200th anniversary-battle of trafalgarmki

7/29/2019 200th Anniversary-Battle of TrafalgarMKI

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The Battle of Trafalgar 1

Battle of Trafalgar

Colin

Schunker

Lord Viscount Horatio Nelson

Admiral Villeneuve

Nelsons

Coat of Arms


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Call to Arms!

ENGLAND EXPECTS THAT EVERY MAN WILL

DO HIS D U T Y


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Other Signals

TELEGRAPH FLAGENGAGE THE ENEMY

MORE CLOSELY

(Hoisted with the earlier signal) Note: This signal was not hoisted

until after Nelsons Signal was

taken down.


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Nelsons Legacy

Britannia Rules the Waves!


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Nelsons Legacy

Memorials to Lord Nelson


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Nelsons True Legacy!

More Memorials to Lord Nelson


7/36The Battle of Trafalgar 7

Historical Overview

Nearly 200 years after it was fought, the battle ofTrafalgar is still regarded as one of historys most decisivenaval battles.In the early summer of 1805 Napoleon Bonaparte decidedto invade England.

The British knew that the only way to stop Napoleons plan was by defeating the French in a naval battle.The French had teamed up with the Spanish fleet to increase their chances of defeating the British.



Historical Overview

Admiral Nelson, on board HMS Victory was in command of the British fleet.

His French counterpart Vice Admiral Pierre de Villeneuve, commanded the Franco-Spanish fleet.

The British had blockaded the French and Spanish ports effectively immobilizing theFrench and Spanish fleets

Napoleon knew that to invade England meant controlling the seas and gave orders forthe fleets in Brest, Toulon and Ferrol to break out

After an aborted attempt Villeneuve managed to evade Nelson and sailed for the West

Indies



The British Blockade

Brest

Bolougne

Rochefort

ToulonFerrol

Cadiz

British Blockading Fleet

ATLANTIC OCEAN

French

British



The Chase

Cadiz

Canary Islands

Cape Verde

Martinique

Bermuda

Azores

ATLANTIC OCEAN

AFRICA

NORTHAMERICA

SOUTHAMERICA

EUROPE

VilleneuveNelson

Villeneuve escapes Toulon30th Marchilleneuve Departs Cadiz9th April for the WestIndies

Villeneuve Arrives Martinique 16th May -Departs 10th June

Ferrol

TrafalgarNelson Departs Cadiz on 10thMay in pursuit of VilleneuveNelson Arrives Martinique 4th June -Departs 13th June

Toulon

Nelson sets off inpursuit - mistakenlytowards Egypt.



The Final Blockade

Cadiz

Cape

Trafalgar

Straits of Gibraltar

Combined French &Spanish Fleets

Communication chain

of ShipsThe Frigates

Main body of

Nelsons Fleet

Cape St. Vincent

Nelson arrived off Cadiz to join

Collingwood

Nelsons frigates watched while he

cruised off shore in an attempt to drawthe Combined Fleet

In response to a threat from

landward Napoleon ordered Villeneuve

to sail into the Mediterranean to

support operations

The impending battle was looming


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Battle Plan and Tactics

Opposing fleets usually sailed into battle in line ahead in two parallel lines.

Each ship would then take on one of the opposing ships.

Broadsides would be fired between the combatants.

The battle was won or lost dependent on the skill of the gunners or when they struck

their colors or the opposing fleet just sailed away from the battle.

These tactics seldom resulted in a decisive victory for either side although casualties

were high.

Nelson broke from tradition and broke his fleet into three groups.


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Nelsons Touch

Nelson expected to be outnumbered 46 ships to 40Nelson summonsed his captains and outlined his plan; theywere pleased with the innovative planThe plan was to divide the British fleet into three separatelinesTwo major lines of 16 ships eachAn advanced squadron of eightThe two 16 ship units were to divide the enemy line in half,thus concentrating 32 British versus 23 enemy ships.

The other 8 British ships were to engage in a separate battle with the other half of the enemy lineOne of the two 16 ship units attacked sections of the enemy line the other would attack the enemy at right angles, break throughthe lines and cut off retreatDangerous tacticsbut they paid offThese tactics were to change the course of naval warfare as it was known then


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Breaking The Line

Above: British ship crosses battle line of Franco-Spanish fleet.

Spics

Limey Bastards


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Tactics

Traditional Broadside Tactics Nelsons Raking Tactics


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A Typical Ship of the Line

Above:: Example of a triple deck Ship of the Line.


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HMS VICTORYType: 'First rate' ship-of-the-line. The British naval

term "first rate" applied to a ship with at least 100

guns.

Crew: 820

HMS VICTORY REDOUTABLE

LE REDOUTABLEType: 'Third rate', with 74 guns. Smaller than the

Victory, her name translates as "formidable,

tremendous - with an element of fear".

Crew: 634


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Canon Used at Trafalgar

A typical 32 pounder fired a shot just under 6 in diameter and with a full charge of 10 lb 11oz could make an extreme

range of 2000 yds

A carronade on the other hand was short barreled with limited range.

Being lighter it was mounted on a higher deck

Victorys2x68 pounder carronades were mounted on the focsle and unleashed a storm of grapeshot into the French

flagship

Ammunition consisted of roundshot canister grapeshot, bar shot and chain shot, each for a particular purpose


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Firepower

Using 32,24,18,12 pound canons and 68 pound smashers capable of firing both shot and grape shot which

inflicted serious injuries and considerable damage to ships and men on both sides

An 18 pound shot at 30 yards would penetrate 4xoak planks 32.5 thick showering splinters up to 30 yards

A 32 pounder fired with grape shot from 300 yards could penetrate 4 of oak

Muskets with a range of 200yds were used by both opposing forces mainly by the Marines which inflicted

heavy casualties from sharp shooters strategically positioned in the rigging Cutlass, tomahawks pikes, and pistols (range 30 yds) were the main weapon used by boarding parties

Prepare to repel boarders meant fierce and heavy hand-to-hand fighting which often resulted in

horrendous wounds more often than not resulting in a slow agonizing death


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The Commanders

Above: Lord Nelson Above: Admiral CollingwoodAbove: Admiral Pierre Villeneuve


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Prelude to Battle

The Spanish fleet was demoralized at being blockaded for such a long period inactivity had taken its toll

The Combined fleet sailed with 1700 sick men on board

The Spanish ships were manned mostly by soldiers and beggars pressed ganged from the slums of Cadiz

Spanish gunners had never fired from a rolling ship

Spanish Captains resented being under the command of a French Admiral

Villeneuve did not have the confidence of Napoleon and was to be replaced by Rosily

The British Jack Tars were seasoned campaigners

They were aggressive fighting men by instinct Ruled by strict discipline from autocratic Captains they were magnificent sailors and excellent gunners

Out numbered and out gunned they were spoiling for a fight. This signal gave them the resolve

The French and Spanish are out at last, they outnumber us in ships and guns and men: we are on the eve of the

greatest sea fight in history."


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The Opposing Fleets1200hrs 21stOctober, 1805

French & Spanish Line

Nelson's Column

Collingwood's Column

ATLANTIC OCEAN

C. Trafalgar

The Two Columns


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The Opposing Fleets1200hrs 21stOctober, 1805


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The Commencement of Battle

Th B l


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The Battle

There was an impending sense of doom as Nelson believed he would not survive the battle

He wrote his Will in anticipation of his death

As the Combined Fleet sailed slowly in light winds and although Villeneuve guessed what form Nelsons attack

would take he failed to specify any defensive tactics to his captains

The Combined Fleet had the Neptunoin the rear and the San Juan de Nepomucenoin the van

Villeneuve on the Bucentaurewas signaled by the Hermionethat the British fleet was in sight and instead of

continuing to Gibraltar decided to return to Cadiz

The Combined Fleet had to reform the line of battle in the opposite directionThe first shot was fired at noon by the Fougueuxat the Royal Sovereignwho then returned fire 15 minutes later

raking the Santa Annafrom stem to stern inflicting heavy casualties

Nelson in freshly laundered uniform with ribbons and medals then ordered the famous message

ENGLAND EXPECTS THAT EVERY MAN WILL DO HIS DUTY


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The Battle1200hrs 21stOctober, 1805 Neptuno

Scipion

Formidable

Duguay - Trouin

Mont-Blanc

Rayo

San Augustin

San Francisco de Asis

HerosSantissima Trinidad

Bucentaure

RedoubtableSan Justo

Neptune

San LeandroSanta Anna

IndompableFouguex

Pluton Monarca

Algersiras

Bahama

MontanesAigleSwiftsure

Argonaughte

ArgonaugtaSan Ildefonso

Achille

Principe de Asturias

BerwickSan Juan Nepomuceno

Intrepide

Weather Column Admiral

Nelson

Lee Column Admiral

Collingwood

Frigates

Africa

Frogs

Spics

Limey Bastards

Cl Q t E t


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Close Quarter Engagement1300 hrs 21stOctober, 1805

Frogs

Spics

Limey Bastards

Redoutable

Temeraraire

Fougueux

Victory

San Francisco de Asis

Pluton

Bucentaure

Santissma Trinidad

Principe de Asturias

ATLANTIC OCEAN

C. TrafalgarRoyal Sovereign


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Battle of Trafalgar

Close Action Around 1300hrs

1245hrs 21stOctober, 1805

Neptune (FR)

Redoubtable

Bucentaure

Victory

Neptune (BR)

Temeraire


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Battle of Trafalgar

Close Action Around 1330hrs

1300hrs 21stOctober, 1805

Neptune (FR)

Redoubtable

Bucentaure

Victory

Neptune (BR)

Temeraire

SantissmaTrinidad

Frogs

Spics

Limey Bastards

h l l


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The Final Blow

The battle see sawed all day with individual skirmishes taking

place

The dying wind and with masts shot away engagement was

determined by who drifted by

Much bravery was noted on that day

The Intrepidewas singled out by the British captains for her

bravery in the face of overwhelming odds

Finally the British ships gained the upper hand with the Combined fleet either striking their colors or sailing away

Meanwhile the surgeons were doing their best for Nelson

Captain Hardy reported to Nelson that the battle was won

Those immortal words were spoken by Nelson Thank God I have done my duty

He succumbed to his wounds and died at 1630

l d l


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Fatalities and Casualties

The speed at which the Royal Navy gun crews loaded and fired was much higher than the Combined fleet a factor

in higher casualty figures for the enemy


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Fatalities and Casualties

The British lost 449 men killed with 1249 wounded some of whom subsequently died; this translated to just

over 25% or 3 wounded for every one killed

The Combined Fleet lost 4408 men killed and 2545 wounded or 55%;for every four wounded 5 were killed

For those days it was a very high kill rate

h l


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The FleetsBritish Ships (Guns)

French Ships (Guns) Spanish Ships (Guns)

Victory (100)

Scipion (74) Neptuno (80)

Tmraire (98)

Formidable (80) Rayo (100)

Neptune (98)

Duguay-Trouin (74) San Francisco de Asis (74)

Conqueror (74)

Mont-Blanc (74) San Augustin (74)

Leviathan (74)

Intrpide (74) Santissima Trinidad (136)

Britannia (100)

Indomptable (80) San Leandro (64)

Ajax (74)

Fougueux (74) San Justo (74)

Orion (74)

Pluton (74) Santa Ana (120)

Agamemnon (64)

Hros (74) Monarca (74)

Minotaur (74)

Bucentaure (80) Bahama (74)

Spartiate (74)

Neptune (80) Montans (74)

Africa (64)

Redoubtable (74) Argonauta (80)

Royal Sovereign (100)

Aigle (74) San Ildefonso (74)

Belleisle (74)

Algsiras (74) Principe de Asturias (118)

Tonnant (80)

Swift-sure (74) San Juan Nepomuceno (74)

Mars (74)

Argonaute (74)

Bellerophon (74)

Achille (74)

Colossus (74)

Berwick (74)

Achilles (74)

Revenge (74)

Defiance (74)

Swiftsure (74)

Thunderer (74)

Defense (74)

Dreadnought (98)

Polythemus (64)

Prince (98)

British French Spanish

h V f f l


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The Victor of Trafalgar

Nelson lost his life in Trafalgar but he won atremendous victory for England.

It is one of historys turning points which ledto British domination of the seas forarguably over 150 years.

The HMSVictoryremains a commissionedRN vessel to this day.

Trafalgar Day is celebrated each year withgreat pomp and ceremony

B ttl f T f l


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Battle of Trafalgar

Thankyou for your attention

I will attempt to answer any Questions??

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