Accident type | : Wrecked |
Vessel involved | : HMS Sussex |
Location | : Strait of Gibraltar |
Date | : 1st March 1694 |
Casualties | : 498 people died |
VESSEL INFO:
Name | : HMS Sussex |
Built | : 1693 |
Class & type | : 80-gun 3rd-rate ship of the line |
Tons burthen | : 1263 bm |
Length | : 157 ft 2 in (47.9 m) |
Beam | : 41 ft 4 in (12.6 m) |
HMS Sussex was an 80-gun third-rate ship of the line of the English Royal Navy launched at Chatham Dockyard on 11th April 1693 and was the pride of the Royal Navy.
On 27th February, a violent storm hit the flotilla near the Strait of Gibraltar and in the early morning of 1st March 1694, HMS Sussex sank. There were only two survivors out of a crew of 500.
On board were possibly 10 tons of gold coins. This could now be worth more than $500 million, including the bullion and antiquity values, making it one of the most valuable wrecks ever.
Source: Wikipedia