Hazardous (ship) facts for kids

The Hazardous was once a French warship named Le Hazardeux. It was a large sailing ship, known as a "ship of the line," that carried many cannons. The English navy captured this ship, and it became HMS Hazardous. Sadly, the ship later sank in a place called Bracklesham Bay, which is in West Sussex, England.

The remains of the Hazardous were discovered in 1977. Because it's an important historical site, the wreck was officially protected in 1986. Today, Historic England helps to look after this underwater historical treasure.

The Ship's Story

Le Hazardeux was designed by a person named Pierre Coulomb. It was built in France in 1698. This ship was made from strong pine and oak wood. It was a "third-rate" ship, meaning it was a powerful warship for its time, originally carrying 50 guns.

The ship was about 137 feet long and 38 feet wide. It weighed around 725 tons, which is very heavy! It was launched into the water in 1699.

In 1703, Le Hazardeux was used by a privateer, which was like a private ship allowed to attack enemy ships. Later that same year, two English ships, the Warspite and the Orford, captured Le Hazardeux. The English then added it to their own navy and renamed it HMS Hazardous. They even added four more cannons, making it a 54-gun ship.

In 1706, the Hazardous was sailing back from America as part of a huge group of 200 ships. During this journey, it hit a sandbank between two places called Selsey and East Wittering. The ship got stuck and was wrecked, meaning it was destroyed and sank.

What's Left of the Wreck

Today, the wreck of the Hazardous lies on the seabed. One part, believed to be the front (bow) of the ship, is located towards the north. Another section, thought to be the back (stern), is further south. It looks like the ship broke in the middle when it sank.

Finding and Studying the Wreck

A single cannon from the area was found in 1966. More cannons were discovered in 1977, which led to the identification of the wreck site.

During the 1980s, archaeologists dug around the site and studied it carefully. They found many interesting objects from the late 1600s and early 1700s. In 2014, a group called Wessex Archaeology used special equipment to scan the area. They found even more cannons near the wreck! Because of these new discoveries, the protected area around the wreck was made larger to keep these finds safe.

Scientists and archaeologists continue to regularly check and study the site to learn more about the Hazardous and its history.