It has been lying there since 1908: The amazing discovery off the coast of England

A maritime mystery that lasted 118 years has come to an end: divers announced on August 10 that they had located off the Isle of Wight in southern England the remains of HMS Tiger, a military vessel of the British Royal Navy that sank in 1908. The disaster occurred following a collision with HMS Berwick, and more than half of the 57 crew members perished. The discovery came after five years of research during which members of ProjectXplore went through archives and connected data in an attempt to determine its location.

The exact location of HMS Tiger remained unknown for more than a century. Members of ProjectXplore spent five years examining historical documents and analyzing information that helped them gradually narrow down the search area. The long work paid off when the divers reached the site. The underwater footage shows deformed and rusted parts that have remained on the seabed since the sinking.

After the discovery, a wreath was laid at the site in memory of the crew members who lost their lives in the disaster. ProjectXplore organizers, Leo Fielding and Dan McMullen, described the mission as a "once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to explore, discover and document the remains of HMS Tiger." They added:

"We sincerely hope that our work will ensure that HMS Tiger, its story and the memory of the people associated with it will be preserved for future generations."

HMS Tiger sank in 1908 after colliding with HMS Berwick, another Royal Navy ship weighing about 10,000 tons. There were 57 crew members on board the Tiger at the time, and more than half of them were killed in the accident. The research conducted by the ProjectXplore team finally made it possible to reach the site and document it.

The discovery comes in parallel with a move being promoted by the British government to expand legal protection for sites where sunken military vessels are located. According to the proposed changes to the Armed Forces Act, sites such as HMS Tiger will receive protection from the moment they are discovered. Removing items or damaging the site without permission will be prohibited. Divers will still be allowed to visit the site, but in accordance with the principle of "look, but don't touch."

Minister for the Armed Forces Louise Haigh said:

"These protections go further to ensure that these vulnerable monuments of national importance are protected from day one of their discovery, and to give the lost sailors the respect and recognition they deserve."

HMS Tiger joins several historical vessels that have been located or documented in recent years around Britain. Last summer, divers documented the Northumberland, a British warship that sank off the coast of Kent during the "Great Storm" of 1703. Its parts have been preserved in exceptional condition for more than 320 years. Earlier this year, the remains of a 17th-century merchant vessel were also revealed on a beach in south-west England after winter storms washed away the sand that covered them. It is estimated that it may be The Fame, which sank in 1631.

In the case of HMS Tiger, it is not just about solving a historical mystery. The site is also linked to the dozens of sailors who lost their lives in the disaster, and the ProjectXplore team hopes that the discovery will help preserve their story for future generations.