Wreck of Captain Cook's legendary HMS Endeavour discovered off US coast

Researchers claim to have found the wreckage of the HMS Endeavour, a British Royal Navy research vessel once commanded by the famous British explorer James Cook which was scuttled near Newport, Rhode Island in 1778.

The vessel, which sank off the United States during the American Revolutionary War, is believed to be one of the most distinguished ships in naval history.

Cook commanded the ship between 1768 and 1771, when his famous voyage to map the uncharted waters of the South Pacific Ocean took place; for years the wreck's whereabouts have remained a mystery.

The HMS Endeavour reportedly passed through a number of hands before finally being renamed the Lord Sandwich and used in the British blockade of the rebellious American colonies.

It was tracked by the Rhode Island Marine Archaeology Project (RIMAP) which said that they found the wreckage at a site that included five other vessels and that is located off the state of Rhode Island in Newport Harbor.

"We know from its size, dimension and these records that the Sandwich was the Endeavour," RIMAP said, adding that they plan to launch a campaign to finance the construction of a storage facility for accommodating possible artifacts which might be found at the site.

Kazinform refers to Sputniknews.com

Photo: © AP Photo/ Ronen Zilberman