Nelson at Trafalgar

[thomm225]

This guy was pretty awesome and did some wild stuff back in the day not all of which was good.

His new attack plan at Trafalgar though was brilliant

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9PsSLAK1u0

[DumnMad]

A great video and fascinating bit of history - thanks.

[Marko_Vulesica]

As a history professor and sailing enthusiast I always admired Nelson. It was somehow destined form him to die on the ship. Anything else would be unnatural.
For those who would like to know more about heroes of the sea, I give you one battle and one hero: Wilhelm von Tegetthoff and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Lissa_(1866)

[crghsam]

When Britannia really did rule the waves

[John_Trusty]

For those with more than a passing interest, Nelson was more than "Trafalgar" that introduced a novel tactic for fleet engagements (splitting a column). He was one of the thought leaders of his day on naval professionalism and expanding the capabilities of the navy as a strategic force.

[thomm225]

During the attack at Trafalgar, Nelson stood in plain site chatting with another Officer aboard Victory as his column slowly made it's way toward the Combined French and Spanish Fleet (as detailed in the video above)

They were taking constant bombardment at the same time............Collingwood's Column did arrive and open fire first.

https://www.google.com/search?biw=12...63RGGkRBevbTM:

[Pete7]

Originally Posted by John_Trusty

For those with more than a passing interest, Nelson was more than "Trafalgar" that introduced a novel tactic for fleet engagements (splitting a column). He was one of the thought leaders of his day on naval professionalism and expanding the capabilities of the navy as a strategic force.

I thought Nelson first used "crossing the T" in Egypt when he sailed through and round the back of the French who failed to understand the smaller English ships with a shallower draft could sail into the shallow water. Thereby bringing the guns to bear on the French who now had their guns on the wrong side,

Lots of Folk in the Royal Navy think Collingwood was the better tactician, Nelson being a bit gun ho particularly in the land battles in the Caribbean campaigns.

Pete

[roverhi]

Tje British officers all stood at their stations which for an Admiral and Captain of the ship was the exposed Poop Deck. The height of bravery or stupidity depending on how you looked at it. Nelson and the other officers didn't wear their full dress uniforms into battle but they weren't inconspicuous. Believe Nelson wore some kind of tunic with facsimile's of his medals on it so he wouldn't have been exactly camouflaged. All Navies assigned marine or other sharpshooter to the mast to shoot the officers. A tribute to the smooth bore muskets, the motion of the ships and marksmanship of the riflemen tha any officers on either side survived.

Nelson was hit fairly early on in the battle and the ship continued at close quarter battle for several hours afterward. At the end the ship was near total wreck with it's masts shot away and much hull damage. It had to be towed back to Gibraltar for a total refit before it could put to sea again. The real reason the British won is they were much better at handling the heavy guns because of constant practice. They were able to reload and fire two to three times as fast as their French or Spanish opposition. Possibly because the revolution in France guillotined many of the competent officers in the Navy and their extensive time holed up in port because of the Brit Blockade, the opposition wasn't up to the fighting level of the Brits.

[Lepke]

At the time, Britain, because of world wide holdings, had access to the top ingredients for gunpowder and had vast quantities. It allowed extensive practice for both the army and navy. Like the navy, the army could out shoot their opponents in shots per minute. The British Army was the only army to consistently beat the French and their allies.
Several of the captured ships at Trafalgar were lost to a storm following the battle due to their sail damage and small crews. Ships taken into the British navy were purchased from their captors. A top heavy system that made many captains and admirals rich. Nobody seriously challenged the British at sea for a hundred years. Until the Kaiser.
The British navy also invented all the major features of US super carriers. The first flight deck, steam catapult, angled flight deck were all their designs. And the battleship before that.

[GordMay]

Greetings and welcome to the CF, crghsam.

[atoll]

don't forget the RUM the sailors were half sozzeled most of the time,so utterly fearless!

[jmorrison146]

Great video, thanks for sharing.

[admiralslater]

On my fiftieth birthday we went to Portsmouth to Vist the Victory ,it was early March cloudy blustery cold ,just the right weather to keep Portsmouth empty. It was hard to hear on the deck of the Victory due to the screaming rigging. We were the only ones on board so the crew man took us all over . Just fantastic. He told us that the rigging was reduced to 1third of it he normal ropes . I can only imagine what the noise. Would have been like fulley rigged. All the canons but one are for as the weight of real ones s sold crush the hull.

[Pete7]

The top masts are down at the moment for refurbishment so she looks a little odd.

We also have a pair of American destroyers in town, wifey says they are all very polite with lots of "Yes Mam" at the end of every sentence. I think its a ruse and they are just after our gals