The wreck of HMS Tiger, a Royal Navy warship that sank off the Isle of Wight 118 years ago, has been discovered by divers, and the Government is changing the law to protect it.
HMS Tiger was sliced in two after crossing into the path of the 10,000-ton cruiser HMS Berwick in 1908. Fewer than half of the 400-tonne destroyer's 57-strong crew survived as she went down. The vessel had been considered lost at sea until today, when the discovery was announced by the ProjectXplore dive group.
Automatic Protection for Military Wrecks
The find comes as the Government moves to overhaul legislation to bolster protections for shipwrecks through the Armed Forces Bill. Under the Bill, potentially thousands of shipwrecks, such as HMS Tiger, will be safeguarded from the moment they are located by a 'protected place' designation. This will make it a criminal offence to disturb or remove items from military wreck sites without permission, while still permitting divers to visit freely, provided they abide by the principle of 'look but don't touch'.
Minister for the Armed Forces Louise Sandher-Jones MP said: "As well as protecting UK national security, Defence has a role to play in preserving our maritime heritage and the memory of those who gave their lives serving their country. These protections go further to ensure that these vulnerable and nationally significant monuments are protected from day one of discovery, giving lost sailors the dignity and respect they deserve. This Armed Forces Bill is wide-ranging in the measures it proposes – from protecting our rich cultural heritage, to transforming the lives of military families by upgrading and improving the Defence housing estate."
Extending Protections Beyond 200 Years
While dozens of military shipwrecks have been shielded from unlawful activity since the mid-1980s under the Protection of Military Remains Act, only vessels lost within the last 200 years are currently eligible for protection. Extending the Act to cover wrecks more than 200 years old would mean that military vessels dating as far back as the Armada, including those of former enemies, would qualify for protection. The same would apply to merchant ships sunk while carrying out military service under Admiralty orders.
The proposed legislation has been warmly received by ProjectXplore, the team of divers and historians who uncovered the shattered wreck of HMS Tiger. The team, who also located the wreck of cruiser HMS Nottingham in the North Sea last year, spent five years scouring the archives to piece together all the relevant data to help identify the wreck's precise location.
Divers and Officials React
Leo Fielding and Dan McMullen, co-organisers of ProjectXplore said: "It has been the privilege of a lifetime to research, discover and document the wreck of HMS Tiger. We sincerely hope that our work will ensure that HMS Tiger, her story and the memory of those connected with her endure for future generations. ProjectXplore welcomes the proposed amendments in the Armed Forces Bill. We believe they represent a constructive step forward in protecting the United Kingdom's maritime heritage and ensuring that wreck sites of historical and archaeological significance are appropriately safeguarded."
Royal Navy Deputy Fleet Wreck Officer Lieutenant Commander Jen Smith said: "Protecting military wrecks helps to ensure they are preserved for future generations. This is beneficial for our rich maritime heritage and the diving community who keep the stories of our lost shipwrecks alive. Divers are still able to visit these sites and witness history first-hand, which is key to ensuring that these ships and their crews are not forgotten. All we ask of divers is this – enjoy looking, learning and paying your respects at these incredible sites, but do so in a manner that does not disturb them."
