Stand On The Deck OfH M S Victory was Nelson's flagship, the pride and joy of the British Navy. H M S Victory is the oldest commissioned warship in the world. She was designed by Thomas Slade, her keel was laid down in Chatam on 23rd of July 1759 and she was launched on the 7th of May 1765. Once commissioned she became the most successful First Rate ship ever built. Capture the excitement, the feel of the wind in your face, the shouting of the crew and the formidable figure of Admiral Horatio Nelson, the greatest admiral in British history, bellowing out his orders and preparing for battle in the Battle of Trafalgar, where he was mortally wounded on the H M S Victory in his hour of triumph. The chronological events of the Battle 16 Miles Westward of Cape Trafalgar taken from H M S Victory's Ships Log are as follows: Sunday 20th October 1805 0600 : From Mars: I have discovered a strange fleet. 0630 : From Euryalus: 13 of the enemy ships have put to sea. 0646 : From Victory: Form the order of sailing in two lines. 0730 : From Euryalus: 22 of the enemy's ships have put to sea. 0845 : From Euryalus: 34 0f the enemy's ships have put to sea. 1030 : From Victory: Form order of sailing in two columns. 1420 : From Euryalus: An enemy is in sight: 36 Ships. 1520 : From Euryalus: The enemy seem determined to push to Westward; 30 ships. 2002 : From Victory: Wear and continue in same direction of sailing. Monday 21st October 1805 0601 : From Victory: Form the order of sailing in two columns. 0622 : From Victory: Prepare for Battle. Between 0810 and 1120 many signals were past throughout the British Fleet, they were mainly to do with the stationing of the Fleet. 1100 : From Victory: Prepare to anchor after the close of day. 1130 : The enemy started Firing on Royal Sovereign. 1140 : Royal Sovereign commenced Firing on enemy. 1140 : Repeated by Euryalus from Victory: I intend to push or go through the enemy's line to prevent them getting to Cadiz. 1145 : From Victory: Make all sail possible with safety to the masts. 1148 : From Victory: England Expects That Every Man Will Do His Duty. 1150 : Enemy began firing at Victory. During this period Victory's wheel was shot way. 1204 : Victory's Larboard (port) Guns opened at the enemy's Van. The first gun to fire was Victory's 68lb Carronade filled with 500 musket balls and one 68lb ball, into the rear of the French ship Bucentaure. The Flagship of Admiral Villeneuve. 1220 : Victory's Tiller ropes shot away. 1315 : Admiral Nelson hit by musket ball from Redoutable. 1630 : His Lordship Breathed His Last. Even after the Battle of Trafalgar she continued her illustrious career and was involved in two Baltic campaigns under Admiral Saumarez. She retired on the 17th of November 1812 and was moored in Portsmouth Harbour. She was moved into her present dock in Portsmouth and has been undergoing restoration by the Royal Navy
|
