HMS Victory

The HMS Victory was a super large British wooden sailing ship of the “first rate.”  Called a “ship-of-the-line,” The HMS Victory had three gun decks and a total of 104 black-powder navel cannons.  It was essentially a sailing fortress. 

It survived a multitude of navel engagements; however, it is best known for its action in the Battle of Trafalgar which was an engagement between British fleet and the combined Spanish and French fleets off Cape Trafalgar on the southwest coast of Spain.  Although the British were outnumbered by the combined French and Spanish fleets, the British Admiral, Horatio Nelson, Commander and Chief of the Fleet, as of 1803, chose the HMS Victory as his flagship and was aboard the ship during the battle.  Although his plan to separate the two enemy forces succeeded on October 21, 1805, Admiral Nelson was hit by a musket ball from a sniper in an opposing ship’s crow’s nest. 

He died before the battle was over and thereafter became a National British Hero.  The Battle of Trafalgar ended in victory for the British and it protected Britain from an invasion by Napoleon’s Grande Armee.  The HMS Victory was built in 1759.  She served her nation well and was placed in dry dock for preservation in 1922, in Portsmouth, England. 

She saw 248 years of service, and it still is in commission, although not floating; therefore, it remains the oldest commissioned ship in world history.  She is now used as a museum ship. 

It is 227 feet 6 inches overall length; the beam, or width, is 51 feet 10 inches, and the draught is 28 feet 9 inches.  This original oil painting by Grant R. Fairbanks, M.D. shows the floating “ship-of-the-line” HMS Victory from the rear with its sails furled.  Color copies of this painting on canvas are available for purchase in the form of a giclée.
 
Artwork unfinished.