AH-WR-1431

Great Ranger

Sloop-Of-War · Pirate command (formerly France) · Lost Damaged in the August 1722 Port Royal hurricane and sank later for lack of repair; exact date of final loss not established · Cuba & the Greater Antilles

A captured French sloop-of-war turned pirate consort under Bartholomew Roberts, wrecked at Port Royal after the 1722 hurricane that also destroyed his flagship.

Captain of Record

Scott P Blaney

AHR-1886

Artistic recreation based on recorded historical documents. See the documented evidence.

Interpretive Reconstruction, drawn to convey the vessel's era, type and general form. See the documented evidence.

The Vessel and Her Loss

Originally the French sloop-of-war Comte de Toulouse, this vessel was captured and renamed Ranger by the pirate fleet of Bartholomew Roberts. Brought to Port Royal, Jamaica, as a prize after Roberts' death in February 1722, she was badly damaged in the hurricane that destroyed sister prizes Royal Fortune and Little Ranger, and sank later for lack of repair. Texas A&M graduate researchers reported recording her remains during a 2012 field season.

Vessel

Built: Not established
Builder: Not established
Yard: Not established
Material: Wood
Length: Not established
Beam: Not established
Tonnage: Not established
Propulsion: Sail
Owners: Captured French sloop-of-war taken into Bartholomew Roberts' pirate fleet and renamed

Loss

Date: Damaged in the August 1722 Port Royal hurricane and sank later for lack of repair; exact date of final loss not established
Cause: Storm
Location: Port Royal harbor, Jamaica
Water: Kingston Harbour, Jamaica
Voyage: Captured off West Africa as the 16-gun sloop-of-war Comte de Toulouse → Port Royal, Jamaica, for condemnation and sale
Cargo: Not established
Aboard: Not established
Lives lost: Not established
Master: Not established

The Wreck Today

Depth: Not established
Condition: Remains recorded by a Texas A&M Nautical Archaeology Program field team in the summer preceding a 2013 conference presentation
Orientation: Not established
Discovered: 2012
Protection: Within the Port Royal submerged town and harbor site protected by the Jamaica National Heritage Trust

Position

Coordinates: Not established
Accuracy: Position not established
Nearest: Port Royal, Jamaica
Region: Cuba & the Greater Antilles

The 2013 academic summary describes recording of remains but does not publish coordinates.

Evidence

Overall confidence: Partially documented (58/100)

The exact date of final sinking and the current condition or precise location of the recorded remains are not established in the sources reviewed.

Society for Historical Archaeology / tDAR (Gulseth, 2013)
Recording of Great Ranger remains, damage and later sinking
Battle of Cape Lopez (Wikipedia, citing period naval accounts)
Capture and renaming of Comte de Toulouse as Ranger