HMForces.co.uk

An American treasure-hunting company found HMS Victory's remains last week 1st Feb 2009. But a bit of an argument's started over it.

In 1744 HMS Victory, full with four tons of Portuguese gold, and predecessor to Admiral Nelson's vessel of the same name, sank with all 1,150 of its crew. The exploration company is now planning to salvage its gold cargo from the depths of the English Channel. 

However, international Archaeologists accuse the Florida-based Odyssey Marine Exploration of combining technological surveying methods with commercial ambition and greed. They have also criticised the MoD "indulging in hypocrisy", after it became public that the ministry is in negotiations with Odyssey to share the proceeds. In addtion, the Spanish goverment claims that the Portuguese Gold was actually stolen by their ships which were victims of piracy in south Europe at that time. But isn't it finders-keepers?

If all the bullion is recovered (some of it will have been lost by the shifting sands), it's estimated that it could be worth 700m.

I agree with Birmingham. 700mil, thats a lot to go to waste. I find the Spanish view funny. They should get the gold that they stole from the Portugese? Shouldn't we then get is for stealing it from the Spanish?

They're still out in the Channel Islands looking for the bullion. How do we know it hasn't already been salvaged in the past? Those water are not that deep are they?

Stewart ive only just watched this program on SKY TV, i belive they should leave it be, British service men lost their lives on that boat, let them rest in peace.

I reckon that the only recipients of the 700 mill. should be all British sailors  aged over 75 who served in HMS Comet.

Under NO circumstances should the present government get so much as  grain of the sand it is in - servicemen died with it  - give it back Half to the serving troops for all that kit they need and the rest to the ex-servicemen this government hold in such contempt  - and it there is any left over - can I have it please?

Birmingham says ...

Seeing as how there would not be very much of the ship left, I hardly think it could be termed a grave. The Duke of York a war wreck from the second world war and an official "War grave" was opened to recover the Russian gold so whats the big deal here.

The local cemetery where I live has been grassed over and the head stones erected around the walls. People sit on the grass and eat their dinner, so why the fuss about a few planks 300 years old at the bottom of the oggin.

There has been thousands lost at sea, so what do we do, ban swimming or recreation in the Oceans and designate it all a cemetery?

Posession is 9 points of the law. British ship,= British gold, so normal rules of salvage,60% finders, 40% owners.

They should ban swimming as it's opostasy going down there. Have some respect.

yes but one day we will need that water for life. i still say stop diving on war graves for profite

 I may well be being thick here..............but isn't HMS Victory at the Naval Dockyard at Pompey?!!!!! Or am I imagining it? Or is this a different HMS Victory? 

NurseGladys says ...

 I may well be being thick here..............but isn't HMS Victory at the Naval Dockyard at Pompey?!!!!! Or am I imagining it? Or is this a different HMS Victory? 

I may be wrong but they are on about the "5th" HMS Victory, the one you mean NG is the "6th".

abbeyboy says ...

What about giving the gold to Julian Assange - but on one condition,let him freedive for it without any form of breathing apparatus. 

that really cracked me up

h.m.s victory is a war grave and should be left as such.

The BBC are still running this as a story. I can't believe we are sat talking about this still after its site was found 2 years ago.

What I don't understand is why isn't it protected as a wargrave by the UN (we have signed the charter for this as have 100's of other countries)?

And lets ignore the Spanish if they complain - King Philip II ran his entire economy on stolen gold from the Americas so they have no moral currency to moan.