Divers have located the wreck of HMS Tiger, a Royal Navy torpedo boat destroyer that sank off the Isle of Wight in 1908 after colliding with the cruiser HMS Berwick. The accident claimed the lives of more than half of the vessel’s 57 crew members. The discovery was made by ProjectXplore, a team of divers and historians who spent five years researching archival records to accurately identify the site.

HMS Tiger was engaged in night manoeuvres with the fleet when it unexpectedly crossed the path of the much larger HMS Berwick, a heavy cruiser displacing 10,000 tons. With no opportunity to evade, Tiger was struck amidships and cut into two sections. The bow section sank immediately, carrying with it the ship’s captain and numerous crew members. The stern remained afloat briefly before sinking fully within minutes. The incident prompted King Edward VII to send a telegram of sympathy to the families of those lost.

ProjectXplore, whose members include Leo Fielding and Dan McMullen, had previously located the wreck of another Royal Navy cruiser, HMS Nottingham, in the North Sea. The team described the find of HMS Tiger as a “privilege” and expressed hope that documenting the wreck would preserve the memory of the ship and her crew for future generations.

The discovery coincides with ongoing legislative efforts in the United Kingdom to enhance legal protections for military wrecks. Under proposed amendments to the Armed Forces Bill, military shipwrecks will be automatically designated as “protected places” upon discovery. This status would prohibit unauthorized disturbance or salvage activities, while still allowing divers to visit the sites under a "look but don’t touch" policy.

Currently, the 1986 Protection of Military Remains Act designates over 129 sites as protected, but only covers vessels lost within the past 200 years. The proposed changes would expand coverage to include older wrecks, potentially extending protection to ships dating back to the era of the Spanish Armada, including those of former adversaries. The amendments would also apply to merchant vessels serving under Admiralty orders that were sunk during wartime.

Supporters of the new legislation argue that it strengthens national security and preserves maritime heritage by safeguarding the final resting places of seafarers. Minister for the Armed Forces Louise Sandher-Jones stated that the measures honor the memory of those who gave their lives and ensure these sites receive proper respect from the time of their discovery.

Since the First World War, the Royal Navy lost more than 1,000 vessels, with even greater losses during the Second World War. Over the last quarter-century, divers have recovered thousands of objects from sunken military ships and government requisitioned vessels, highlighting the historical and archaeological significance of these underwater sites.

ProjectXplore’s find and the legislative proposals together emphasize a commitment to protecting the United Kingdom’s maritime history and the legacy of its armed forces at sea.