Divers discover a warship off the coast of Florida

The ship sank 282 years ago during the Anglo-Spanish War

The antique 18th-century warship Tyger was discovered by National Park Service divers in the Florida Keys after it sank during the Anglo-Spanish War in 1742.

The Tyger was a 50-gun frigate built in 1647 whose fate was unclear after it ran aground in waters that are now part of Dry Tortugas National Park more than 280 years ago.

It was used on patrol during the so-called War of Jenkins’ Ear between Britain and Spain from 1739 to 1748.

A new study conducted by the Underwater Resources Center and the Southeast Archaeological Center in conjunction with park archaeologists has confirmed that the remains discovered in 1993 are definitely those of a frigate. Evidence came from the discovery of five six-pounder and nine-pounder cannons found during a 2021 site survey approximately 500 yards from the original crash site.

Researchers believe they were found in this location because they accessed the ship’s old logbooks.

“Archaeological finds are exciting, but connecting those finds to the historical record helps us tell the stories of the people who came before us and the events they lived through,” said park manager James Crutchfield.

About 300 Tyger crew members spent 66 days on the island, now known as Garden Key, after the shipwreck, and even built forts on the island.

“This story is one of perseverance and survival. National parks help protect these untold stories as they surface,” the manager said.

Heat in Florida, mosquitoes and lack of drinking water – that’s what the surviving team had to face on Garden Key. Some crew members used parts of the frigate to try to create new ships. With the Anglo-Spanish War still ongoing, they sought and eventually attempted an attack on a Spanish warship. When this attack failed, the crew left whatever remains of Tyger they had left burned to prevent the Spaniards from bringing artillery on board. Eventually, they used their homemade vessels to sail through Spanish-controlled waters to Port Royal in Jamaica.

“This discovery will help future generations of archaeologists, armed with more advanced technology and research tools, they will be able to re-examine the sites,” explained marine archaeologist Josh Marano.

Now the discovered frigate will receive protection in accordance with the US Military Shipwreck Act of 2004, which is designed to preserve and protect from unauthorized intervention all sunken military vessels. Similar vessels discovered in the past were operated by both the Royal United States Navy and the British Navy. The remains are the sovereign property of the British Government under international treaty.