HMS Sapphire was a 32-gun fifth-rate warship built in 1675 by Sir Anthony Deane at Harwich for the Royal Navy, costing £4,175. As a fifth-rate vessel, Sapphire was designed for versatility, carrying a significant armament for its size. The ship played a notable role during King William’s War, primarily escorting fishing vessels across the North Atlantic near Newfoundland to defend them from French attacks. In 1696, under the command of Captain Thomas Cleasby, Sapphire was involved in a crucial engagement at Bay Bulls Harbour, Newfoundland. During this encounter on September 11, 1696, the ship was cornered by a French squadron. Facing imminent capture, Cleasby ordered the vessel to be set on fire to prevent its seizure. The crew abandoned the burning ship, which was subsequently destroyed when the fire reached the powder magazine, causing an explosion. Cleasby escaped overland but was captured and later exchanged as a prisoner. He was tried by a Royal Navy Court Martial for "Loss of ship by setting on fire" but was honorably acquitted, praised for his courage and conduct. The wreck of HMS Sapphire lies approximately 61 meters from shore in about 15 meters of water, discovered in the 1960s. Salvage efforts recovered cannons and artifacts, including ceramics and glassware from the late seventeenth century, highlighting its historical significance. The site, designated a Provincial Historic Site in 1974, has yielded notable artifacts such as an Ottoman pipe bowl and a nocturnal instrument. Since then, it has been protected under Newfoundland and Labrador’s Historic Resources Act and is a popular site for recreational divers. The condition of the wreck remains relatively good, with much of its structure preserved beneath the silt, offering valuable insights into 17th-century naval architecture and maritime history.

This description has been generated using GPT-4.1-NANO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.