Battle of Trafalgar

[W.G.Ewald]

@Armand2REP

Battle of Trafalgar - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Battle of Trafalgar (21 October 1805) was a naval engagement fought by the British Royal Navy against the combined fleets of the French Navy and Spanish Navy, during the War of the Third Coalition (August–December 1805) of the Napoleonic Wars (1803–1815).

The battle was the most decisive British naval victory of the war. Twenty-seven British ships of the line led by Admiral Lord Nelson aboard HMS Victory defeated thirty-three French and Spanish ships of the line under French Admiral Pierre-Charles Villeneuve off the south-west coast of Spain, just west of Cape Trafalgar. The Franco-Spanish fleet lost twenty-two ships, without a single British vessel being lost.

The British victory spectacularly confirmed the naval supremacy that Britain had established during the previous century and was achieved in part through Nelson's departure from the prevailing naval tactical orthodoxy, which involved engaging an enemy fleet in a single line of battle parallel to the enemy to facilitate signalling in battle and disengagement, and to maximise fields of fire and target areas. Nelson instead divided his smaller force into two columns directed perpendicularly against the larger enemy fleet, with decisive results.

Nelson was mortally wounded during the battle, becoming one of Britain's greatest war heroes. The commander of the joint French and Spanish forces, Admiral Villeneuve, was captured along with his ship Bucentaure. Spanish Admiral Federico Gravina escaped with the remnant of the fleet and succumbed months later to wounds sustained during the battle.

 

[Armand2REP]

 

[Waffen SS]

Yes,

The war was already won by British even before the war started.British admiral Nelson was far innovative than his French counter part,Villinove.His reputation was so much that French and Spanish ship captains lacked confidence to battle against them.
Nelson used a perhaps new tactic-2 column of ships in single fire,to break enemy line.Caught French in surprise.

British seamen were more superior,many of them had combat experience,when enemy sailors were in port,for years due to blockade.

British sailors were trained to fire more round than French or others.British aimed to the hull of the enemy ships,when French crews aimed for riggings(sails) of British ships.

Last what should be mentioned is-Britain was the Queen of Sea.