Nelson's Victory : 101 Questions and Answers about HMS Victory, Nelson's Flagship at Trafalgar 1805

by Goodwin, Peter

• ISBN13: 9781591146155
• ISBN10: 1591146151
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2004-11-15
• Publisher: Naval Inst Pr

Summary

With the approach of the 200th anniversary of the Royal Navy's greatest battle off Cape Trafalgar on 21 October 1805, much attention is being given to the most tangible symbol of that epic engagement-Nelson's fully preserved flagship HMS Victory.

Table of Contents

Introduction: a short history of Victory	1	(8)
Building & launching Victory	9	(14)
Why was Victory built?
When did Parliament authorise the building of Victory?
How many naval ships have been named Victory?
Who designed Victory?
Who built Victory & when did building begin?
What are Victory's dimensions?
What types of wood were used for building Victory?
How much timber was used to build Victory?
How thick is the hull?
How many copper plates were used to sheath the lower hull?
How were her masts & yards made?
How much rope was used for her rigging?
How many pulley blocks were used for her rigging?
How & where were her sails made?
How much sail did Victory carry?
How much did it cost to build Victory?
When was Victory launched?
When & why was it decided to name her Victory?
What purpose did Victory serve, once fitted out?
Facts about Victory	23	(5)
When did Victory first sail on active service?
Victory was flagship to which famous admirals?
How fast could Victory sail & how close to the wind could she steer?
Was there ever a mutiny on board Victory?
Was Victory ever seriously damaged during her active career?
What was Victory's longest voyage?
Victory's armament	28	(7)
What was Victory's armament when commissioned?
What was her armament at Trafalgar?
What is a `24 pounder'?
How much gunpowder was used to fire a 24 lb shot?
What is a carronade?
Why is it called a carronade?
What was the weight & range of Victory's guns?
What was the total weight of shot discharged in a single broadside?
How much gunpowder was used on Victory at Trafalgar?
How much shot was fired from her guns at Trafalgar?
Victory's stores & equipment	35	(8)
How many anchors did Victory carry?
How many anchor cables did Victory carry?
How many boats did Victory carry?
Where were boats stowed & what happened to them in battle?
How were boats swung over the ship's side?
What stores & provisions did Victory carry?
What other stores were carried?
How many small arms & weapons were carried?
Victory's crew	43	(14)
What was Victory's complement?
How much was a captain paid in 1805?
Who was the master of Victory at Trafalgar?
What are midshipmen?
What is a warrant officer?
Who were the oldest & youngest members of the crew?
What was a purser?
What was a powder monkey?
How much were seamen paid in 1805?
What was prize money?
What other tradesmen & specialists were on board?
What were the gunner's duties?
How many marines were on Victory?
What were the marines' duties?
Life on board Victory	57	(16)
How were seamen organised & how many hours did they work?
Why was strict discipline essential at sea?
Why were punishments harsh?
What other punishments were there?
What did the crew eat?
How was food distributed & prepared?
What was a Brodie Stove?
Where was livestock kept?
What did the crew drink?
What was grog?
What was scurvy?
Where were sick or injured men cared for?
Where were the wounded treated during battle?
What uniforms were worn in the Royal Navy in 1805?
What were slops?
Nelson, Trafalgar & Victory	73	(8)
Where is Trafalgar?
Who commanded the British fleet at Trafalgar?
When & where was Nelson born?
Who was second in command of the British fleet?
Who was supreme commander of the Franco-Spanish fleet?
Who was senior Spanish admiral at Trafalgar?
What was the overall strength of opposing fleets at Trafalgar?
Who shot Nelson?
What were Nelson's last words?
How many casualties were suffered?
Which ships were captured or destroyed?
What happened to Victory after the battle?
What happened to Nelson's body?
When was Nelson's funeral & where is he buried?
Victory after Trafalgar	81	(4)
What role did Victory serve after Trafalgar?
When did her career as a fighting ship end?
What happened to Victory in 1903?
`Save the Victory' campaign & restoration	85	(6)
When was Victory placed in her present dock?
Who has been responsible for her restoration?
How much did the initial restoration cost?
How is the work managed?
What types of timber are used in restoration?
Where is cordage for rigging obtained?
What related conservation projects are being undertaken?
Victory today: commissioned ship & public attraction	91	(3)
Victory is still in commission. What does this mean?
Did any other Trafalgar ships survive into the twentieth century?
How many people visit Victory each year?
Who are the Victory guides?
Where is the Victory Gallery?
Endnotes	94	(2)
About the author	96	(2)
Bibliography	98