Royal Navy (Other Keyword)

DOCUMENT Citation Only Ryan Harris.

From the outset, remote-sensing data clearly indicated that the wreck of HMS Erebus survived in remarkably sound condition, a fact later borne out by first-hand diver inspection. This owes to the relatively benign physical environment in which the wreck is situated, its rather atypical site formation history, as well as the elaborate measures taken by Master Shipwrights of the Royal Navy Dockyards to fortify Erebus for Arctic Service. This paper will provide an overview, both internally...

DOCUMENT Citation Only Ryan Harris. Jonathan Moore.

The largely intact wreck of HMS Investigator provides a unique opportunity to study the remains of a 19th-century Royal Navy ship of polar exploration. Purchased into the Navy in 1848 while still building on the stocks as a merchant vessel, Investigator was comprehensively modified for Arctic Service at Blackwall under the supervision of William Rice, Master Shipwright at Woolwich Dockyard. These modifications focussed mainly on reinforcing the hull to better withstand the destructive forces...

DOCUMENT Citation Only Ryan Harris.

Penetrating into the Western Arctic in 1850, HMS Investigator and its crew enjoyed initial success -- the charting of Prince of Wales Strait heralded at the time as the long-awaited discovery of the elusive Northwest Passage. A year later, however, the fortunes of the expedition would take a downward turn when Investigator was navigated into the confines of Mercy Bay and the regrettable decision was made to overwinter. The arrival of freeze-up would seal the fate of the ship, as it would remain...

DOCUMENT Citation Only Marc-André Bernier. Ryan Harris.

Prior to the Investigator’s abandonment in June 1853 much of its provisions, stores, and the ship’s boats were cached ashore. Shortly thereafter the crew loaded sledges with gear and rations for an eastward journey to other Royal Navy ships. Additional items were landed in May 1854 when the ship was revisited. Otherwise everything that had been on the ship was sealed-up under the hatches. During the 2011 survey a host of artefacts were found exposed on and around the ship’s hull, ice having...

DOCUMENT Citation Only Mallory Haas.

During the summer of 2014 The SHIPS Project UK located a wreck within Plymouth Sound.  Further investigation during fieldwork in 2015 identified the wreck as the Royal Navy heavy frigate HMS Amethyst lost in 1811. Throughout the 2015 field season a number of artifacts were recovered including a large number of copper fixings and a quantity of copper hull sheathing.  Some of the copper fixings included printed dates and manufacturers marks.  Subsequent research into copper has connected us with...

DOCUMENT Citation Only Jonathan Moore.

The wreck of HMS Investigator presents a remarkably well-preserved example of copper-sheathing applied to a Royal Navy ship. It is particularly interesting given that most Royal Navy ships engaged in the search for a Northwest Passage, and without exception those entering the Arctic via Hudson Strait and Davis Strait, were fitted with bottom felt and doubled planking but were unsheathed. The planned voyage of the Investigator and HMS Enterprise into the Arctic via tropical waters and the Bering...

DOCUMENT Citation Only Allen Murray. Mallory Haas.

In 1914 A7 was on a training run and subsequently began her training dive, she was unable to surface again. Attempts were made to relocate her, but by that time all hands were lost, a total of 11 lives.  The Royal Navy was then unable to recover her, and she was abandoned.  Forgotten till sports divers relocated her in the 1970’s, then in 2001 A7 was designated a Controlled Site, under the Protection of Military Remains Act. Little was known of the wreck site due to a lack of monitoring of its...

DOCUMENT Citation Only Morgan L Breene.

This is a paper/report submission presented at the 2020 annual meeting of the Society for Historical Archaeology. Commercial maritime fleets represent an overlooked and understudied source of technological inspiration for the British Royal Navy. One such example is the whaleboat. The whaleboat was integrated into the navy in the mid nineteenth century and proved to be a remarkably versatile ship’s boat. It was only after a series of alterations in the late nineteenth century, however, that the...

DOCUMENT Citation Only Andrew Van Slyke. Marianne Franklin. Della A Scott-Ireton. John W. Morris III.

This is a paper/report submission presented at the 2020 annual meeting of the Society for Historical Archaeology. The Deadman’s Island (8SR782) and Town Point Shipwrecks (8SR983) are unidentified wrecks that were investigated and interpreted as small stripped and abandoned wrecks from the British Occupational Period of Pensacola (1763-1781). Archaeological assessment of these two sites clearly indicated ships from early to middle 18th century construction, with wood from both Old World and New...

DOCUMENT Citation Only Justin Milewski.

This is an abstract from the session entitled "Paper / Report Submission (General Sessions)", at the 2023 annual meeting of the Society for Historical Archaeology. In September 1779, French ships arrived off the coast of Georgia to join with American forces in an attempt to capture the British-occupied city of Savannah. British General Augustine Provost ordered the scuttling of multiple vessels, including the ships Venus (a transport) and HMB Savannah (an armed ship), to prevent the French...