The wreck of HMS Tiger, a Royal Navy destroyer that sank 118 years ago after a collision, has been discovered in the English Channel. The 400-tonne vessel was cleaved in two and sank 20 miles south of the Isle of Wight in April 1908 when it mistakenly entered the path of the 10,000-ton cruiser HMS Berwick during a night exercise. Thirty-five crew members were lost in the disaster.
Divers from the organization ProjectXplore located the two halves of the ship at a depth of 200 feet after four years of research. An initial sonar survey was conducted in April of the previous year, with analysis in November revealing the wreck's outline. In June of the current year, divers found the stern section wedged into the seabed. The bow section was discovered approximately 450 feet away, resting on large boulders, a fortnight later.
Experts have confirmed the identity of the wreck through its location and the evidence of it being sliced between its second and third funnels, as well as the discovery of four compasses. The ship's bell, though corroded, still bears the partial inscription "HMS."
On the night of the collision, the bow sank almost immediately, resulting in the loss of all hands on board. The stern took three minutes to sink, with 13 crew members saved and an additional nine rescued from the water. A subsequent court martial concluded that the collision was accidental, ruling that no blame could be attributed to any crew member of either vessel.
The loss of HMS Tiger generated public sympathy and parliamentary debate at the time, with King Edward VII expressing his condolences. The precise location of the wreck remained a secret for over a century as both the Royal Navy and shipwreck hunters searched for it. The discovery is featured in the latest episode of Dan Snow's History Hit podcast.