The BBC suggests the debate over the sinking of the “mightiest vessel of the 18th Century” can now be put to rest with the ‘Mighty’ HMS Victory wreck found:

The discovery of HMS Victory exonerates Admiral Sir John Balchin, who came out of retirement to command the ship, on what was meant to be his final voyage.

Historians believed the ship was lost due to poor navigation on the Casquets, a group of rocks north-west of Alderney.

But the wreck’s location, 62 miles (100km) away from the rocks, suggests the 74-year-old admiral was not to blame.

Who then? Who is to blame? Mother nature? The architects? How could this 2,000 ton, 175 ft, 100-gun entirely brass cannon First Rate ship of the Royal Navy sink just three years after being name the flagship of the Channel Fleet?