User:HMS Victory/HMS Victory

HMS Victory=

The world's oldest commissioned warship...

HMS Victory is a 104 gun, First Rate Ship of the Line. And serves as a warship in the Royal Navy. She is best known as being Nelson's flagship at the Battle of Trafalgar.

= History =

In 1758, during the height of the Seven Years War, HMS Victory was ordered by the Admiralty to be built as a First Rate for the Royal Navy. During the time, the ship had no name. In 1759, construction started and her keel was laid down on the same year. Her construction was not finished until 1765, of where she was finally named and launched. However, she was expected to stay in dry dock for several months in order to season (dry up) to increase her longevity. But with the Seven Years War coming to a close, she was left dry docked for three years to season. Heavily increasing her durability.

In 1769, HMS Victory was put into sea trials, of where she finally laid aground on water for the first time. And was finally commissioned as a warship in 1778 as the Flagship of Admiral Keppel in the Mediterranean, to fight a new war against the French.

= First Battle of Ushant - 1778 =

As the Flagship of the Royal Fleet, Victory lead her ships into battle against the opposing French Fleet. The battle was indecisive however, with the French suffering little casualties...

= Second battle of Ushant =

Victory, now leading a smaller fleet of some twelve British ships, were able to intercept a French convoy in poor weather. And managed to capture fifteen French ships.

= Battle of Cape Spartel - 1782 =

With Victory leading thirty five British ships after resupplying in Grabaltar for the third time after a three year long Great Seige, they then encountered and engaged an enemy fleet of 38 French and Spanish warships. The battle again was indecisive for the British.

= Battle of Cape St Vincent - 1797 =

Under the command of Admiral sir John Jervis in Cape St Vincent. The fleet of fifteen British ships engaged a Spanish fleet of 27 ships. With the British winning the battle, they managed to capture four Spanish ships and 3,000 Spanish sailors.

= Career as a Prison - Hospital ship =

Soon after the battle of Cape St Vincent, HMS Victory was old of age, and was sent back to Britain and was used as a Prison - Hospital ship. Until 1800...

= The great repair - 1800 - 1803 =

After three years as a Prison - Hospital ship, the Admiralty ordered to have the Victory repaired and re-commissioned as a warship. She was re-floated in 1803 and finally back into the commission as a warship...

= Chasing the French - Spring to Fall of 1805 =

During the Napoleonic Wars. The French emperor, Napoleon ordered the French Admiral Villeneuve and the Spanish Admiral Federico Gravina y Napoli to sail their fleet to the Mediterranean. Then to the West Indies and eventually back to Europe in Cadiz and cross the English Channel to invade England. The British Admiral Lord Nelson, who was commanding Victory and a British Fleet of some 27 Ships of The Line while blockading Toulon. Formed a loose blockade in an attempt to lure the French for a major battle.

But with multiple storms the French fleet avoided the British and sailed for the Strait of Gibraltar to meet up with the Spanish. Nelson thought that the French sailed to Egypt, and made way there. Turns out, they weren't there, and he finally realized that they had sailed off into the Atlantic, and led a chase to find the French. Upon the French and Spainsh reaching the West Indies, with Nelson on pursuit, they then sailed back to Europe. Along there way back, the Franco-Spanish fleet were engaged by Vice-Admiral Robert Calder.

With the Franco-Spainsh fleet losing two Spanish ships from the encounter, Villeneuve decided to sail for Ferrol in Spain. Rather than sailing to Cadiz that was according to Napoleon's plan was for him to sail there. Nelson sails to Britain and orders his Frigates to spy on the Franco-Spanish, fifty miles from Ferrol. In early fall while the British were still in England, Nelson received news about the Franco-Spanish fleet, readied his ships, and sets up his plan...

=The Battle of Trafalgar=

In fall October 1805, Nelson, Victory and his other British ships sailed to Spain, Cadiz. To engage the Franco-Spanish fleet. Before battle, Nelson devised a plan to: split his fleet into two colomns. One led by him and one led by Colingwood (another British Admiral of the fleet.) Cut the enemy lines in three and sink their flagship as fast as possible, to turn the Franco-Spanish into a confused mob. And then allow Collingwood to deal with two thirds of the line. Nelson's fleet also had many advantages agains't the Franco-Spanish fleet. The British sailors and Marines were very well trained. With French and Spanish poorly trained. The British fleet had gun lock cannons. Which are easier and faster to reload and fire. While the French and Spanish still had Linstock cannons. Cannons that need to be operated with caution.

As they sail into battle, Nelson signaled his famous signal to the whole Britsh fleet. "England expects that every man will do his duy!" Collingwood's column broke first into the enemy fleet, and eventually Nelson broke through, HMS Victory then engages the French ship Redoubtable. Le Redoutable was taking substantial damage from the mighty broadside of HMS Victory. But with French snipers on board, the crew of Victory were taken heavy fire from Musket pellets. Nelson was eventually shot by a French sniper, and was dragged down into the ship. The top deck and Quater deck of Victory were evacuated, and she ceased fire. The crew of Redoutable were about to board HMS Victory, but Redoutable was caught by surprise when another British ship named 'HMS Temeraire' approached the starboard bow of her and fired a broadside, causing many casualties to Redoutable.

As more British ships entered battle, the British began to prevail, and eventually the Franco-Spanish fleet surrendered to the British. The Franco-Spanish fleet lost twenty two ships that day, but with the British not even losing one ship. Making it the most decisive naval battle in British history.

=After battle=

= Today =

HMS Victory today sitting  Drydocked at Portsmouth.

http://vignette3.wikia.nocookie.net/poope/images/0/05/The_crowds_flock.jpeg/revision/latest/scale-to-width-down/320?cb=20151012104730


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