During the 18th and 19th centuries, Britain ruled the waves with the might of its Royal Navy. At the top of Britain’s wooden walls was their first rate ship of the lines. Among these was the HMS Victory. Most famously known as Admiral Horatio Nelson’s flagship at the Battle of Trafalgar. Today, we’re going to look at the legendary ship and the men that sailed aboard her.
HMS Victory was ordered to built at Chatham Royal Dockyard in an effort to boost British Naval Power during the Seven Years War. It began its construction in 1759 and was launched in 1765. But Victory would never make it to the Seven Years War. Instead, it would be commissioned in 1778 and joined the war effort during the American War of Independence.
Since it took 13 years for Victory to see any action, by this time her timbers had been well seasoned. This contributed to Victory’s long life. Roughly 6,000 trees went into building Victory. Made up of oak, pine, elm, fir and spruce and in 1781, Victory had landed a victory off the coast of the French island, Ushant after it had captured a French convoy and in 1793, she was the flagship at the siege of Toulon.
Being a first rate ship of the line, Victory was among the most powerful ships in the Royal Navy. 1 broadside from Victory packed more iron than all the guns in Wellington’s army.
It had 104 guns at its disposal with 820 – 850 men aboard. Its main mast was 205 ft above water level. It had a top speed of 10 knots/11.5 mph, which was fast for a ship of her size. around the hull, was copper sheathing, which was added in 1780 and protected the hull from ship worms, barnacles and weeds. In addition to the main mast, it also had its foremast and mizzenmast, as well as a bowsprit. It had 26 miles of rope and 786 pulleys. 37 sails that had a total area of 6,500 square yards.
the top deck, or weather deck was made up of 4 decks. The Fo’c’sle, which was at the bow of the ship, the Waist which was in the front half of the middle, the Quarterdeck which sat at the back half of the middle and the Poop deck which was located at the stern of the ship.
on the Fo’c’sle was the ships foremast. The foremast had a fighting top, which was used by the ships sharpshooter. Above the fighting top was a lookout position, there being no crow’s nests in the Royal Navy. The Fo’c’sle also had the ships bell and 2 12 pounder guns and 2 68 pounder carronade’s. Just in front of the Fo’c’sle was the beak deck. Which provided access to the bowsprit and had a head, or toilet which was used by the men working on the weather deck. The waste would be dumped straight into the ocean.
The Waist deck had 6 boats which ranged from 18 ft – 34 ft and was used to transport sailors from boat to boat and from boat to land. The Quarter deck was Victory’s command center. with 12 12 pounder guns, the ships wheel a binnacle which had the ships compass and cabins for the Captain’s Secretary and Ship Master. Both of their cabins would have been small and had 1 12 pounder gun in each. The Quarter deck also had the Captains cabin at its stern, with a dining table, sleeping arrangements, a day cabin and a private toilet. The cabin would also have 4 12 pounder guns.
The poop deck provided access to the mizzenmast and offered good visuals of the surrounding areas. It was also where the signal locker could be found. This was used to communicate with other ships using flags. In total, the Royal Navy had 14 flags to communicate during the day. During the night ships would communicate by using coordinated shots, lanterns and rockets.
Below the weather deck is where Victory really had her power. On the upper gun deck was 30 12 pounder guns (15 on each side) there was also a toilet for the junior officer. Also on this deck, at the fore was the ships sickbay. Located here since it got fresher air and more sunlight than the lower decks. The sickbay would be screened off by canvas partitions. This deck was also where you could find the Admirals quarters. completed by an ante-room sleeping cabin, dining room which was also used as a meeting room, a day cabin, 9 12 pounder guns and a bed.
The Admirals Quarters also had removable panels that the crew could remove to get around easier during battle. The panels and furniture would be moved to the hold.
Below the upper gun deck was the middle gun deck. Which had 28 24 pounder guns, the bigger guns were on lower decks for more stability. It was also the deck where the ships large cooking area could be found. This is where the ships chef and his mates would prepare food for the crew. A typical meal on a ship like Victory would consist of salt beef or pork and biscuits as well as oatmeal, peas, cheese, butter and sugar and meals would be washed down with beer.
The middle gun deck is also where commissioned officers would dine and sleep along with 300 sailors and marines.
The lower gun deck had the ships most powerful weapons, 30 32 pounder guns. 460 men would also use this deck to sleep. With their hammocks strung up, it would be very crowed come bedtime and with the gun ports closed since the deck was close to the waterline, things would get smelly on the lower gun deck. Warrant Officers dined and slept on this deck also, along with the master gunner, chaplain and junior lieutenant. Their dining room would also share space with the ships tiller, which was the connecting piece between the ships wheel and the rudder, this meant any officer dining while this was in motion would have to mind their head while eating.
On ships like Victory, the day would start early for the sailors. At 5:00 in the morning, crew would hear the loud sound of the Bosun’s whistle, the bosuns would walk through the ship telling everyone to “get up or down”, this was because they would carry knives, anyone who wasn’t up, would have their hammock cut down, sending them to the ground.
Below the waterline was the orlop deck which housed storerooms for the ships Bousun and carpenters. It had a fore and aft cockpit but in times of battle, it was the deck the ships surgeon would use as his operating theater and would have a cabin for the surgeon. It was also surrounded by a corridor known as carpenters walk, which would make it easier for carpenters to get around and seal any leaks.
During the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805, Admiral Nelson was shot by a French sharpshooter while standing on the Quarter deck. He was taken to the orlop deck where he would be treated for his injuries. Although Nelson had delivered a devastating defeat to Napoleon’s ships, Nelson himself would die at the battle on the orlop deck.
At the very bottom of the ship was the ships hold which spread over 50,000 cubic feet and would hold 6 months worth of provisions. Including 50 tons of salt beef and pork and 45 tons of biscuits. Along with spirits, tar and paint. 300 tons of water barrels would sit on 257 tons of iron ballast and 200 tons of shingles.
The hold was also home to the ships grand mag which had 35 tons of gunpowder in 784 barrels. If this caught fire, it would blow the ship and her crew to pieces and if water got into it, the gunpowder would be useless. The grand mag was protected by fire doors, fire retardant plaster walls, copper sheathing to avoid sparks and keep rats and damp out.
A Filling room would be used to scoop gunpowder out of a powder bin and put into bags where they would be stored on racks until they were needed. Since there was no heavy machinery, all heavy lifting required manpower. 2 capstans, the main and the jeer would be used to lift heavy stuff through the ship as well as raising the anchor. The capstans would be big wheels and operated by pushing in a circle using the bars on the side. 260 men would push the capstans and was usually accompanied by the fiddle, a shanty and foot stomping.
Victory had 7 anchors, with the best bower anchor being its main. Weighing 4 tons and also having 4 crank operated chain pumps. These would be used to pump water out of the ship, pumping 1,300 gallons of water out per minute. Opposite those pumps Victory also had 2 elm pumps, which would pump water into the ship for washing and putting out fires.
In all Victory was a big and powerful ship. But we can’t give the credit to the ship alone. Victory would have been useless without her crew and it took a large crew to operate a ship like Victory.
This would include 1 Admiral, 1 Captain, 11 Naval and Marine Officers, 21 Midshipmen, 8 Warrant Officers, 42 Clerks and Stewards, 71 Petty Officers and their mates, 212 able seamen, 183 ordinary seamen, 87 landsmen, 142 marines and 31 ship boys.
HMS Victory continues its life as the oldest commissioned ship in the world and serves as the flagship of the First Sea Lord of the Royal Navy.
She currently sits in dry dock in the historic dockyard at the National Museum of the Royal Navy in Portsmouth, United Kingdom and she is open to the public.
Book your visit at: https://www.nmrn.org.uk/visit-us/portsmouth-historic-dockyard/hms-victory
Sources:
Epic History TV
History Hit
Profiles in History 