England / Hampshire - National Museum of the Royal Navy, Portsmouth

HMS Victory

 

HMS Victory is a 104-gun first-rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, ordered in 1758, laid down in 1759 and launched in 1765. She is best known for her role as Lord Nelson's flagship at the Battle of Trafalgar on 21 October 1805.

 

She additionally served as Keppel's flagship at Ushant, Howe's flagship at Cape Spartel and Jervis's flagship at Cape St Vincent. After 1824, she was relegated to the role of harbour ship.

 

In 1922, she was moved to a dry dock at Portsmouth, England, and preserved as a museum ship. She has been the flagship of the First Sea Lord since October 2012 and is the world's oldest naval ship still in commission with 240 years service by 2018.

 

In December 1758, Pitt the Elder, in his role as head of the British government, placed an order for the building of 12 ships, including a first-rate ship that would become HMS Victory. During the 18th century, Victory was one of ten first-rate ships to be constructed. The outline plans were based on HMS Royal George which had been launched at Woolwich Dockyard in 1756, and the naval architect chosen to design the ship was Sir Thomas Slade who, at the time, was the Surveyor of the Navy. She was designed to carry at least 100 guns. The commissioner of Chatham Dockyard was instructed to prepare a dry dock for the construction. The keel was laid on 23 July 1759 in the Old Single Dock (since renamed No. 2 Dock and now Victory Dock), and a name, Victory, was chosen in October 1760. In 1759, the Seven Years' War was going well for Britain; land victories had been won at Quebec and Minden and naval battles had been won at Lagos and Quiberon Bay. It was the Annus Mirabilis, or Year of Miracles (or Wonders), and the ship's name may have been chosen to commemorate the victories or it may have been chosen simply because out of the seven names shortlisted, Victory was the only one not in use. There were some doubts whether this was a suitable name since the previous first-rate Victory had been lost with all on board in 1744.

 

A team of 150 workmen were assigned to construction of Victory's frame. Around 6,000 trees were used in her construction, of which 90% were oak and the remainder elm, pine and fir, together with a small quantity of lignum vitae. The wood of the hull was held in place by six-foot copper bolts, supported by treenails for the smaller fittings. Once the ship's frame had been built, it was normal to cover it up and leave it for several months to allow the wood to dry out or "season". The end of the Seven Years' War meant that Victory remained in this condition for nearly three years, which helped her subsequent longevit. Work restarted in autumn 1763 and she was launched on 7 May 1765, having cost £63,176 and 3 shillings, the equivalent of £7.92 million today

 

On the day of the launch, shipwright Hartly Larkin, designated "foreman afloat" for the event, suddenly realised that the ship might not fit through the dock gates. Measurements at first light confirmed his fears: the gates were at least 9 1⁄2 inches too narrow. He told the dreadful news to his superior, master shipwright John Allin, who considered abandoning the launch. Larkin asked for the assistance of every available shipwright, and they hewed away enough wood from the gates with their adzes for the ship to pass safely through. However the launch itself revealed significant challenges in the ship's design, including a distinct list to starboard and a tendency to sit heavily in the water such that her lower deck gunports were only 4 ft 6 in (1.4 m) above the waterline. The first of these problems was rectified after launch by increasing the ship's ballast to settle her upright on the keel. The second problem, regarding the siting of the lower gunports, could not be addressed. Instead it was noted in Victory's sailing instructions that these gunports would have to remain closed and unusable in rough weather. This had potential to limit Victory's firepower, though in practice none of her subsequent actions would be fought in rough seas.

 

Because there was no immediate use for her, she was placed in ordinary and moored in the River Medway. Internal fitting out continued in a somewhat desultory manner over the next four years, and sea trials were completed in 1769, after which she was returned to her Medway berth. She remained there until France joined the American War of Independence in 1778. Victory was now placed in active service as part of a general mobilisation against the French threat. This included arming her with a full complement of smooth bore, cast iron cannon. Her weaponry was intended to be thirty 42-pounders (19 kg) on her lower deck, twenty-eight 24-pounder long guns (11 kg) on her middle deck, and thirty 12-pounders (5 kg) on her upper deck, together with twelve 6-pounders on her quarterdeck and forecastle. In May 1778, the 42-pounders were replaced by 32-pounders (15 kg), but the 42-pounders were reinstated in April 1779; however there were insufficient 42-pounders available and these were replaced with 32-pounder cannons instead.

 

Vice-Admiral Nelson hoisted his flag in Victory on 18 May 1803, with Samuel Sutton as his flag captain. The Dispatches and Letters of Vice Admiral Lord Nelson (Volume 5, page 68) record that "Friday 20 May a.m....Nelson...came on board. Saturday 21st (i.e.the afternoon of the 20th) Unmoored ship and weighed. Made sail out of Spithead...when H.M.Ship Amphion joined, and proceeded to sea in company with us" - Victory's Log. Victory was under orders to meet up with Cornwallis off Brest, but after 24 hours of searching failed to find him. Nelson, anxious to reach the Mediterranean without delay, decided to transfer to Amphion off Ushant. The Dispatches and Letters (see above) record on page 71 "Tuesday 24 May (i.e. 23 May p.m.) Hove to at 7.40, Out Boats. The Admiral shifted his flag to the Amphion. At 7.50 Lord Nelson came on board the Amphion and hoisted his flag and made sail - Log."

 

On 28 May, Captain Sutton captured the French Ambuscade of 32 guns, bound for Rochefort. Victory rejoined Lord Nelson off Toulon, where on 31 July, Captain Sutton exchanged commands with the captain of Amphion, Thomas Masterman Hardy and Nelson raised his flag in Victory once more.

 

Victory was passing the island of Toro, near Majorca, on 4 April 1805, when HMS Phoebe brought the news that the French fleet under Pierre-Charles Villeneuve had escaped from Toulon. While Nelson made for Sicily to see if the French were heading for Egypt, Villeneuve was entering Cádiz to link up with the Spanish fleet. On 9 May, Nelson received news from HMS Orpheus that Villeneuve had left Cadiz a month earlier. The British fleet completed their stores in Lagos Bay, Portugal and, on 11 May, sailed westward with ten ships and three frigates in pursuit of the combined Franco-Spanish fleet of 17 ships. They arrived in the West Indies to find that the enemy was sailing back to Europe, where Napoleon Bonaparte was waiting for them with his invasion forces at Boulogne.

 

The Franco-Spanish fleet was involved in the indecisive Battle of Cape Finisterre in fog off Ferrol with Admiral Sir Robert Calder's squadron on 22 July, before taking refuge in Vigo and Ferrol Calder on 14 August and Nelson on 15 August joined Admiral Cornwallis's Channel Fleet off Ushant. Nelson continued on to England in Victory, leaving his Mediterranean fleet with Cornwallis who detached twenty of his thirty-three ships of the line and sent them under Calder to find the combined fleet at Ferrol. On 19 August came the worrying news that the enemy had sailed from there, followed by relief when they arrived in Cádiz two days later. On the evening of Saturday, 28 September, Lord Nelson joined Lord Collingwood's fleet off Cádiz, quietly, so that his presence would not be known.

 

After learning he was to be removed from command, Villeneuve put to sea on the morning of 19 October and when the last ship had left port, around noon the following day, he set sail for the Mediterranean. The British frigates, which had been sent to keep track of the enemy fleet throughout the night, were spotted at around 1900 hrs and the order was given to form line of battle. On the morning of 21 October, the main British fleet, which was out of sight and sailing parallel some 10 miles away, turned to intercept. Nelson had already made his plans: to break the enemy line some two or three ships ahead of their commander-in-chief in the centre and achieve victory before the van could come to their aid. At 0600 hrs, Nelson ordered his fleet into two columns. Fitful winds made it a slow business, and for more than six hours, the two columns of British ships slowly approached the French line before Royal Sovereign, leading the lee column, was able to open fire on Fougueux. Around 30 minutes later, Victory broke the line between Bucentaure and Redoutable firing a treble shotted broadside into the stern of the former from a range of a few yards. At a quarter past one, Nelson was shot, the fatal musket ball entering his left shoulder and lodging in his spine. He died at half past four. Such killing had taken place on Victory's quarter deck that Redoutable attempted to board her, but they were thwarted by the arrival of Eliab Harvey in the 98-gun HMS Temeraire, whose broadside devastated the French ship. Nelson's last order was for the fleet to anchor, but this was countermanded by Vice Admiral Cuthbert Collingwood. Victory suffered 57 killed and 102 wounded.

 

Victory had been badly damaged in the battle and was not able to move under her own sail. HMS Neptune therefore towed her to Gibraltar for repairs. Victory then carried Nelson's body to England, where, after lying in state at Greenwich, he was buried in St. Paul's Cathedral on 9 January 1806.

 

In November 2007, Victory's then commanding officer, Lieutenant Commander John Scivier, paid a visit to USS Constitution of the US Navy, which is the world's oldest commissioned naval vessel still afloat. He met with Constitution's commanding officer, Commander William A. Bullard III, and discussed the possibility of arranging an exchange programme between the two ships.

 

Listed as part of the National Historic Fleet, HMS Victory has been the flagship of the First Sea Lord since October 2012. Prior to this, she was the flagship of the Second Sea Lord. She is the oldest commissioned warship in the world and attracts around 350,000 visitors per year in her role as a museum ship. The current and 101st commanding officer is Lieutenant Commander Brian Smith Royal Navy, who assumed command in May 2015.

 

In December 2011, Defence Equipment and Support awarded an initial five-year project management contract to BAE Systems, with an option to extend to ten years. The restoration is worth £16 million over the life of the contract and will include work to the masts and rigging, replacement side planking, and the addition of fire control measures. It is expected to be the most extensive refit since the ship returned from Trafalgar. In her current state she has no upper masts and minimum rigging. It is expected that it will be over 12 years before these are replaced.

 

Since this contract was placed, the most significant change has been on 5 March 2012, when ownership of the ship was transferred from the Ministry of Defence to a dedicated HMS Victory Preservation Trust, established as part of the National Museum of the Royal Navy. According to the Royal Navy website, the move was "heralded by the announcement of a £25 million capital grant to support the new Trust by the Gosling Foundation – a donation which has been matched by a further £25 million from the MOD".

 

HMS Victory has also undergone emergency repair works to prevent the hull decaying and sagging. The hull is moving at a rate of 0.5 cm each year, about 20 centimetres over the last 40 years

 

(Wikipedia)

 

Die HMS Victory (engl.: Sieg) von 1765 ist das älteste im britischen Marinedienst befindliche Schiff. Bekanntheit erlangte die Victory als Flaggschiff von Vizeadmiral Nelson in der Seeschlacht von Trafalgar. Sie ist heute ein Museumsschiff in Portsmouth, dient aber auch dem Ersten Seelord für offizielle Empfänge und Veranstaltungen.

 

Die heute noch existierende Victory ist das sechste Schiff der Royal Navy, das diesen Namen trug.

 

1758 riefen die Minister König Georgs II. ein ehrgeiziges Projekt zum Bau von zwölf neuen Linienschiffen ins Leben. An der Spitze der Liste befand sich ein Schiff – zum damaligen Zeitpunkt noch ohne jeden Namen – vom 1. Rang mit über 100 Kanonen, das in Chatham zu bauen sei. Bereits für das folgende Jahr rechnete man mit der Kiellegung.

 

Das Jahr 1759 war das „Jahr der Siege“ für Großbritannien. Gemessen an militärischen Erfolgen war es der Höhepunkt des Siebenjährigen Krieges. Auf dem Land triumphierten britische Truppen und ihre Verbündeten in Surat (Indien), Minden und Québec. Zur See verzeichnete man die gewonnenen Schlachten bei Lagos und Quiberon. Aus der Euphorie um die Siege gab man dem Schiff den Namen Victory (englisch für Sieg). Der Entwurf der Victory stammte von Sir Thomas Slade. Er basierte auf dem der Royal George von 1756.

 

Die Victory wurde am 14. Juli 1759 in Auftrag gegeben und noch im selben Jahr, am 23. Juli 1759, legte man in einem Trockendock der Marinewerft in Chatham den Kiel, gefertigt aus Ulmenstämmen von bis zu 50,8 cm Durchmesser. Auf diesem wurden die Spanten errichtet und sowohl innen als auch außen beplankt, so dass ein „Dreischichtenrumpf“ (englisch „three-ply hull“) entstand. Für den Bau verantwortlich war John Lock, Schiffbaumeister auf der Marinewerft. Als dieser im Jahre 1762 starb, wurde Edward Allin sein Nachfolger. Am 30. Oktober 1760 wurde das Schiff als Victory in die Schiffsliste der britischen Royal Navy eingetragen.

 

Am 21. Oktober 1805 nahm die Victory unter Vizeadmiral Lord Nelson und Kapitän Thomas Masterman Hardy an der Seeschlacht von Trafalgar teil und fungierte hier als Flaggschiff. Dank des bis 1803 erfolgten Umbaus hatte das Schiff zu diesem Zeitpunkt 104 Kanonen an Bord.

 

Die Victory hatte dabei einen nicht unerheblichen Einfluss auf die Schlacht.

 

Erfüllt von Geschichte und Marinetradition, wurde der Victory von Philip Watts der Titel „The Westminster Abbey of the Royal Navy“ verliehen. Sie dient auch heute noch dem Commander in Chief der Royal Navy für offizielle Empfänge und Veranstaltungen.

 

Die Victory kann man nach wie vor in Portsmouth besichtigen. Sie befindet sich in den Historic Dockyards in einem Trockendock und ist komplett vom Kielschwein bis zum Oberdeck begehbar – lediglich Admiralitätsmesse und Kapitänskajüte sind nur durch einen kleinen Durchgang zu besichtigen. In der Admiralitätsmesse ist eine originalgetreue Nachbildung der Uniform von Lord Nelson ausgestellt (das Original findet sich im Marinemuseum in Greenwich). Nur wenige der Geschütze an Bord sind echte Kanonen aus der damaligen Zeit (ca. 8 Stück, davon drei 32-Pfünder des unteren Kanonendecks). Der Rest wurde durch Geschützattrappen (z. B. auf dem Außendeck) ersetzt, um das Museumsschiff optisch aufzuwerten und um den Eindruck eines voll bestückten Kriegsschiffes zu gewährleisten. Die Verwendung von Attrappen hat aber auch statische Gründe, da durch die Trockenlegung die Tragkraft des Holzes nachgelassen hat. Würde das volle Gewicht der alten Kanonenzahl auf den Decks lasten, könnte es zu Schäden kommen. Die Takelage ist ebenfalls nicht vollständig. Nur die unteren Masten bis zum Eselshaupt sind aufgeriggt.

 

(Wikipedia)

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