For this task, Admiral Balchin was provided with the most powerful fleet. The HMS Victory was the fifth Royal Navy ship to carry its name. It was also the largest ship in the world at the time of its launch in 1737 at Portsmouth in the U.K. With a burden of 1,921 tons and a gun deck more than 174 feet long, the HMS Victory was the flagship of the Channel Fleet, properly armed with 110 heavily decorated brass guns bearing George the First's monogram. On the main gun deck, she boasted 28 cannons that fired 42-pound projectiles, the heaviest in use at sea at that time. After chasing away the French fleet and relieving the convoy, Admiral Balchin set sail for home on Sept. 28, 1744. Two days later, he entered the Bay of Biscay. On Oct. 3, he was overtaken by a violent storm, which dispersed his large fleet. All other ships arrived -- shattered but safe -- at their destination a week later. It wasn't so for the HMS Victory. Her tragic fate is recorded in the 1787 account: "Early in the morning she sunk, and every person on board perished ... One of the most experienced admirals, together with eleven hundred and fifty men, were lost in a moment, and passed together through the gloomy valley that separates time from eternity." The HMS Victory and the Florida-based company responsible for its discovery, Odyssey Marine Exploration, will be featured in the fourth episode of the Discovery Channel's original series Treasure Quest on Thursday, Feb. 5 at 10 P.M. (ET/PT). "This has been a mystery for 250 years and with the help of Odyssey, we can close the loop on one of the greatest historically significant finds in maritime history," said John Ford, president and general manager of the Discovery Channel. Related Links: HowStuffWorks.com: Photos of the Titanic Discovery Channel: The Titanic |
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