Arka Noego was a war pinnace in the PolishâÂÂLithuanian Commonwealth Navy that played an important role in two naval battles of the PolishâÂÂSwedish War (1626âÂÂ29). Small, fast and lightly armed when compared to the impressive man-of-war galleons of the Swedish Navy, excellent leadership, a fine crew and aggressive marines combined to bring the Arka Noego into parity with her larger opponents. Major roles in two impressive victories followed in the fall of 1627.
The Arka Noego (âÂÂNoah's ArkâÂÂ) was a 16-gun war pinnace that was built for the Polish Navy in 1625. Her Master was Magnus Wesman and her home port was Gdaà Âsk, in the PolishâÂÂLithuanian Complex. She saw significant action on more than one occasion.
On May 17, 1627, with the galleons Król Dawid and Wodnik (King David and Aquarius), the Arka Noego engaged a squadron of the Swedish Navy in the vicinity of Hel, Poland. The two forces separated after a brief exchange of cannon fire. The next day, the Arka Noego was attacked by elements of a 24-ship Swedish Leba convoy. After a brief exchange of cannon fire, the much larger Swedish convoy broke through and sailed to Koà Âobrzeg. During the fight, one cannon on the Arka Noego blew up but caused little damage. After a few days, the Polish ships returned to the Wisà Âoujà Âcie squad after running the Swedish blockage of Gdaà Âsk Bay.
The Arka Nuevo was captured by the Swedish Navy, sometime in 1635 and her fate thereafter is unknown.
Arka Noego was one of five war ships in the 2nd Polish Naval squadron that fought several larger Swedish men-of-war in the Battle of Oliwa (Battle of Oliva, Battle of Gdaà Âsk Roadstead), on November 28, 1627. Ten Polish ships attacked a small Swedish fleet of six ships outside Gdaà Âsk (Danzig) harbour, near the village of Oliva (Oliwa). The strong Swedish Navy maintained a blockade of the Baltic shore, especially Oliva harbor. Although the tiny Polish Navy of nine ships outnumbered the Swedish flotilla arrayed against them, only four ships were galleons outfitted for heavy combat. Furthermore, the Polish Navy was not battle hardened as was the experienced Swedish Navy which was a recognized European sea power.
The ten-ship Polish fleet was commanded by Admiral Arend Dickmann in the galleon Sankt George (Ã ÂwiÃÂy Jerzy) which was anchored at the Danzig roadstead. The Swedish squadron of six ships sailed from the Hel Peninsula. The less experienced Poles immediately took the attack to the Swedish squadron, an aggressive move that surprised the Swedes. The battle then split into two separate events.
The PolishâÂÂSwedish War of 1626âÂÂ1629 ended with the truce of the Truce of Altmark (Stary Targ) that was signed on September 25, 1629. The Truce of Altmark favored the Swedes but it did return to the PolandâÂÂLithuanian Commonwealth territories such as the southeastern region of Latgale that had been occupied since the 1625 invasion. The remainder of the Polish navy fleet was marked for transfer to Sweden. The ambitious PolandâÂÂLithuania Confederacy King Sigismund III Vasa (English) - Zygmunt III Waza (Polish) - (June 9, 1595 â May 20, 1648 (reign 1566âÂÂ1632) and the Catholic League, remained active and belligerent, particularly as Zigmund III Vasa wanted to revive his hereditary claim to the Swedish throne because he was a descendant of the House of Vasa, and had briefly been King of Sweden. The Polish flotilla sailed to Wismar, the famous Hanseatic League port, and took part in several skirmishes against the Danish and the Swedish Navies. In January 1632, Wismar was conquered by Sweden who remained in control of the city until 1903.
The Treaty of Stuhmsdorf or Sztumska Wieà Â, was signed on September 12, 1635, between the PolishâÂÂLithuanian Commonwealth and King Wà Âadysà Âaw IV Vasa (son of Zigmund III Vasa) and Sweden. Essentially, it was an extension of the Truce of Altmark. Sweden was willing to give up their conquests in Prussia if Wà Âadysà Âaw IV Vasa would renounce his claim to the Swedish crown, and Sweden could retain their conquests in Livonia. The peace between Poland and Sweden was also supported by French Cardinal Richelieu Meanwhile, Zigmund III Vasa gathered a new army of about 21,000 soldiers and he sent Gdaà Âsk (Danzig) merchant (Jerzy Ossolià Âski) to gather up Polish allies in non-occupied Prussia. With the help of Georg Hewel, he bought ten merchant ships to be converted into warships, and established the 'Sea Commission' () - led by .
The Polish flotilla sailed to Wismar, the famous Hanseatic League port, and took part in several skirmishes against the Danish and the Swedish Navies. In January 1632, Wismar was conquered by Sweden who remained in control of the city until 1903. Arka Noego was seized at that time and incorporated into the Swedish navy under the name Vita Hunden. The last mention of Arka Noego dates from 1636, when the vessel was sold into private hands and the subsequent fate of the ship is unknown. Denmark destroyed the remainder of the Polish fleet in 1637 without formally declaring war.