- HMS Tyger was a British 50-gun frigate ship built in 1647
- New research confirmed that the remains discovered in 1993 are definitive
- Cannons dumped 500 yards from the wreck made it clear that this was the ship
An 18th-century British warship was miraculously discovered by National Park Service divers in the Florida Keys after it was sunk during the Anglo-Spanish War in 1742.
The HMS Tyger was a 50-gun frigate ship built in 1647 and its existence was unconfirmed after it ran aground over 280 years ago on the reefs of what is now known as Dry Tortugas National Park.
The ship, which was 40 meters long and weighed 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 Archeological Center along with park archaeologists 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 guns found during a 2021 survey of the site, approximately 1,500 feet from the original wreck.
An 18th-century British warship was miraculously discovered by National Park Service divers in the Florida Keys after being sunk during the Anglo-Spanish War in 1742
The HMS Tyger was a 50-gun frigate ship built in 1647 and its existence was unconfirmed after it ran aground more than 280 years ago near the reefs of what is now known as Dry Tortugas National Park.
Investigators believe they were found at that location because they were able to access old logbooks from the ship that recorded the crew “flying (the Tyger) forward.”
By throwing out the guns, HMS Tyger was initially refloated before sinking permanently in shallow waters on January 13, 1742.
“Archaeological discoveries are exciting, but by connecting those finds with historical data we can tell the stories of the people who came before us and the events they experienced,” says park manager James Crutchfield.
The Tyger’s crew of approximately 300 were stranded on what is now known as Garden Key for 66 days after the shipwreck, 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 a lack of potable water were what the surviving crew had to endure while on Garden Key as they tried to improvise to get away.
Some crew members used salvaged parts of the Tyger to try to create new ships to get aid or further supplies.
Since the Spanish-English War was still ongoing, they looked for and eventually attempted an attack on a Spanish naval ship.
The ship, which was 40 meters long and weighed 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 the Dry Tortugas National Park in Florida.
Image of concrete cannonballs on the seabed of HMS Tyger
New research by the Submerged Resources Center and the Southeast Archeological Center along with park archaeologists confirmed that the remains discovered in 1993 are definitively 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
Investigators believe they were found at that location because they were able to access old logs from the ship that stated the crew “lifted (the Tyger) forward.”
When that attack failed, the crew burned what remains they had of the Tyger to prevent the Spanish from getting the artillery on board.
Ultimately, they used their makeshift ships to escape 700 miles through Spanish-controlled waters to Port Royal, Jamaica.
The findings and confirmation were recently published in the International Journal of Nautical Archaeology.
“This discovery highlights the importance of conservation 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 is intended to preserve and protect all sunken military vessels from unauthorized disturbance.
Similar crafts discovered in the past are operated by both the United States and the British Royal Navy.
The remains are the sovereign property of the British government in accordance with international treaties.