- HMS Tyger was a British 50-gun frigate built in 1647.
- New research confirms remains discovered in 1993 are definitive
- Cannons dropped 500 meters from the wreck made it clear that it was the ship.
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An 18th-century warship was miraculously discovered by National Park Service divers in the Florida Keys after it sank during the Anglo-Spanish War in 1742.
HMS Tyger was a 50-gun frigate built in 1647 and was unconfirmed after running aground near reefs in what is now known as Dry Tortugas National Park over 280 years old.
The ship – measuring 130 feet long and weighing 704 tons – was on patrol during what was known as the War of Jenkins’ Ear between Britain and Spain from 1739 to 1748.
New research by the Submerged Resources Center and the Southeast Archaeological Center, alongside park archaeologists, has confirmed that the remains discovered in 1993 are definitively those of the Tyger.
The evidence came from the discovery of five six- and nine-pound cannons found during a 2021 survey of the site approximately 500 meters from the original wreck.
An 18th-century British warship was miraculously discovered by National Park Service divers in the Florida Keys after it sank during the Anglo-Spanish War in 1742.
HMS Tyger was a 50-gun frigate built in 1647 and its existence had not been confirmed after running aground near the reefs of what is now known as Dry Tortugas National Park more years ago 280 years old.
Researchers believe they were found there because they accessed old ship logs indicating the crew “lightened (the Tyger) forward.”
The discharge of the cannons had initially refloated HMS Tyger before it sank permanently in shallow waters on 13 January 1742.
“Archaeological discoveries are exciting, but connecting those discoveries to the historical record helps us tell the stories of the people who came before us and the events they experienced,” said park director James Crutchfield.
The Tyger’s approximately 300 crew members were marooned for 66 days on what is now known as Garden Key after the sinking, even building forts on the island.
“This particular story is one of perseverance and survival. National parks help protect these untold stories as they come to light.
The Florida heat, mosquitoes and lack of clean water are what the surviving crew faced in Garden Key as they tried to improvise their way.
Some crew members used saved parts of the Tyger to attempt to create new ships to obtain additional aid or supplies.
While the Anglo-Spanish War was still ongoing, they searched for and eventually attempted to attack a Spanish naval vessel.
The ship – measuring 130 feet long and weighing 704 tons – was on patrol during what was known as the War of Jenkins’ Ear between Britain and Spain from 1739 to 1748. It was found near what is now Dry Tortugas National Park in Florida.
Image showing concrete cannonballs on the seabed from HMS Tyger
New research carried out by the Submerged Resources Center and the South East Archaeological Center in collaboration with archaeologists from the park has confirmed that the remains discovered in 1993 are definitely those of the Tyger.
A National Park Service diver documents one of five coral-encrusted cannons found during a recent archaeological survey in Dry Tortugas National Park.
Researchers believe they were found there because they accessed old ship logs indicating the crew “lightened (the Tyger) forward.”
When this attack failed, the crew burned their remaining remains of the Tyger to prevent the Spanish from bringing artillery on board.
They eventually used their makeshift ships to escape 700 miles across Spanish-controlled waters to Port Royal in Jamaica.
The results and confirmation were recently published in the International Journal of Nautical Archaeology.
“This discovery highlights the importance of preservation in place, as future generations of archaeologists, armed with more advanced technologies and research tools, will be able to re-examine sites and make new discoveries,” said Josh Marano, a maritime archaeologist who led the team that made the discovery. Discovery.
It will now receive protection under the US Sunken Military Craft Act of 2004, which aims to preserve and protect against unauthorized disturbance all sunken military craft.
Similar craft discovered in the past were operated by both the United States and Great Britain’s Royal Navy.
The remains are the sovereign property of the British government in accordance with international treaty.