was sent aboard of the Soviet submarine, where he received information from the captain of the submarine – Anatoly Gustijnaf – that the ship reached the territory of Sweden by mistake due to a failure of the gyrocompass. A strong squadron of the Baltic Fleet from Kaliningrad set off to rescue the trapped ship soon. Nevertheless the Swedes did not want to let the rescue team cross their water border without further clarification. Soviet warships remained on international waters but one tug boat headed towards the trapped ship. That Soviet boat ignored Swedish calls to turn back. The Swedes threatened to open fire from shore batteries and blocked the way by their ships what foiled the attempts of getting closer to the submarine. A serious diplomatic crisis exploded. Large forces of the Swedish army were deployed around the submarine – Swedish warships floated around and Viggen fighters were flying over the place. The atmosphere was very tense. Moscow flatly refused to dig submarine up but agreed to disembark the highest officers and interrogate them. Russians also showed remorse. Soviet sailors slightly varied in their accounts but with one accord claimed that there was a navigation error. Finally after 10 days the S-363 has been hauled off the rocks by Swedish tugs and escorted to international waters where together with the whole Russian squadron immediately started sailing towards Kaliningrad. The incident was called ‘Whiskey on the Rocks’ what is an allusion to the English name for a drink in the form of whiskey with ice cubes.

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