In this image, a diver surveys one of the five cannon found during an archaeological exploration in Dry Tortugas National Park, off the south-west coast of Florida. The cannon played a crucial role in confirming that a nearby wreck, first identified more than 30 years ago, is in fact the remains of HMS Tyger, a British warship that sank in 1742. The announcement was made earlier this year by the US National Park Service (NPS).
Built in 1647, Tyger was a fourth-rate, 50-gun frigate that measured 130 feet long. By the time of the War of Jenkins’ Ear – the 1739-1748 conflict between Britain and Spain over their competing commercial interests in the Caribbean (see feature here) – she was one of a number of ships which patrolled the contested waters around Cuba and Jamaica. On 13 January 1742, Tyger ran aground against the coral reefs of the Dry Tortugas while in pursuit of an enemy ship. Bad weather hastened her demise.
Recent research, published in the International Journal of Nautical Archaeology, describes how historic ship logbooks helped confirm her identity. The records spoke of how, when disaster struck, the crew had ‘lightened her forward’ by disposing of the heavy cannon and anchors. It was a vain attempt: although Tyger briefly resurfaced, she then sank, with the captain ordering all aboard to abandon ship.
