Divers Discover Ship Frozen In Time: Ruins Exposed Nearly 200 Years After Crew’s Disappearance

Scott Croker | December 13, 2023 3:28 pm

200 years ago, the HMS Terror set sail on an arctic expedition, never to be seen again... until now! This legendary English warship, once a veteran of the War of 1812, was thought to have been lost to the depths of the ocean forever. But the adventure wasn't over just yet! A team of daring divers recently discovered the wreck, and you won't believe what they uncovered on the ocean floor. Continue reading to step back in time as we dive into the story of the HMS Terror!

The HMS Terror Set Sail In 1845 With A Simple Goal

Engraving of HMS Erebus and HMS Terror
Getty Images
Getty Images

HMS Terror and HMS Erebus set sail from England in 1845 to explore the Arctic. The goal of the expedition was simple -- continue to map the Northwest Passage while gathering magnetic data.

The reality of how difficult the expedition was, however, was unprecedented. There were an estimated 130 crew members between both ships, all being led by Arctic explorer Sir John Franklin. Both ships were lost, and no one ever made back home to tell their tale.

ADVERTISEMENT

This Was A Well-Equipped Expedition

ADVERTISEMENT
The HMS Terror in the ice...
DeAgostini/Getty Images
DeAgostini/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

Knowing the expedition ahead was going to be long and dangerous, HMS Terror and HMS Erebus were both made as safe as possible. Each ship had enough food for three years, iron covered hulls, steam engines, and top of the line scientific equipment.

ADVERTISEMENT

The polar expedition was one of the most well-equipped to ever leave the shores of England. The last time either ship was seen was three months later. So what went wrong?

ADVERTISEMENT

The Ship Vanished

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
HMS Erebus took part in the Ross expedition of 1839-1843.
Universal History Archive/Universal Images Group via Getty Images
Universal History Archive/Universal Images Group via Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

After being lost, there were multiple attempts made to find the missing ships to no avail. As the years passed, it seemed less and less likely the remains of HMS Terror would ever be found.

ADVERTISEMENT

Still, scientists couldn't let the mystery go unsolved. How could two of the most well-equipped exploratory vessels in the English fleet go missing? What happened to them? Scientists needed to find the answers, and eventually, their patience would pay off.

ADVERTISEMENT

It Was Finally Located In 2016

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
uta-scholl-QiL4uFz1wuc-unsplash
Uta Scholl/Unsplash
Uta Scholl/Unsplash
ADVERTISEMENT

Finally, after over a century, HMS Eberus was found in 2014 beneath the Canadian Arctic Ocean. Two years later, in 2016, HMS Terror was located. The mystery didn't end here, though. The ships still had secrets, like what happened to their crews.

ADVERTISEMENT

Upon searching the wreckage of the ships, not a single set of remains from a single crew member was found. That indicated that everyone on board was forced to abandon their ships. But for what reason?

ADVERTISEMENT

Its Disappearance Was Still A Mystery

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Sir James Clark Ross Antarctic Expedition
Getty Images
Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

As scientists began to explore the wreckage, they were able to piece together clues indicating that before the ships sank they were stuck in the ice. It was getting trapped that likely made the crew abandon the boats.

ADVERTISEMENT

Still, one mystery remained. There was no damage to HMS Terror to indicate why the ship would have sunk. There were no hull breaches, but from the way the ship landed it was clear that it had sunk swiftly and without warning.

ADVERTISEMENT

It Must Have Sunk In The Spring

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
behzad-bisadi-HXcA1A9xThY-unsplash
behzad bisadi/Unsplash
behzad bisadi/Unsplash
ADVERTISEMENT

Another strange clue indicating that the ships never should have sunk was the placement of the propeller. During winter, a mechanism would be used to lift it out of the water to avoid freezing.

ADVERTISEMENT

The propeller on HMS Terror was in the down position, indicating it likely sunk in the spring. During spring, weather conditions wouldn't be nearly as severe as winter. Would a dive crew be able to uncover clues to solve the mystery?

ADVERTISEMENT

The Fate Of The Crew

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
hms terror crew working
DeAgostini/Getty Images
DeAgostini/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

As you already know, no remains of any crew member were discovered at the spot of the wreckage. With so many years having passed since HMS Terror sank, scientists could only piece together clues from accounts of previous explorers.

ADVERTISEMENT

The fate of the crew was discovered during a series of expeditions from 1848 to 1866. These investigations discovered that while every crew member made it off the ships, no one survived the harsh weather and lack of food as they tried to traverse to Fort Resolution for safety.

ADVERTISEMENT

One Revealing Record Recovered

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
letter found on the hms terror
Wikimedia Commons
Wikimedia Commons
ADVERTISEMENT

Between HMS Terror's sinking and discovery in 2016, some artifacts from crew members were found. The most valuable piece was a piece of paper that was the only physical record of the ship's wreck.

ADVERTISEMENT

The captain of the Terror, Francis Crozier, wrote the letter. The shaky and clearly rushed letter explains that the crews abandoned the ships on April 22nd, and only 105 remained three days later. This was the last correspondence written by the captain.

ADVERTISEMENT

A Small Window To Explore

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
The shipwreck of H.M.S. Majestic in Gallipoli Historical Underwater Park
Photo by Mahmut Serdar Alakus/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
Photo by Mahmut Serdar Alakus/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

Because of where HMS Terror was wrecked and discovered, it is nearly impossible to explore the wreckage. Harsh weather conditions made diving only manageable for a small window of time, and even then the human body struggles with the water's frigid temperatures.

ADVERTISEMENT

One of the scientists from the wreckage exploration crew explains the window like this, "a few weeks if you're lucky, a few days if you're not." As the team prepared to dive, would they get lucky?

ADVERTISEMENT

Technology To The Rescue

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
PHILIPPINES-US-MARITIME
Photo by TED ALJIBE / AFP) (Photo by TED ALJIBE/AFP via Getty Images
Photo by TED ALJIBE / AFP) (Photo by TED ALJIBE/AFP via Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

Eventually, the team of scientists and divers came across their exploration window. The time was now or never, and they didn't want to blow their chance. To make sure they got the information they needed, they sent a robot down into the wreckage with the divers.

ADVERTISEMENT

The robot, which was remotely operated, could map out the ship, revealing wonders the team never thought possible. Can you guess what they found?

ADVERTISEMENT

Finding The Unexpected

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
http___cdn.cnn.com_cnnnext_dam_assets_190829024015-06-canada-shipwreck-franklin-scli-intl
Ryan Harris/AFP/Getty Images
Ryan Harris/AFP/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

As they approached HMS Terror, the divers couldn't believe their eyes. The ship was intact and surprisingly well-preserved. Because of the icy conditions of the water, the ship didn't look close to its nearly 200 years of lost beauty.

ADVERTISEMENT

The scientists began referring to the boat as "frozen in time" because of the pristine condition it was still in. The handler of the robot even remarked that the Terror looked like it had just recently been abandoned!

ADVERTISEMENT

A Ghost Ship

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
http___cdn.cnn.com_cnnnext_dam_assets_190829023918-03-canada-shipwreck-franklin-scli-intl
Ryan Harris/AFP/Getty Images
Ryan Harris/AFP/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

The dive crew entered the ship, which was eerily empty. There were 20 bedrooms for crewmen, all of which had their doors wide open. Inside the rooms, the drawers and desks were all tightly sealed, keeping their secrets hidden.

ADVERTISEMENT

As divers continued to explore the ship, the mystery would only deepen. There were still a lot of secrets to be revealed, and eventually, some, although not all of the explorers' questions would be answered.

ADVERTISEMENT

One Mystery Remains

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Coast Guard icebreaker CCGS
Paul Watson/Toronto Star via Getty Images
Paul Watson/Toronto Star via Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

The crew, with the help of the robot, was able to explore the entire ship except for one room -- the captain's quarters. When they arrived at the room, it was locked and there was no way to get inside.

ADVERTISEMENT

Because the captain's quarters were below deck, it was also impossible to get into them through the roof of the ship. The only thing the crew could do was use flashlights to try and get a look inside.

ADVERTISEMENT

What Could Be Inside

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Franklin Expedition
Paul Watson/Toronto Star via Getty Images
Paul Watson/Toronto Star via Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

While peering into the captain's quarters from the outside of HMS Terror, the crew was able to see a tripod, thermometers, an armchair, and a desk covered in sediment. Unfortunately, they couldn't get inside to find anything else.

ADVERTISEMENT

If the crew were able to get inside they could possibly uncover documents or even more important clues as to what happened to the ship. Surely the captain kept a written record of what was happening, and that record was likely kept secure somewhere in his quarters.

ADVERTISEMENT

HMS Terror Was Almost Discovered In 2009

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
hms terror painting
Illustrated London News/Getty Images
Illustrated London News/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

Seven years before HMS Terror was officially discovered, it was nearly accidentally discovered by Sammy Kogvik. Kogvik, interestingly enough, would be the reason the ship was found so quickly in 2016.

ADVERTISEMENT

Kogvik was sailing with colleagues in 2009 near the area where HMS Terror would later be found when he saw a wooden pole sticking out of the ice. As he went to grab his camera, it fell into the water. When he recovered his camera, the pole had sunk beneath the surface.

ADVERTISEMENT

Preserved Pictures

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
640px-HMS_Terror_dish_set
Wikimedia Commons / Oaktree b / Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0
Wikimedia Commons / Oaktree b / Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0
ADVERTISEMENT

Other important artifacts the crew hoped to find were preserved pictures. Remember, because of the unique condition of the wreckage, valuable artifacts could be surprisingly well preserved. Pictures, if recovered, could provide some of the best clues about what happened.

ADVERTISEMENT

We know there were pictures taken on the expedition because, according to historians, the crew traveled with a daguerreotype camera. The camera was incredibly high quality, and any pictures taken on it would be of immense importance.

ADVERTISEMENT

Kogvik Kept Quiet Until The Time Was Right

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Physical Map Of Nunavut
Photo By Encyclopaedia Britannica/UIG Via Getty Images
Photo By Encyclopaedia Britannica/UIG Via Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

With no proof of such a strange discovery, Sammy Kogvik kept quiet about his stick in the ice for years. It was only when he joined the expedition looking for HMS Terror that he knew he had found something.

ADVERTISEMENT

The site the crew was looking at included the area he saw the stick. Kogvik told his colleagues, and they decided to investigate his strange claim. Less than two and a half hours after starting their search, HMS Terror was found in 79 feet of water.

ADVERTISEMENT

The Findings Will Be Co-Owned

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Canadian National flag waving on a clear sunny day...
Photo by Roberto Machado Noa/LightRocket via Getty Images
Photo by Roberto Machado Noa/LightRocket via Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

Because of where HMS Terror was situated, the findings of the discovery are under co-ownership of the Inuit people of the area and the government of Canada. This partnership will benefit both sides for one major reason.

ADVERTISEMENT

By co-owning the discovery, the Inuit people and the Canadian government can continue to work together on future research initiatives. Another dive could reveal even more about the story of HMS Terror, like what was in the Captain's quarters.

ADVERTISEMENT

The Story Isn't Over

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Ship Fox sailing in the ice of the Arctic Ocean
via Getty Images
via Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

While dive crews seemed to have been left with more questions than answers, they are convinced that with more research everything will make sense. By getting to the bottom of the ocean, one crew member claims they will "get to the bottom of the story."

ADVERTISEMENT

Where that story leads is anyone's guess. With no records indicating what happened to the crew or how the ship sunk we are only left with tall tales and legends.

ADVERTISEMENT

HMS Terror In Pop Culture

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
the-terror tv show
AMC
AMC
ADVERTISEMENT

Because no one knows exactly what happened on HMS Terror, Hollywood has, of course, stepped up to fill the gaps. In 2018, The Terror debuted on AMC as an anthology series, with the first season telling the horrific tale of the lost ship and its crew.

ADVERTISEMENT

In the television series, which itself is based on a book, the crew of HMS Terror was taught to survive the harsh weather conditions outside while being trapped in the ice. And did we mention something supernatural is stalking the crew?