Wreck Sites of HMS Cerberus and HMS Lark, British naval wreck sites in Newport County, United States.
The wreck sites of HMS Cerberus and HMS Lark are submerged remains of British naval vessels located in Narragansett Bay on the west side of Aquidneck Island near South Portsmouth. Both ships now rest on the seabed where they sank, forming distinct archaeological sites that researchers continue to study.
In August 1778, both British frigates were deliberately sunk and set on fire by their captains to prevent capture by approaching French naval forces. This action took place during the American Revolutionary War when French-American forces threatened British control of the region.
The wreck sites represent significant archaeological evidence of naval warfare during the American Revolutionary War and British maritime operations in Rhode Island.
The wreck sites are completely underwater and accessible only to specialized diving operations and marine research teams. Any exploration requires proper permits and professional expertise in handling underwater archaeological sites.
The explosion of HMS Lark's gunpowder magazine scattered ship fragments across a wide area of the seabed. This dispersal pattern helps archaeologists understand the force of the blast and how the vessel broke apart.
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