For over a century, the wreckage of a British warship lay hidden on the seabed, a remnant of World War I. Now, a team of specialist divers from Lost In Waters Deep claims to have discovered the long-lost HMS Hawke, which was sunk by a German U-boat on October 15, 1914. According to the organization's Facebook post on Monday, the wreck was found off the coast of Scotland.

The divers, led by Will Schwarz, were astonished by the condition of the wreck. Resting on its starboard side, the ship appears quite intact. Remarkably, the guns on the ship still gleamed with a polished sheen, appearing active as if they had just been prepared for battle. The divers described the sight as "absolutely beautiful." However, the team remained solemnly aware that 524 individuals lost their lives on the ship.

When the torpedo struck the HMS Hawke, it took merely seven minutes for the warship to succumb to the depths of the sea. Historians believe that the ship's ammunition magazine exploded, adding to the devastating loss of life. Notably, among the casualties were several cadets, some of whom were as young as 14 years old.

The whereabouts of the wreck were determined by Lost In Waters Deep and Buchan Divers, organizations dedicated to identifying Scottish shipwrecks. Through a meticulous process, evidence such as logbooks from the German U-boat and surviving ships in the area that witnessed the attack were gathered. This information, along with examination of admiralty charts, eventually led the team to scan the seabed in search of the elusive wreck.

After encountering a large object on the seabed, the divers descended to a depth of 110 meters (361 feet) and confirmed the discovery of the HMS Hawke this past Sunday. Due to the depth, their initial dive was limited to just 20 minutes. However, they returned on Wednesday for a further exploration of the shipwreck. Although human remains were not visible, crockery, bridge gear, and navigation equipment could still be identified. The ship's teak decks were surprisingly well-preserved.

While no definitive proof, such as a named bell, was recovered, the divers are confident that they have indeed found the HMS Hawke. There is only one registered warship lost in that area, and the wreck's features align with an Edgar-class destroyer, leaving little doubt about its identity. Schwarz expressed the possibility of future attempts to retrieve an identifying feature, but firmly stated, "there's no way she's anything else" than the HMS Hawke.

The discovery of the intact wreck has offered a glimpse into history and a solemn reminder of the sacrifices made during World War I. The restoration of this lost warship's story will undoubtedly help shed light on a significant moment in maritime history.