HMS Tyger facts for kids
HMS Tyger taking the Dutch ship Shackerloo in Cadiz harbour in 1674
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Quick facts for kids History |
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.svg){kind=small} Great Britain |
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| Name | HMS Tyger |
| Builder | Peter Pett I, Woolwich |
| Launched | 1647 |
| Fate | Wrecked, 1742 |
| Notes |
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| General characteristics as built | |
| Class and type | 38-gun fourth rate frigate |
| Tons burthen | 453 |
| Length | 99 ft (30.2 m) (keel) |
| Beam | 29 ft 4 in (8.9 m) |
| Depth of hold | 14 ft 8 in (4.5 m) |
| Propulsion | Sails |
| Sail plan | Full-rigged ship |
| Armament | 38 guns (at launch); 40 guns (1677) |
| General characteristics after 1681 rebuild | |
| Class and type | 44-gun fourth rate ship of the line |
| Tons burthen | 448 |
| Length | 123 ft 8 in (37.7 m) (gundeck) |
| Beam | 32 ft 10 in (10.0 m) |
| Depth of hold | 13 ft 6 in (4.1 m) |
| Propulsion | Sails |
| Sail plan | Full-rigged ship |
| Armament | 44 guns of various weights of shot |
| General characteristics after 1702 rebuild | |
| Class and type | 46-54-gun fourth rate ship of the line |
| Tons burthen | 613 |
| Length | 124 ft 8 in (38.0 m) (gundeck) |
| Beam | 33 ft 4.5 in (10.2 m) |
| Depth of hold | 13 ft 9 in (4.2 m) |
| Propulsion | Sails |
| Sail plan | Full-rigged ship |
| Armament | 46-54 guns of various weights of shot |
| General characteristics after 1722 rebuild | |
| Class and type | 1706 Establishment 50-gun fourth rate ship of the line |
| Tons burthen | 712 |
| Length | 130 ft (39.6 m) (gundeck) |
| Beam | 35 ft (10.7 m) |
| Depth of hold | 14 ft (4.3 m) |
| Propulsion | Sails |
| Sail plan | Full-rigged ship |
| Complement | 281 officers and men (including 57 marines) |
| Armament |
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HMS Tyger, often called Tiger, was a powerful warship of the Royal Navy. It was built in 1647 and had 38 guns. At that time, a "frigate" meant a certain way a ship was built, not just its job. Tyger was the third ship to have this name. It served for almost 100 years!
After many years of service and several rebuilds, the Tyger was wrecked in 1742. This happened near the Dry Tortugas islands. The crew was stuck on Garden Key for 56 days. They had to fight off Spanish ships trying to capture them. Then, they sailed about 700 miles (1,100 km) in small boats to Port Royal, Jamaica. Amazingly, only five crew members died during this whole adventure. Three were killed by the Spanish, and two died naturally. Six crewmen were captured by the Spanish. The ship's captain and some officers faced a court-martial (a military trial) because the ship was lost.
Contents
A Long and Busy History
The Tyger had a very long and active life, serving for nearly a century. It took part in many important events. These included the Siege of Colchester during the English Civil War. It also chased Prince Rupert all the way to the West Indies. The ship fought in the First and Second Anglo–Dutch Wars. One famous battle was the Battle of Solebay.
Under Captain John Harman, Tyger won the last battle of the Third Anglo-Dutch War. This was a special ship-to-ship fight against a Dutch privateer (a private warship) called Schakerloo. Many people watched this duel in the neutral port of Cadiz. The Schakerloo tried to board Tyger many times but was pushed back. Finally, it had to give up. Captain Harman was wounded, and 24 of his men were lost. The Dutch lost 50 killed and 70 wounded.
What's interesting is that this battle happened a few days after the war had already ended! When Captain Harman returned to England, King Charles II was eager to meet him. The king rewarded him for this important victory. The Schakerloo had caused a lot of damage to English ships. So, this win was seen as good revenge. Harman received a pension and became a public hero. A popular sea song about the battle was sung in taverns for decades.
The Tyger also served in the Mediterranean Sea. It helped defend Gibraltar and fought in actions against Guadeloupe and Martinique. In 1741, it was part of a blockade of Cartagena, Colombia.
Rebuilds and Upgrades
Over its long life, the Tyger was rebuilt several times. This was like getting a major upgrade or even a new ship built on the old frame.
- First Rebuild (1681): The ship was rebuilt by John Shish at Deptford Dockyard. It became a 44-gun fourth rate ship of the line.
- Second Rebuild (1702): It was rebuilt again at Rotherhithe. This time, it became a fourth rate ship with 46 to 54 guns.
- Final Rebuild (1722): The last rebuild happened at Sheerness Dockyard. The ship was relaunched on November 12, 1722. It became a 50-gun fourth rate ship, following the 1706 Establishment design.
The Shipwreck of the Tyger
In December 1741, the Tyger was on blockade duty near Cuba. Its captain was Edward Herbert. He learned that Spanish ships were planning to sail between Havana, Cuba, and Vera Cruz, Mexico. Captain Herbert wanted to capture a valuable prize ship. So, he left his assigned area to get closer to where the Spanish ships were expected.
On January 11, 1742, the Tyger approached some low islands. The officers got confused. They first correctly thought the islands were the Dry Tortugas. But then they mistakenly thought they were the Reques Keys in the Grand Bahama Bank. That night, the ship hit a reef.
The crew managed to pull the ship off the reef. However, there was no anchor ready to be dropped. So, the ship ran onto the reef again, and this time it was stuck for good.
Stranded on Garden Key
The ship's crew moved to Garden Key, bringing food and water. A rumor spread that since the ship was wrecked, they were no longer under naval rules. Captain Herbert told them they were still under naval authority. He said everyone needed to work together to save themselves. They set up a camp on the island using sailcloth for tents.
On January 18, the ship's longboat (a large boat carried on a ship) sailed with nine men. They went to New Providence in the Bahamas to get help. The officers still thought they were near the Bahamas, so they expected a short trip.
Captain Herbert worried about being found by the Spanish. He had the ship's 9-pounder and 6-pounder guns moved to the island. They were set up on new gun platforms. The heavier 18-pounder guns were moved to the upper deck of the partially sunken ship. This way, they could defend the camp.
Three weeks after the longboat left, the ship's yawl (a smaller boat) also sailed. Eight men, led by Second Lieutenant Craig, went to seek help from New Providence. After sailing about 100 miles (160 km), the yawl reached what Lieutenant Craig knew were the "islands of Cape Florida" (the upper Florida Keys). There, they met some Spanish boats. A Spanish sloop chased the yawl, so Lieutenant Craig decided to return to Garden Key. Captain Herbert immediately sent a group of sailors and marines to try and capture some Spanish boats. They found an abandoned, damaged sloop and managed to sail it back to Garden Key.
Encountering the Spanish
On February 20, a Spanish half-galley came near the Tyger's wreck. The men working on the wreck went to shore, ready to defend themselves. But the Spanish only took some spars from the wreck to fix their mast. They sailed away the next day.
Two days later, a Spanish sloop approached Garden Key. The crew set fire to the Tygers wreck and again got ready to fight. During a talk under a flag of truce, the Spanish told the English that their longboat had been captured. Three of the crew were killed, and the rest were imprisoned in Havana. The Tygers crew refused an offer of food and water, and the Spanish sloop sailed away. Later, in 1743, the Governor of Cuba claimed that the Spanish had attacked and taken a launch and a sloop, killing twelve Englishmen.
The crew had been on reduced-rations since the first week on the island. Some crewmen noticed there was plenty of water and rum. They asked the captain for more rations, but he refused. The men then asked Royal Marine Lieutenant Scott to speak for them. When Scott gave a request to Captain Herbert, Herbert arrested Scott. The captain then explained to the crew that he didn't know how long they would be stuck. He read them the Articles of War, which are the rules for military behavior. The next day, the captain increased the water ration by one pint per man.
On March 7, the Spanish sloop returned. Even though it was well-armed, Captain Herbert decided to try and capture it. A total of 96 men boarded the captain's barge, the yawl, three periaguas (small boats captured near Cuba), and a canoe. They attacked the sloop. The boarding parties reached the sloop's deck, but the Spanish forced them back and sailed away. The barge sank, and several men were hurt, but no one from the Tyger's crew was killed.
Journey to Jamaica and the Trial
The crew prepared to leave Garden Key. They repaired the salvaged sloop. One periagua was made longer and set up with sails like a schooner. On March 19, the Tyger's crew boarded the sloop, the schooner-rigged periagua, the yawl, the two other periaguas, and the canoe. They set sail for Port Royal.
The canoe flipped over and sank after only two days, but its crew was saved by another boat. The small fleet sailed around the western end of Cuba. They reached the Cayman Islands in two weeks. But then, there was no wind for three weeks. Captain Herbert sent the schooner, which was slow, along the southern coast of Cuba. The sloop towed the rest of the boats directly to Jamaica. After six days, they reached the western end of Jamaica. There, they got water and supplies. It took another three weeks to reach Port Royal.
In Port Royal, Captain Herbert brought charges against Lieutenants Craig and Dennis. He said they were "remiss of duty" (didn't do their job well) during the attack on the Spanish sloop. He also charged Lieutenant Scott with "mutinous behavior" (trying to rebel).
A court-martial was held to try the lieutenants and Captain Herbert himself for losing his ship. Based on what the crewmen and the ship's doctor said, Lieutenants Craig and Dennis were found not guilty. The court decided that Lieutenant Scott had acted from being new and a bit rude, not from trying to rebel. He was given a strong warning.
Captain Herbert was found guilty of leaving his assigned patrol area. He was also found guilty of not having an anchor ready when the Tyger entered shallow water, which led to the ship being lost. However, the court also recognized Captain Herbert's leadership in saving his crew and getting them safely to Jamaica. So, he was only sentenced to lose all his pay for his time on the Tyger. The court even suggested he should continue serving in the Royal Navy.
Images for kids
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HMS Tyger taking the Dutch ship Shackerloo in Cadiz harbour in 1674
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Monument to William Berkeley in the Church of St Mary, Bruton, Somerset. He was captain of HMS Tyger in 1733.
