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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.
Surveys of the wreck site were conducted in 2021 by archaeologists from the Dry Tortugas National Park and research units of the NPS. The cannon were found approximately 500 metres from the wreck. They were 6-pdr and 9-pdr British guns dating from the 1700s, which confirmed beyond question that the wreck was that of Tyger.
The story does not end there. The ship’s crew of some 300 men was marooned for several months on what is today the island of Garden Key, building makeshift fortifications out of the remains of the wreck. Battling heat, thirst, and mosquitos, the survivors also built small vessels to allow them to escape. This journey was perilous and lengthy: it took more than 50 days to navigate through the 700 miles of enemy waters to safety at Port Royal, Jamaica.
Archaeologists had previously identified the wreck sites of two further British men-of-war, HMS Fowey and HMS Looe, which also sank off the Florida Keys during that time. Like the others, Tyger now enjoys protected status, and her exact location has not been revealed to prevent vandalism. But as this coral infested cannon shows, there is less protection available from the forces of nature.
Text: Calum Henderson / Image: Brett Seymour/National Park Service
