American Reacts HMS Victory: The Total Guide Part 1

Original Video: • HMS Victory in 3D: Tot...
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Hi everyone! I'm an American from the Northeast (New England). I want to create a watering hole for people who want to discuss, learn and teach about history through KZbin videos which you guys recommend to me through the comment section or over on Discord. Let's be respectful but, just as importantly, not be afraid to question any and everything about historical records in order to give us the most accurate representation of the history of our species and of our planet!
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#hmsvictory
#admiralnelson
#nelson
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#napoleonicwars
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#english
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#navy
#american
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#reaction
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[@janneroz-photographyonabudget]

Been on the Victory twice. The last time, the guided tour, the tour guide pointed to the plaque which stated "Nelson Fell Here". A young American tourist, she started looking up at the masts and then asked "where did he fall from?" She received a bit of applause.

[@lilyliz3071]

Loved your reaction when they said , New England pine, it seemed like you thought , “I’ve got a stake in that ship”

[@paulkemp4559]

You said you wanted to visit HMS Victory which is in the historic dockyards Portsmouth Naval base, right next to HMS Victory in its own purpose built building is King Henry VIII flagship Mary Rose that sank in 1545 and was raised from the mud in 1982, the huge amount of artefacts recovered from the ship are incredibly well preserved and show the complete life of a Tudor war ship

[@wereleopard58yepihavetwo2]

Two of my school trips lol

[@pashvonderc381]

Yep, you can walk along the front from the Dockyard to Southsea Castle Museum, a couple of miles or so , and actually view the area where the Mary Rose went down. Shit loads of history in Portsmouth.👍

[@briangibson6527]

I held an original arrow!! Wow ,what a privilege ,my daughter just gave me a funny look ,wondering why I was so excited by an arrow.

[@TheArgieH]

I reckon one must add HMS Warrior to the list of mustsees.

[@whattiler5102]

Don't forget HMS Warrior is there as well!

[@iKvetch558]

There is something wondrous about seeing Connor learn that one of the main reasons that Britain wanted to keep the American colonies was because the Royal Navy had come to depend on American timber so much...and that most of the masts in the Royal Navy were made of old growth New England pine trees.

[@valeriedavidson2785]

Yes but the ships were made of English oak.

[@williambranch4283]

Pine tar came from N Carolina. GB was also getting trees from Russia.

[@iKvetch558]

@@valeriedavidson2785 True, but masts from America were VERY important to the Royal Navy. The importance of them can be seen in the fact that it was part of the charter for the Massachusetts Bay Colony that trees suitable for crafting masts were reserved for the Crown. "For better providing and furnishing of Masts for our Royal Navy wee do hereby reserve to us Our Heires and Successors ALL trees of the diameter of 24 inches and upward of 12 inches from the ground, growing upon any soils or tracts of land within our said Province or Territory not heretofore granted to any private persons. We doe restrains forbid all persons whatsoever from felling, cutting or destroying any such trees without the the Royall Lycence from us Our Heires and Successors first had and obteyned vpon penalty of Forfeiting One Hundred Pounds sterling vnto Ous Our Heires and Successors for every such Tree soe felled cult or destroyed without such Lycence" ✌💯🖖

[@denisrobertmay875]

Not strictly true. Britain never had a good supply of softwood ( Pine, Spruce, Fir or Larch) due to the Ice Age, the only Native species was Scots Pine ( and Yew). This is why the Germanic word for "tree"= Spar is the word for rigging, Yards and such. Scandinavian and Baltic Countries were the most reliable source to such timbers and other associated products like " Stockholm Tar" and cordage collectively known as " Poldavy". Every Port in the UK had a "Baltic Warf" built on that trade, it was one of the commodities of the Hanseatic League of late Medieval period. Large Masts ( and the largest Spars such as Main Yardarms) were a compound construction of selected timbers banded with heated metal (as seen in photos). By the time Victory was built Iron and other metals was being increasingly incorporated into large ship construction and repair as a timber substitute and for extra strength.

[@colinraine8245]

There was a shortage of Oak and some British Warships were made in India from teak. One of the last surviving frigates is HMS Trincomalee which is totally restored and on display in Hartlepool

[@yoptastic8463]

Really pleased that you liked this video McJibben, I found this myself only a few weeks ago and I loved just like you. I feel there is such a wealth of information for anyone who's got any kind of interest in this sort of subject, no matter if like me your not so ship savy but take and interest in the subject as it teaches you everything in both parts that you would ever need to know. However there is a lot of information and names to take on-board (lol) and I watched your face becoming like mine was when I first watched this - totally confused!! I had to keep taking it back to try to remembered what I just been told and now I've watched it for the fourth time and I'm still not sure on everything yet! I think this is one of the best documentaries out there on the subject and so glad I and now you've found it. Additionally to answer your question Admiral Viscount Nelson lost his arm in the Battle of Santa Cruz Tenerife 24 July 1797 and lost most of his sight in his right eye at Calvi, Corsica Spring 1794, sustained a abdomen injury at Cape St Vincent 1797 and a head injury in Egypt Battle of the Nile 1 August 1798 mostly all down to getting shot or debris like flying wood splinters hitting him during battle - as you know in Master and Commander the battles were bloody and often fought closely, so injuries were imminent. Hope this helps - and they would not have used the ships lantern in a Morse Code way as it hadn't been invented yet although they might have used it without knowing that in the future there would be a correct code and defining way of communication.😊👍⚓🌊⛵

[@Ivanhoe076]

Admirals used the biggest and most powerful ship as their Flagship because they had more space for the additional Admiral's staff. All Naval officers in this period led from the front , in battle the Flagship would lead the attack, so having the most powerful vessel was also necessary. Victory was the first ship to break the enemy line at Trafalgar, being almost pounded into a hulk in the process, and, of course, Nelson was killed.

[@cleverusername9369]

You say this in past tense, but it still works that way. I've served aboard two flagships, an aircraft carrier and a cruiser, the largest ships in the USN.

[@spartakistmk2557]

14:05 - "Why no crow's nest?" - partly because they didn't require one, and partly because they hadn't been invented yet. A barrel was first fixed aloft for a lookout to stand in back in 1807, an innovation by the Arctic explorer William Scoresby Sr, and was the first "crow's nest" called by that name. Scoresby was basically improving on similar structures used in commercial whaling vessels, but the fact is, whalers only used them because the seas and weather conditions in the Greenland fisheries were so hellish, and it was vital to the ship's business for a lookout to be on watch for a whale at all times. The majority of the time, most Royal Navy men-of-war wouldn't be in seas that bad, could rotate their lookouts more often in bad weather, and such a structure aloft could potentially be an encumbrance in a chase with an enemy vessel where speed and efficient sailing was everything.

[@spartakistmk2557]

3:20 - "What was the US's view on the Napoleonic Wars?" - the conflict between Britain and France from 1793 onwards was actually one of the first faultlines in American domestic politics, as the party who favoured strong central government and a powerful President (the Federalists) were strongly supportive of Britain, while the party who favoured states' rights and strong local government (the anti-Federalists, later known as Democratic Republicans) supported France. Both sides projected their own ideals for America onto the countries they backed: Federalists wanted a strong commercial nation with centralised institutions and an individual leader, i.e. a new Britain without aristocracy or hereditary monarchy; Democratic Republicans wanted more egalitarianism, an expansion of the right to vote and a bulwark against government corruption and tyranny - the republics of Ancient Greece and Rome were their ultimate dream, but Revolutionary France was a country they admired for taking more positive steps in that direction than the US had done. Washington, Hamilton and Sedgwick were among those who leaned pro-British, while Madison, Jefferson and Monroe were prominently pro-French. Indeed, one of the major reasons why 4th of July celebrations became so widespread in America is because the Democratic Republicans actively encouraged them in the 1790s to whip-up anti-British sentiment, which reached a peak when the French ambassador Edmond-Charles Genêt organised four privateer ships in Charleston, sailing under French colours but crewed entirely by Americans, to attack British shipping. However, at the same time a Federalist-dominated Congress suspended repayments of its French loans from the Revolutionary War, arguing that the loans had been from the French Crown, which no longer existed. The following year, they drew up the Jay Treaty which made Britain the favoured trading partner of the US, a major snub to France, and ensuing French seizure of American ships led to limited but open naval hostilities between the two countries in the Quasi War of 1798-1800. By the time Napoleon came to power, the Francophilia in the US had cooled somewhat due to the Quasi War and the fact that even Democratic Republicans regarded Bonaparte as a tyrant. However, anti-British sentiment remained in many quarters, and gradually grew until it culminated in the War of 1812. TL;DR - the US steered a tricky path of (attempted) neutrality through 1793-1815, but went to war with both sides on different occasions, and had its domestic politics riven by opposing factions who regarded Britain and France as avatars of how they wanted America to be.

[@section5760]

Bravo my friend. Love and respect from Great Britain 🇬🇧👍🏼🍺🍺🇬🇧

[@spartakistmk2557]

@@section5760 I'm also British, but thank you!

[@karenblackadder1183]

It all boils down to which ships had the wind in their favour

[@dancarter482]

@@karenblackadder1183 The finest seamanship.

[@blackbob3358]

@@dancarter482 As well, mr Carter.

[@otterspocket2826]

I have a piece of oak, about half by one by one and a half inches with black paint on one of the smaller faces, cut from HMS Victory during renovations in the 1960's. It's in a little display case (I can open it and take it out), and was bought from the gift shop on a school trip in the early 70's. I doubt it has any financial value, and sites like ebay are awash with much better, 'useful' souvenirs made from the salvaged wood (pens, snuff boxes etc), but my little piece of roughly-sawn oak/history is still one of my favourite possessions. The 'shotgun' effect you asked about was called grapeshot, and would be aimed across the upper decks to take out men and damage sails and rigging. The solid 'round' shot was typically aimed at the water just short of the target, skipping up like a stone to hole it near the waterline and/or fire splintered wood around the gun decks like shrapnel.

[@racheldicker5611]

I've been in nelsons quarters, school trip in the 60s, the guide told us the gun decks were painted red to disguise the blood

[@bluesilvahalo3576]

I was born in Portsmouth so the dockyard and HMS Victory was a fascination from an early age but I found seeing The Mary Rose a much more incredible experience, the age of the ship and the fact that they were able to raise part of her is just amazing. I remember watching the effort it took to raise her. I really hope you get to visit the dockyard someday 👍

[@pixlhound]

It's really interesting that you were able to take more away from seeing the mary rose. My grandfather hated that it had no history and found the victory far more interesting to work on. It is always nice to learn how people can take away a different impression and enjoyment of the same experience

[@bluesilvahalo3576]

@@pixlhound I completely agree about the history of the Victory and the fact that she survived and is one piece is astonishing, I think for me it's just age aspect I find incredible and the somewhat mysterious circumstances of her sinking. They're both wonderful to see 😁

[@melvincain5012]

Really love the way you try to think of something, pause, then carry on unable to remember what you was going to say. Very amusing.

[@cheryla7480]

Morse Code wasn’t invented until 1830 by Samuel Morse in the US.

[@davidhoward5392]

As someone who served in the Royal Navy, I was issued with a HMS Victory cap tally before it was changed to RNH Haslar also Victory Barracks was renamed HMS Nelson in Portsmouth in 1974, they hold a ceremony each year on the anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar onboard HMS Victory and Nelson's death. The Royal Dockyard in Portsmouth is worth a visit.

[@anglosaxon5874]

I was based at RNH Haslar in the 80's! Was at Nelson too.

[@davidhoward5392]

@@anglosaxon5874 when I joined Haslar from Ganges in Jan 74 we were all issued Victoria cap tallies, in TD about 6 months later it changed

[@vicibox]

As the century changed it became the premier Naval research facility, Defence Evaluation & Research Agency Haslar and for my sins I was appointed the Sector Improvement Manager. It was an impressive place.

[@davidhoward5392]

@@vicibox I did my medics training at the Royal Naval Hospital there along with thousands more over the years, although it was a military hospital it also served the loc as l area, usually we had more civilian patients than service for obvious reasons. One of 4 when I was in Plymouth, Gibraltar and Malta all gone now

[@lorraineyoung102]

@@davidhoward5392 It was an amazing hospital and a sad day when it closed We are locals and I remember it well not just for being used by members of the family who were serving but as you say for so many civilians locally too.

[@magnolia7277]

I love you Connor, watching your enthusiasm is contagious! I don't remember any mention of the cells, I think they were at one end of the carpenter's walk. It is an amazing ship to visit and I still can't imagine 820 men in there, especially during a battle, the team work must have been to the second! Another interesting ship was king Henry VIII's Mary Rose, built in 1511, sank 1545, raised from the sea 1982, now in a specially constructed museum near the Victory, we went to both on the same day. Apart from the ship the museum displays the hundreds of articles found with the ship, I loved the shoes! I watched all the tv programmes about finding the wreck, bringing it up, and the progress of the conservation and building the museum, and eventually going to see it. It's like entering a spaceship as you have to pass through an air lock room to get in, it is amazing!

[@tcborg]

Hi Mc.. I visited HMS Victory when i worked down Portsmouth mate. Amazing. Can feel the History and sence and see and smell the history. Overpowering!

[@madams2312]

I've been on board the victory when I visited Portsmouth and its a beautiful ship, and technically still in service today

[@colcot50]

Not technically, it is still an active ship, I’m ex Navy and it’s still the longest commissioned ship in the RN

[@madams2312]

@colcot50 thank you for your service, its the first sea lord if I'm correct, it's a beautiful ship and a great place of history

[@colcot50]

@@madams2312 probably right, I visited it when I was doing my Aircraft technical training at HMS Daedalus in 1989, quite some time ago. I may visit this summer with my son. Next to the ship are very long buildings. That’s where they made the ropes for the ships back in the day and were once the longest buildings in the world from memory

[@madams2312]

@colcot50 I'm from chatham originally so my love for the victory is from when I was a kid and seeing the sails of the victory in chatham Dock yards, best ship of its era

[@sidplays77]

Great video and I've subbed that channel you are watching. As a Brit I'm so proud of our awesome history, we are one fuckin awesome country :) My two nephews have joined the Royal Navy recently in their late teens and I watched one of them pass out at HMS Raleigh (training headquarters). I was so jealous and if I had my time again, I would be signing up no doubt about that!

[@AgentTokyo78]

Uk have been friends with the Portuguese for centuries, we fought the Spanish French and usa, we kept Spain locked in with ship blockades, some French. Usa needed help In fighting Britain and came to a mutual understanding with France to get rid of Britain it was hard fought wars and pushed Britain to Canada where France couldn't completely remove Britain. In his early years Nelson was a young officer in the America' war

[@paulkemp4559]

Great video, I went to the original then came back quickly as I missed your comments and interactions. In my job I would regularly visit HMS Victory when foreign military dignitary’s were hosted on the ship for a spectacular dinner, one occasion it was a soon to be retiring Admiral of the US Navy (I think it was Commander in Chief US Navy Europe) we hosted him on Trafalgar night, Royal Navy knows how to impress. Whilst I was not part of the dinning party I was however given access to the Wardroom on Victory and have a couple of pints with the Petty Officers. Some times a 16 hour day turns out to be a great day.

[@wallywombat164]

Please share more of these with us mate. Thank you Connor.

[@kingspeechless1607]

There is an old joke about the plaque on Victory's deck marking the spot "where Nelson fell." I'm not surprised" says a visiting tourist, "I tripped over the bloody thing myself."

[@DavidSmith-cx8dg]

Nice to see your interest in HMS Victory , the building next to it is the Mary Rose museum with the ship and artefacts found really well displayed and worth seeing . Together with HMS Warrior in Portsmouth Historic Dockyard they are examples of how ships evolved over the Centuries and there's more to see . On the question of how much of her is original , she was dry rocked permanently in the 1920s with the aim of restoring her to her condition at Trafalgar and work has been on going ever since . Even present day warships are repaired and refitted many times over their lives and often bear little resemblance to their original state . HMS Victory is still I believe , listed as a Naval ship .

[@tonys1636]

She was afloat in the dry dock in the late 60's early 70's but after a reclad of the copper and some rotten timbers replaced it was decided to keep her dry, a bad move as accelerated further decay and collapse. Much of the tophamper such as the topmasts was removed to try to stop the spreading of the hull and lower the wind resistance which caused rocking on the blocks and localised preasure on the hull. I would have thought the Navy knew that ships were designed to be evenly supported in water. Discovery is an example of the amount of intrusive support needed to permantly keep a vessel in dry dock. I can remember her when moored on the Embankment.

[@DavidSmith-cx8dg]

They now have her on a hydraulic system which replicates water pressure , I worked on her as an apprentice for a couple of weeks in the 70s and the hold had a lot of restoration and was not open to the public . Went a couple of years ago and it is now and looks really as it would have been . The hill is now painted as it would have been originally .

[@Dee-me3ug]

I loved walking around The Victory… it’s an incredible experience. You should definitely visit Portsmouth you would LOVE it!

[@mrzed.1018]

I enjoy your clips Connor Educational for all of us. What we do t k ow from the clips we ,earn from others comments. Please keep posting your clips...love them.

[@adambrown5704]

Another great reaction. There were indeed different types of ammunition for the guns: round shot, as shown; grape shot (a number of smaller balls); bar shot and chain shot (two balls connected by a bar or chain, used to destroy rigging); and canister (a bag or tin of hundreds of musket balls, used at short range).

[@1chish]

HMS Victory is still a Commissioned ship (as was said the oldest Commissioned ship) and is the Royal Navy Flagship. When the First Sea Lord (the most senior Admiral) retires and new one takes over the ceremony takes place on HMS Victory.

[@wallywombat164]

Those 31 ships boys must have been VERY busy. They must have chewed through a lot of pillows.

[@johnwilletts3984]

Mcjibbin. I’m a retired engineer in the town of Rotherham Yorkshire England. It was here in Rotherham that most of the Royal Navy’s guns were made. For me the real reason for British dominance at sea was the Industrial Revolution and the quality of those guns. Message me if you would like me to freely mail you some information on how in the 18th century those quality guns were manufactured.

[@tonyholmes198]

John, I live in South Yorkshire and would love to know more about it. I had no Idea about that fact.

[@johnwilletts3984]

Tony. Just message me with an email address and I’ll send you some further info.

[@Steve-gc5nt]

My favourite day out is to Portsmouth and HMS Victory 😊

[@tomingram621]

Love the childish (not an insult!) enthusiasm, and yearning to learn! Good stuff!

[@iKvetch558]

LOL...he made the "seaman" joke to himself. 😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@melvincain5012]

May have been more prudent to term it "child like"

[@tomingram621]

@@melvincain5012 Perhaps.... oh, do let me know when you get a life!

[@goldenlabradorskye]

I was in the RN and when I served on HMS Bulwark R08.(rusty B) we was berthed near to HMS Victory in Portsmouth. Went onboard Victory several times. Fantastic ship.

[@davidcarter5038]

When I was a child in the late 60s/early 70s on holiday in Portsmouth, we went onboard HMS Bulwark on one of the Navy Days!

[@goldenlabradorskye]

@@davidcarter5038 74 - 76 i served on the Bulwark.

[@ednammansfield8553]

I saw HMS Bulwark back in 1963 on the Navy Days when I was a Sea Cadet a year before joining the Royal Navy in 1964. I enlisted in Preston and entered the gates of HMS Ganges in June that year. I remember there were four carriers at that time, HMS Bulwark, HMS Centaur, HMS Hermes and HMS Albion which were all light carriers at that time.

[@bryanthesmith4441]

my dad, Ronald Smith served on the Bulwark. He was a third generation seaman.

[@defdave101]

Chain shot was the two balls fastened by a chain. Used for destroying sail and masts. Grape shot was the shotgun equiv. used for killing crew.

[@BrokenIET]

17:21 Its called "Canister Shot" its essentially a bunch or musket balls put into a canvas bag that could be fired out of the guns, used for disabling smaller boats or killing men. The other type of shot you refer to is called "Chain Shot" or "Bar Shot" (they're essentially the same, one connects 2 cannonballs together with a chain and the other connects them with an iron bar) they were used for the same purpose, they would be fired at masts to damage rigging causing the masts to topple, although I've heard a few instances of them being used to damage sails too. They both have Wikipedia pages if you want a more detailed description or pictures 18:30 The ships boat's primary purpose was the purposes they described, their secondary purpose was as lifeboats, though these ships were made of wood so didn't sink easily, meaning the inclusion for purpose built life-boats rather than a varied compliment of boats didn't make much sense. 22:13 "Morse code" was a "Language" invented in the early 19th century, so the concept of covering up a lantern or the dots and dashes to convey a message via morse code wouldn't have existed for another 20 years or so after the Battle of Trafalgar, or more than 50 years since it was built. 22:23 A Junior officer is generally an officer between the ranks of Ensign and Captain in the British army (at the time) and in the navy its an officer between Lieutenant and Commodore (I think, don't quote me on that one, you'll need to do more research of your own if you want some more definitive answers) 24:18 Flagships did just as much fighting as other ships at the time, often even more. If you searched for example "hms victory after trafalgar" there are a number of paintings and drawings of all the damage she sustained, she had to be towed into port by HMS Neptune. She also used most of her powder and shot, she used more of it than she was originally designed to carry before her refit in 1800. - also having a large ship being a flagship is often inspirational to other friendly ships, and terrifying to the enemy. 26:50 I'm glad you picked up on that detail :D He lost his arm in 1797 at the battle Santa Cruz de Tenerife 29:46 If you mean you thought they would get violent then generally no- unless you were a thief or something, but generally no they wouldn't as punishment for things like that was very harsh- if you got violent with the wrong guy you could've been hung even 31:25 Apparently Opium was used in the 1600s for pain relief and "By the 1800s, ether and chloroform were introduced as anesthetics" www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5760261/ though, how readily available these were at sea I don't know so there may not've been any pain relief at all 32:39 at 31:57 there is a set of deck plans which has it labelled as "Bread room" so presumably storage for bread 37:25 A "Jerry Can" is a type of liquid container designed in WWII that is commonly used nowadays, googling what one is is probably easier than me explaining them here 39:27 I think I've heard the number 3/4 of the original timber still remains on the ship, so if they manage to remove all of that just to get rid of rotting timbers I would be surprised and impressed surely not all the wood is rotten Sorry if I missed any of your questions!

[@johnturnbull7798]

For anyone watching this, If you have the opportunity and the desire to see it. GO!!! You will not be disappointed. This is a window onto a time in the past. Over 800 men on a small ship. It may be the top warship of its time but you will be horrified at how small it is. If you are ex US navy submarines you may think you were squeezed into a small space until you see the reality of an 18th century warship. Its an amazing experience to go round this ship. Don't miss it.

[@rogermadeley7413]

When I was in the Navy we were alongside for maintenance and I was seconded to the Victory for a couple of weeks. Down in the hold she sometimes still creaks like she's at sea even in dry dock.

[@squirepraggerstope3591]

Btw, on the question you ask about flagships, it's because the biggest, most heavily armed ships would also be the most formidable IN battle that, in most circumstances, it was one major reason an admiral would be inclined to select one as his flagship. Especially in days before usually very quick and reliable communicaion at sea. As c.o, the senior flag officer present would then have direct and immediate contol of one of the most effective (and instantly identifiable) units under his command. Because in a sea baltte, ALL SHIPS in a fleet would typically be as fully engaged in battle as possible and any officer of flag rank would be in as much danger as anyone else. Something that was still true in both world wars and usually is now, as well.

[@brendabickers65]

I am retired now but live in the city of Portsmouth and used to pass HMS Victory on my way to work everyday. It is a must visit if you come to Portsmouth. Also the Mary Rose, King Henry 111V flag ship is in Portsmouth harbour having been raised from the Solent sea bed over 40years ago. Not fogetting HMS Warrior the First iron built ship which is just inside the harbour. All three ships are open to visitors.x

[@bobbobskin]

A Jerry Can is the kind of metal petrol canister you might see attached to the back of a Jeep in a WW2 movie. It holds approximately 5 US gallons has quite an uncomfortable handle, and weights about 25kg all up. A rather disconnected fact is that in order to join the British Army, you have to be able to carry 2 full Jerry cans a given distance in an allotted time, with various roles requiring different performance. The Royal Engineers (for instance) are expected to carry them a full 240 metres in 4 minutes (if I recall correctly) whereas the fine officers of the Intelligence Corp (who have a pansy resting on it's laurels as their crest (a joke I am allowed to make as I was a civilian attached to them)) only need to manage 30 metres. (Officers are expected to do better than the soldiers they lead... and I was quite pleased with myself when I managed to carry the bloody things the full 240 odd metre course in the allotted time, however ... it should be said that it was a long time ago, I probably banged the bloody things into my legs at least a dozen times, they cut my hands to shreds, and it was purely mind over matter ... as I didn't want my army baby sitters to feel like I was going to be a hindrance)....

[@james-gs9yl]

Laudanum, was the normal pain killer, it didn’t always put the unfortunate patient out, so they would often just hold them down and the surgeon would work as fast as they could to try to cut down the unfortunate patients shock, which often assisted on the number of deaths. There was often young boys as young as nine who were often called powder monkeys

[@bordeaux1962]

27:13 I am writing from Germany, just to explain the poor English language. The narrator mentioned earlier that all the partition walls and the furniture in the quarters of the captain, of the admiral who might be present, of the official guests and of the officers could be easily removed in case of an imminent battle. This was thus no longer a privacy zone in compartments but a combat deck like anywhere else on the ship. What you can see on the picture are the guns from behind, with the retaining ropes.

[@vanmanwales1590]

Your English is excellent.

[@TheArgieH]

As in "Clear the decks for action" expression?

[@8arcasticallyYours]

The area you asked about, the Bread Room was shown marked on the diagram of the Orlop deck.

[@longstreet0163]

You asked if they used grapeshot. Yes, and in the carronade that the picture showed. I read where that gun was loaded with two 68 pound shot ("double-shotted") and a keg of 500 (if I remember correctly) musket balls for good measure. When fired it took out a whole gun deck of the French flagship (Bucentaure) having been shot through the weak stern area. Incredible.

[@cazfloss1990]

My family and I went to Portsmouth a couple of weeks ago. We spent two and a half days there. Going aboard the Victory and HMS warrior. The place is so interesting, to all the artefacts in the museums and the submarine you can go inside. I was pleasantly surprised! I sat on the Captains toilet! 😄

[@brohavard11]

I was on the Victory ship i 1975 as a Royal Navy Guide and when i was on duty watch, we had to sleep onboard quite eerie as it creaked and groaned in the wind .

[@whattiler5102]

As you will have seen from the final images, Victory does not have its full arrangement of masts at present because of a long term refurbishment that is being undertaken to replace her upper masts and all her rigging.

[@lorrainet6798]

If you ever do make it to visit Victory, Chatham dock yard is also open to visitors and so is the Rope Walk. Check it out.

[@brianrodney712]

It caused quite a stir when the French sent a flag-signal to the British fleet which read - " A l'eau c'est l'heur ".

[@kt5661]

I had a distant family member who was transported on Victory when it was used as a troop ship during the Napoleonic war.

[@davidedbrooke9324]

The copper sheathing cost 25% of Britain’s GDP. But boy it was worth it, our enemies commented how nimble our ships were.

[@Evasion381]

I'll never forget going round HMS Victory as a child, the size and history was truly overwhelming to little 8 year old me

[@ken-u3n]

In July 1797 Nelson led a doomed assault on the Spanish island of Tenerife in which he was hit in the right arm by a musket ball shortly after stepping ashore. Bleeding heavily, he was taken back to HMS Theseus, where the injured limb was amputated.

[@ClassicRiki]

4:22 Any other Brits go onboard this Ship for a school trip? I assume we all did. It’s amazing, I appreciate it more now than then…same as Hampton Court.

[@alisonlinnell8943]

Like most I’ve been onboard. My friend’s aunt was in the Navy and got to attend a special dinner on the ship to honour her, being piped onboard.

[@bobbobskin]

Following on from other commenters, the Flag ship needed to be large enough to allow sufficient staff for coordination to be on board, coordinating a naval battle at this time. You can think of a First Rate ship of the line as the equivalent of an aircraft carrier in a modern carrier group. but without the benefit of AWACS, Sonar, Radar and alike. Thus, it needed to be able to get into the battle and "lead from the front, fight from the front" , in order to really direct the battle group. To understand the practicalities as an intellectual exercise, consider trying to use a vessel like the USS Constellation (1854) as a flag ship. The USS Constellation (which was built around 100 years after HMS Victory) was also about 180 ft long had a complement of around 300 people and an armament of: 16 × 8 in (203 mm) chambered shell guns 4 × 32-pounder (15 kg) long guns 1 × 20-pounder (9 kg) Parrott rifle 1 × 30-pounder (14 kg) Parrott rifle 3 × 12-pounder (5 kg) bronze boat howitzers HMS Victory was a similar length at 186 ft for her gun deck and around 210 ft including foresale etc, had 3 times the complement at 850 and packed a huge amount more punch: Gundeck: 30 × 2.75-ton long pattern Blomefield 32-pounders (15 kg) Middle gundeck: 28 × 2.5-ton long 24-pounders (11 kg) Upper gundeck: 30 × 1.7-ton short 12-pounders (5 kg) Quarterdeck: 12 × 1.7-ton short 12-pounder (5 kg) Forecastle: 2 × medium 12-pounder (5 kg), 2 × 68-pounder (31 kg) carronade

[@jackjosh1981]

Yea that 68pdr carronade on the bow got basically used as a shotgun at trafalgar, there is an accounts of all the guns being double shotted for when victory broke the line and victorys first shot was from one of the 68pdr carronades on the bow that a marine had the idea of putting a small keg of musket balls into as well as its regular shot,, apparently the result was awesome and totally destroyed the back end of ( I think it was the redoubtable might be mistaken) it was said to of put a hole in the stern large enough to drive a carriage through.

[@whattiler5102]

I think you were almost drooling when he mentioned "expert shipwrights being on hand". What you said about replacing all the parts; is it the same ship; bear in mind these great wooden ships required almost constant work and dry dock refits to keep them fit for active service in their lifetime. The best example of what you alluded to is the old conundrum about George Washington's axe; they have it in a museum but in 200 years the wooden handle has been replaced three times and the axe head twice.

[@robbiejones4504]

Was on HMS Victory Today. Very lucky to grow up a stones throw away. Her smell reminds me of my childhood. Lots of conservation work going on. £45 million over the next 12 years.

[@damedusa5107]

32:17 the answer to your question. The diagram says the “ bread room”.

[@AcidEric01]

what I also came to say.

[@damedusa5107]

@@AcidEric01 actually just seen on another video from a tour. This room is full of marine rifles, and equipment.

[@bordeaux1962]

39:20 We had the same discussion in Germany whether a historic ship is still original after an almost complete replacement of its substance during a renovation. The traditional training ship of the German Navy, the Gorch Fock. She had to go through this procedure. And is now back on duty at sea. There the future German Navy officers learn what seamanship is all about. On a three-masted sailing ship, not on a high-end aircraft carrier. It may seem strange, but it makes sense. So I would say, after full renovation it is still the old Gorch Fock, even if after the renovation only a nail and a board of the original remained. Precisely because three times as much money was invested as a new ship would have cost. This shows that she is still very much appreciated and alive. Just like the ship Victory.

[@sjbict]

the aft plan of the orlop deck showed the area you asked about as the "bread room" There is also a TV series called "Hornblower" about the exploits of a young Midshipman up to Captain in the Royal Navy about this time.

[@bobbobskin]

I am not entirely sure regarding the area on the orlop deck at the aft but I suspect that the area may be a chain locker. There are also a number of sail storage rooms on that level. as well as the gunpowder magazines (due to it being below the water line), which meant that a fire could be extinguished by flooding sections.

[@happydog3422]

What you were trying to remember about replacing ships timbers is The ship of Theseus. Here in the UK we use Only Fools and Horses reference "Triggers broom".👍

[@lloyd_r]

alright Dave

[@whattiler5102]

Additionally in the gunner's domain woven 'list slippers' were worn; no heavy boots with iron hobnails allowed because of concern for any sparks that could be caused.

[@Ivanhoe076]

Last time I was aboard Victory (Many years ago) I leaned on a lower deck 32pdr and it moved! (3 tons of gun shouldn't move when you lean on it!) The guide explained that, since Victory is dry-docked, the weight of her guns was causing the hull to spread outwards, so her armament has been replaced with glass fibre replicas.

[@grahamfrear9270]

I visited HMS watching your video of made it more interesting thank you for thank you for posting

[@jeanniewarken5822]

I was born in Portsmouth and despite living all over am back in Portsmouth... Every school child in the region visits Victory and the fabulous Mary Rose museum. Portsmout is not a pretty city it has been Englands main royal naval port for hundreds of years. My father was a dockyard apprentice training fir 5 years to be a shipright. One of his stories was how he and the other apprentices replaced Victorys main mast in about 1943(yes during the war). Though much of his apprentiship was spent helping to repair damaged warships during the war. A small part of the dockyard (the gunwharf) has been developed as a shopping/ leisure complex known as Gunwharf Quays. The rest of the dockyard is still a fully functional naval port which also houses the victory, mary rose and Warrior abd much more. One of of the display buildings used to be the longest building in the world... The rope shed... you can imagine the hundreds of miles of rope that used to be made there. If your interested in naval history and ships there is nowhere else quite like it

[@dereknewbury163]

My grandfather was a guide on HMS Victory shortly before his retirement from the Navy at the end of WWII. He used to rehearse his guide script to an enthralled 4 year old me, but much to the frustration of my grandmother, partly because she had heard it all before but also because he inevitably elaborated false and fallacious anecdotes which, of course, reflected very favourably upon himself

[@tonys1636]

HMS VIctory is currently decommissioned as a warship undergoing a refit is. I do hope that after this restoration she will be refloated as a ship is not designed to be supported other than in water, they collapse down and out from the topweight pressing down otherwise and require a lot of intrusive support for permanent dry dock. Salt water is also a very good preservative. I also hope the topmasts will be replaced as she looks stunted without. She was when afloat in Portsmouth (up to the 70's) the formal/official office of the Admiral Commanding Portsmouth, a nice office.

[@wiggyone]

I'm lucky enough to have been aboard HMS Victory around 1980 and was even let into Lord Nelson's personal quarters which tourists weren't normally allowed into at the time (my Dad had connections and was a Lord Nelson's birthday attendee aboard the ship, which was a big deal apparently). Unfortunately I was so young at the time I can't really remember much of it (I was 3 or 4) apart from climbing on the cannons and being a little scared to get on the ship. Always been fascinated by HMS Victory though - beautiful vessel.

[@claregale9011]

Love it Connor learning along with you 🙂👍

[@hobmoor2042]

Hi Connor. About signalling by lamp - this was not possible in Nelson's time. The Royal Navy did not have a sufficiently powerful light source until the invention of limelight. The Royal Navy first introduced the flashing Aldis Lamp in 1867.

[@101steel4]

1979 school trip to the IOW. Stopped off in Portsmouth to visit some old boat before boarding the IOW ferry. I've been back since and actually appreciated it 😁

[@mairiconnell6282]

The Flag Ship gave confidence and reassurance to the rest of the Fleet. Moral wins battles.Thanks for your reviews you let us enjoy the topic as well before asking questions. I have been lucky enough to have dinner on this ship and I would say to all a trip to Portsmouth Docks is an absolute must. Gunwharfe Quays is a must for shopping; a Gerry can is from the second world war and is a container which can be used for multi purposes. It holds roughly 20lts of fuel.

[@memkiii]

...American remember... so 5 US Gallons.

[@michaelmcginn7260]

The cannons had a range of ammunition including cannister. This is what it says, a can of smaller balls. You can imagine.

[@ThePalaeontologist]

When Epic History TV mentioned that Britain had 136 Ships-of-the-Line (at some point in the Napoleonic Wars), what is not mentioned is that the Royal Navy had hundreds of frigates as well. All told, the Royal Navy had anywhere between 800 and 1000 ships of all sizes and types, depending on how you count it. If you're including all the gunboats, brigs, sloops, prison hulks, razee frigates, carronade frigates, standard frigates, bomb ketches, rocket ships and post ships. There were about 9 1st Rate Ships of the Line (or maybe 10 if you include HMS _St Lawrence_ that was the only 1st rate ship of the line to be built and adapted specifically to operating on a freshwater lake, to control it by outgunning everything else on it, during the War of 1812) and most of them were usually mothballed, awaiting new officers, crews and orders. The 2nd rates were much more common and you'd more likely run into one of those. Usually, a 2nd rate would be more than enough to deal with pretty much anything, and would be seen in much the same way as a 1st rate if it arrived on the scene (especially, if in numbers, as part of a larger fleet) They weren't quite as powerful and heavily armed as the 1st rates, but they very close to them of course. The 2nd rates were often used in the home fleet, though they were sometimes seen dotted around in different fleets being used far and wide. But the true backbone of the Royal Navy was in it's numerous 3rd rates. I'm not particularly sure about the 136 ships of the line figure, because I had it that there were a couple hundred or so 3rd rates of all build ages, shapes and a decent range of sizes and gunnery armaments, depending on their age. Many old 3rd rates were still in operational use, several decades after their first use. The more modern ones were also joined by captured French frigates, renamed. Britain relied on the 3rd rates to be the mainstay and workhorse of the bigger gunned ships of the fleet, because they wouldn't have enough 1st or 2nd rates to cover the quite of territory that the oceanic expanses demanded. 3rd rates like HMS _Agamemnon_ (1781) were tough, well-tested and near constantly active ships that were often seen far and wide across the Atlantic and beyond. Nelson himself regarded HMS _Agamemnon_ as his favourite warship. Even over HMS _Victory_ (which he had only come to command more recently) Although the comparison may well be inaccurate on some levels, I'd argue that the 3rd rates of the line were something akin to an 18th/19th century cruiser-killer (like how Battlecruisers in the 20th century were made to be fast and light enough to catch smaller cruisers, but powerful and well-armed enough to do the job of destroying them if the time came) It isn't a perfect comparison. But it kind of makes sense. 3rd rates were faster and lighter, with far more of them available, and a much lower resource cost to build (2,000-3,000 trees, compared to over 6,000 for 1st rates) And they were strong enough to go after basically anything. And because British Royal Navy crews were so superb in the Age of Sail (hilariously better than basically anyone else, and tough, grizzled seadogs whom had lived a life on the ocean wave, all their lives), British 3rd rates could punch well-above their weights. They were well-commanded, well-operated and often incredibly aggressive as a rule, going after most targets. Even the 4th, 5th and 6th rate ships of the line (getting smaller and lighter, in that order) were often operated with admirable bravery and determined aggressiveness, as per Royal Navy habits in the era. For a particularly insane example, consider HMS _Terpsichore (1785), a British 5th rate, of 32 guns. In February 1797, HMS _Terpsichore_ was operating in the Mediterranean, and had thus far on it's mission, captured 3 hostile frigates. The Battle of Cape St Vincent, on the 14th February 1797, saw the British defeat the Spanish Navy in an early naval battle of this particular Anglo-Spanish War (1796-1808) At the Battle of Cape St Vincent, Britain had 15 ships of the line (2 First Rates: HMS _Victory_ and HMS _Britannia_ with 4 Second Rates: HMS _Blenheim_ , HMS _Prince George_ , HMS _Barfleur_ and HMS _Namur_ with 9 Third Rates: HMS _Orion_ , HMS _Culloden_ , HMS _Colossus_ , HMS _Irresistible_ , HMS _Egmont_ , HMS _Goliath_ , HMS _Captain_ , HMS _Diadem_ and HMS _Excellent_ all told) Britain also had 5 frigates, 1 sloop, and a cutter. Note the balance of the numbers of the ships of the line; two 1st Rates, four 2nd Rates and nine 3rd Rates. It exemplifies the much more common nature of the 3rd Rates, as compared to the rarer 2nd and especially 1st rates. And seeing two first rates together in one place would not be common globally (though would be more common than not in European waters closer to Britain; as the Home Fleet/Channel Squadrons usually had the most powerful ships) HMS _Terpsichore_ was operating mostly alone, and was not at the battle. The 17 British ships at Cape St Vincent, were going up against the Spanish with 25 ships of the line, including the vast ship of the line, Santísima Trinidad (officially named Nuestra Señora de la Santísima Trinidad) Depending on when we're talking about, Santísima Trinidad had between 136-140 guns. It was absolutely the largest warship in the world at this time. However, it was not as feared as it might have been, regardless of it's size. It is important to note that not all of her guns were heavy calibre and quite a lot were pretty light guns. At least, light for her size. But this very large warship from the Age of Sail, would present a daunting individual warship. The Spanish also had 7 frigates, a brig, and 4 urcas (armed merchantmen) Essentially, 22 British ships VS 37 Spanish ships. Admiral Sir John Jervis commanded the British fleet from HMS _Victory_ at this time. Meanwhile, on HMS _Captain_ a certain Horatio Nelson (at that time, of the rank of Commodore) stood beside the ship's captain. Nelson was wounded during the battle; in which he showed near fanatical bravery in the thick of the action, with HMS _Captain_ coming under fire from as many as 6 Spanish ships at the height of the fighting; and of the 6 Spanish ships that poured fire on HMS _Captain_ it is known that 3 of them were 112 gun three-deckers (Spanish 1st rates) and another, was the monster four-decker, 136 gun Santísima Trinidad. Nelson aggressively boarded Spanish 3rd rate, San Nicolás, capturing it. HMS _Culloden_ and HMS _Excellent_ had aided Nelson by screening HMS _Captain_ from the heavy fire it was sustaining from so many attackers. Fire from HMS _Excellent_ had immobilised San Nicolás in the first place; making it collide with San José. Which is why they were stuck together. This allowed Nelson more time to reload his guns and to prepare a boarding party to go for San Nicolás. San Nicolás became HMS _San Nicolas_ after that (becoming a prison ship 3 years later) Not only had Nelson captured this ship, but he'd crossed back over the deck of San Nicolás and also captured 112 gun 1st rate, San José (becoming HMS _San Josef_ in British service) Needless to say, Nelson was a goddamn madman, in the nicest possible terms. During the Battle of Cape St Vincent, the British captured 4 Spanish ships; therefore, Nelson, by himself, captured 50% of them. A 3rd rate and a 1st rate, from his own 3rd rate. Not a bad day's work (with a nice assist, it should be remembered, from fellow 3rd rates, HMS _Culloden_ and HMS _Excellent_ which helped take some of the fire off of HMS _Captain_ after a while when she seemed to stand alone) Nelson had basically used the Spanish 3rd rate as a bridge to get to the 1st rate. It was one of the maddest, bravest and most impressive feats of naval combat in the late 18th century (and he had a lot of competition, often from himself, later) Jervis lost no ships, and his casualties across the fleet were 73 killed in action, and 227 seriously wounded (note: seriously injuries only recorded; many, many more men would have had lighter injuries, going unrecorded; and this would be the same for both sides) Spanish losses were considerably worse; with 4 ships of the line captured (namely, San José, San Nicolás de Bari, San Isidro and Salvador del Mundo), 250 or so men killed, and 550 or so men wounded (these figures seem conveniently even) Britain took over 3,000 prisoners. It was a serious defeat, for Spain, but it was still not a Trafalgar sized triumph. All the same, it was an impressive achievement and Nelson's heroics stood out. His peculiar method of double boarding two Spanish ships side to side, one after the other, was an amazing feat for the 1790's that few would ever have imagined possible. Spain had lost, to capture, two 3rd rates and two 1st rates. On top of this, it was a close run thing for Santísima Trinidad, which was almost captured as the battle fell apart for the Spanish. Not only had HMS _Captain_ and HMS _Culloden_ given her some heavy broadsides, now HMS _Diadem_ and HMS _Excellent_ were bearing down on her. She was fleeing. [part 1/2; part 2 below]

[@ThePalaeontologist]

[part 2/2] Santísima Trinidad was in the process of striking her colours (effectively, in this way, surrendering) when two other Spanish warships sailed to her aid, and screened her retreat; also warning Santísima Trinidad _not_ to lower her colours, for fear of the already badly damaged ship being broadside raked by both sides (aka telling them to put the Spanish flag back up, pretty angrily no doubt, to stop the ship from getting shot at by her own side by accident) These were Infante Don Pelayo and San Pablo (two Spanish third rates) They gave Santísima Trinidad covering fire, and the four-decker slipped away, badly damaged. As the battle wrapped up, HMS _Orion_ and HMS _Britannia_ skirmished with the escorting Spanish ships that had been screening the retreat of Santísima Trinidad, for a while, and then Admiral Jervis recalled his fleet, to secure the captured ships and prepare the damaged British ships for leaving. Victorious. HMS _Captain_ the ship the then Commodore Nelson was commanding, was so beaten up after all the fighting that day, that she was effectively immobile, still joined to the two Spanish ships that Nelson captured beside her. Of all the British ships at Cape St Vincent, HMS _Captain_ suffered the most extensive damage, as she had been in the thick of the fighting for the longest, against the most concentrated and sustained fire. Nelson knew what he was doing. It was still very brave. The reason why Nelson had hurled HMS _Captain_ against several larger vessels, was that he correctly realised that the lead Spanish ships were trying to escape. He'd practically thrown HMS _Captain_ in the midst of them to stop this from happening so easily. He had ensured some were captured. Jervis would thank him for this later on, recognising what Nelson had done (both men achieved great fame and repute from the battle honour) HMS _Captain_ survived the battle, and was returned to Portsmouth, England, after some repairs at sea. She would undergo long and comprehensive repairs, in drydock, before being sent back into active service in 1799. 24 of the crew of HMS _Captain_ were killed at the Battle of Cape St Vincent (almost 1/3 of the total KIA losses in the entire British fleet at that battle) 56 other men were seriously wounded, including Nelson himself. 80 casualties combined, from a crew complement of roughly ~550 men. This reflects how vicious the fighting was. San Nicolás suffered far, far worse; 144 men killed, 59 seriously injured and 203 captured. San José had been trying to come to the rescue of San Nicolás, when fire from HMS _Excellent_ made the San Nicolás veer into San José. They became entangled at the same time as Nelson pressed his attack, capturing both of them. His on the spot plan had worked, against the odds. Although Admiral Sir John Jervis had been greatly outnumbered and theoretically outgunned, in reality, the sheer quality of his sailors, the professionalism and qualities of the Royal Navy, made it a force to be reckoned with, even while outnumbered. Santísima Trinidad had only barely escaped and only then because the Spanish 3rd rate ships escorted and screened her, allowing her to escape. HMS _Captain_ was so beat up after the battle, that Nelson transferred his pennant (i.e. he moved his command) to HMS _Irresistible_ as HMS _Captain_ was classed as 'disabled' and had to be partially towed home by the British frigates. Nelson stood, face dirtied by dry blood and powdery smoke, his once beautiful Royal Navy Commodore's uniform in tatters. HMS _Victory_ commanded by Admiral Jervis, had defeated the Spanish first rate, Salvador del Mundo, with devastating, raking broadsides. After the battle, Nelson spoke with Jervis, and later thanked Captain Miller of HMS _Captain_ after returning to the damaged 3rd rate he had commanded from. Nelson gave Captain Miller the sword of the surrendered Spanish Captain, from the San Nicolás. Then Nelson stayed with the Spanish ships he captured, securing them as they were taken as prizes, to England. As most of the rest of the fleet began to depart for home, they passed by Nelson, in line, on the captured Spanish ships; and as each passed, all the crews cheered in outright respect for Nelson. If anyone in the Royal Navy had doubted Nelson before, or had not known of him, now they certainly wouldn't. Nelson's heroics had not begun at Cape St Vincent, but his actions at this battle, exemplify what he was capable of. Absolute quality. The nation didn't love him just for Trafalgar, in the end, in 1805 (though that truly immortalised him; had not Cape St Vincent and the Nile done so already, in ways) It wasn't just that Nelson and Jervis had defeated a much larger Spanish fleet. They had outright embarrassed them. It wasn't that the Spanish men didn't fight bravely. Clearly, they fought stubbornly against HMS _Captain_ and the other British ships in the middle of the action. However, they fought aimlessly, and with poor leadership, and were inexperienced compared to the veteran fighting sailors and Royal Marines of the Royal Navy. It wasn't a fair comparison. Even while outnumbering the British heavily, the Spanish were trounced, in Portuguese waters. It was not a true like for like competitive match-up. The British were just far too good for Don José Córdoba. Jervis was by far the better Admiral. Commodore Nelson was too, without even being an Admiral (yet) Experienced, grizzled and battle-hardened Royal Navy sailors and officers, had expertly defeated the confused and inexperienced Spanish Navy. *And now we return to HMS Terpsichore* (the fifth rate I mentioned a million years ago) Basically, I explained the context for why Santísima Trinidad was limping away from a naval battle, the Battle of Cape St Vincent; to show how HMS _Terpsichore_ found her. Several days after the battle, the British 5th rate HMS _Terpsichore_ spotted Santísima Trinidad, making her way back to Spain. Let's just remember that the Spanish warship, damaged or not, was still the largest warship in the world at the time. The only four-decker around at this time. 136 guns (exactly how many were operational post-battle is hard to say, though at least 130 would still be likely) Santísima Trinidad needed to make a quick escape from Cape St Vincent, because of being surrounded. Now, even in a suboptimal condition, Santísima Trinidad was still a terrifying ship for smaller warships to go up against. Over 130 guns. The fifth rate frigate HMS _Terpsichore_ was massively outgunned, with it's 32 guns. Yet this is the nature of the Royal Navy in the time of Nelson. The plucky frigate had to keep her own distance from the Spanish four-decker, peppering it with broadsides from long-range, and avoiding the heavier calibre stern guns on Santísima Trinidad. They pot-shot at the Santísima Trinidad aggressively. A 5th rate frigate, daring to harass a heavy 1st rate, with seemingly reckless abandon. HMS _Terpsichore_ was still hit pretty badly when the juggernaut lurched closer trying to catch her, doing damage to the rigging and convincing the Captain Bowen to follow at a more distant range, and to stand off. Eventually they lost each other and yet again Santísima Trinidad had gotten away. But for no losses of life to herself, HMS _Terpischore_ had killed 9 more Spanish sailors and done a surprising amount of yet further damage to the huge ship, to add insult to injury after what had already been an embarrassment at Cape St Vincent. In the main battle, a few British 3rd rates had humiliated her. Now a solitary British 5th rate frigate had the audacity and barefaced bravery to torment her and do yet more damage. It was almost inconceivable. But they did it. The fact that a Royal Navy crew on a ship with 100 _fewer_ guns than her adversary, still had the brass cannonballs to actually go for it and have a shot at the massive warship, says by itself, so much about the Royal Navy of Nelson's day, in microcosm. In microcosm, that is, as an individual ship, compared to the heroics of the collective, in macrocosm, at the main naval battle. It shows that it wasn't just how they worked together. So often, even alone, they had the grit and determination, the training and the sheer experience, to tough out and make it through basically anything. They were unmatched the world over. Just look at Captain Thomas Cochrane's daring deeds commanding HMS _Speedy_ which was also assigned to the Mediterranean; he captured 53 ships with her, in measly brig. He was only forced to surrender, by a squadron of French frigates and ships of the line (which, individually, let alone together, greatly outgunned and outclassed HMS _Speedy_ on armaments, and had much bigger crews) But it really does go to show what he was capable of in even tiny ships like HMS _Speedy_ and it goes to show what quality could be found. The main weakness, in that time, of the Royal Navy, was it's aristocratic oligarchy, which was prone to Admirals being appointed whom were not deserving of their often bought for commissions. Nevertheless, the Royal Navy was still blessed with many great captains, commodores, lieutenants and admirals. It was only natural that this pattern repeated, in later battles (see Battle of the Nile) Trafalgar was the culmination of all they had achieved, become and crafted. They fought as one, and the strict discipline on board Royal Navy ships, eliminated many problems that were seen on the Spanish ships at Cape St Vincent. Generations earlier, too. The Royal Navy was absolutely top quality as for this time. There wasn't a fleet on Earth they feared. Hearts of Oak our ships, jolly tars our men...when the ships were made of wood, but the men were made of iron. Remember HMS _Terpsichore_ if nothing else.

[@bevanfletcher6563]

Because of building so many ships, is the main reason why nearly 75% of Britain's forests are gone.

[@frglee]

I've been several times to see HMS Victory at Portsmouth Harbour, the first time being a school trip when I was 10! You will not be disappointed when you visit it, believe me! On a diving trip in Gibraltar once, our diveboat moored in a small quiet fortified natural harbour called Rosia Bay. The place was quite deserted. The boat captain mentioned that 200 years previously this little bay would have been a hive of activity, as it was the site of the Royal Navy Victualling Yard complex, then newly constructed, allowing vessels to anchor and obtain provisions, including food and water for the Mediterranean Fleet. This is where the heavily damaged HMS Victory was towed to after the 1805 Battle of Trafalgar.

[@toadmeister1964]

Yes chain shot and bar shot were used especially against rigging. Grapeshot was effective against personnel. Most casualties, however, resulted from splinters.

[@adambrown5704]

The vacant space you were wondering about was for private stores for the captain (especially) and other officers. A captain (and even more an admiral, if aboard) would feel honour bound to be able to entertain fellow captains in the fleet, and his junior officers. Cheese, good flour for fresh bread, wine, brandy and, especially, port; as well as marmalade, sugar, tobacco and coffee. Live animals were kept, too. Cattle, goats (for milk as well as meat) and chickens (often housed in the ship’s boats on the weather deck) offered something of a delay before the diet had to revert to salt beef and pork, hard ship’s biscuit and a spoonful of lime juice in the daily grog.

[@whattiler5102]

Bear in mind that 'cannons' in the naval sense were guns and great guns. Victory was a 'First rate' ship of the line (i.e the line of battle in a fleet engagement) but the more common ship of the line was the Third rate; which carried 64-80 guns but the '74 gun, third rate' became the epitome of the 'rate' in terms of fire power, sailing qualities, speed, and cost, they would have a crew of 650-720 or so.

[@wrorchestra1]

When you go to the Historic Docks at Portsmouth, you'll find not only the HMS Victory but the Ironclad HMS Warrior and the pride of Henry VIII's fleet, the Mary Rose. The raising of the Mary Rose will be 40 years ago on 11th of October.

[@mairiconnell6282]

I remember that day when the ship dropped. It took ages to see the top and then it was all over for some twenty years.

[@JayArgonauts]

Really interesting video. I have seen this ship twice and it never fails to impress. I also have a family connection with this ship as it was the flagship of my ancestor Admiral Sir John Jervis, later Earl St Vincent in recognition of his victory over the Spanish in 1797 at the Battle of Cape St Vincent.

[@toadmeister1964]

I've got an idea rattling around my brain that the idea of the crowsnest came from the whaling industry.

[@roygavin8219]

The area you enquired about is the Bread Room - zinc lined to keep rats out of the flour and bread.

[@anthonyrobinson5694]

Jerry Cans were approx 5 gallons UK, more recently used for Petrol/Gasoline to refill your vehicle tank when you ran out of fuel/Gasoline

[@nanjones6947]

I live in Portsmouth,you should come and see all we have to offer ,you would love it .You also mentioned Master and Commander,you should try and get hold of a copy of the Book its wonderfully written.

[@iKvetch558]

I noticed some weird pronunciation errors in the base video, and I wonder if anyone else spotted them. For one thing, they pronounce bowsprit as "beau sprit" and not the more elongated "bough sprit" as I have always heard it pronounced. Then, later on at around 14:40, they pronounce ratlines as "rattlins" and not "rat lines", which is the only way I have ever heard them referred to before. Yes...there was shot that contained many smaller balls that were effectively shotgun shells, and yes, chain shot and bar shot and other anti-rigging shot types were also a real thing. No, as far as I know, the method of using dots and dashes was invented by Morse. Before that, signaling with lights was done as the Royal Navy did it, with colored lanterns, or with patterns of lanterns or light...such as the "one if by land, two if by sea" lantern code of the American Revolution. In the late 1700s, a French inventor names Claude Chappe created a long distance messaging system based on semaphore flag towers placed in long lines within visual range of each other. A "junior" officer is just a lower rank officer...as opposed to a higher ranked one. I did some checking to see if I could identify that seemingly empty room you spotted in the aft at the waterline...it is either for working on the sails and other canvas, or it is part of the ship's magazine for storing shot. It is also shown as something called the "bread room" on a few diagrams/plans. Yes...they used Laudanum for pain reduction...a tincture of opium. A "Jerrycan" was a type of 20 liter container that the Germans made in World War 2...it was primarily used for carrying fuel or water. The British encountered them first in Norway, and they turned out to be much superior to the fuel/water cans that the Brits used...so much so that the British both used the cans they captured from the Germans AND produced copies of it on their own. In the US, the first Jerrycan came to the attention of the military in 1939, after an American engineer first saw them on a trip to Germany. The military made a couple of improvements to the can, and pretty soon the USA was also using their own version of it...and produced millions and millions of them.

[@peterjackson4763]

The bread room was where they stored bread :) On a long voyage they would use it all and switch to ship's biscuit.

[@iKvetch558]

@@peterjackson4763 I figured that was what it was probably for...I just was not sure if that space that Connor was looking at was the bread room. Thanks for confirmation 💯💯

[@phuckerby]

The only thing I can think of for that small room in the bow, is that it could be the Brig (prison) as that is the only room not mentioned.

[@robertmurray8763]

Connor,I loved this ❤️. I enjoy the Napoleonic war period. How interesting!! I live in Australia 🇦🇺.

[@pompeymonkey3271]

I can almost see Victory from my house in Portchester. The whole dockyard museum is worth spending at least two days in. :)

[@briangibson6527]

A lot of the space below was for Carpenters, Prison cells if you'd disobeyed orders etc, Pharmacy of a sort, sowing rooms for the sail repair,it's really interesting,We have been on the Victory several times,She is amazing. Worth a visit. Also you need to see Henry the V111 flag ship ,the Mary Rose., Amazing.

[@whattiler5102]

The strength of Britain was based on its mercantile empire which was protected by the most powerful navy on Earth. These two factors, to all intents and purposes, kept Britain implacably in the war throughout. Britain had the wealth and naval power to support and encourage the other European nations, maintain blockades on Napoleon's continental ports and act to transport smaller land forces to target specific places around the world. When a coalition broke down because of defeats on land, Britain was generally behind the development of the next one to defy Napoleon. It was the classic land power up against the great maritime power scenario; the land power has huge standing forces but the naval power has mobility, wealth from ongoing trade and the power to protect its home base against all comers.

[@justinneill5003]

I believe you were asking about a certain type of shot, linked by a chain, that was fired from cannon. It did exist and was widely used on battlefields of that era. Known simply as “chainshot,” it was designed to slice through a packed formation of soldiers and kill greater numbers than a single “roundshot.” A third type was “canister” or “grapeshot,” basically a container loaded with smaller lead balls that would spray outwards and hit a large number of the enemy with a single shot, basically a huge shotgun just like you said.

[@waynec3563]

Connor, he didn't mention that room you are interested in. However, on the plan of that deck it was labelled "bread room".

[@HankD13]

Fantastic to see you learning of the Wooden World. Massive Patrick O'Brian fan here, and you really should react to "Master and Commander: Far Side of the World". Last time I visited Victory, they had the Trafalgar main sail laid out to be viewed (full of holes") and clips from that film were playing on large screens. Hold Fast! Fantastic place to visit, and it is really special to be aboard such history. Questions - yep, they had "canister" and grape shot, bar and chain shot too, but more used by France and Spain than by the RN. Forget aiming for rigging, get in close and smash them - Nelson. That room on the Orlop deck? Think it might be a rope or sail storage space. Nelson lost his arm in 1797 leading an ill-fated assault on the Spanish island of Tenerife, it had to be amputated.

[@meganjb10]

Master and commander, forester ,hornblower were all based on Thomas Cochrane, should of been the greatest sailor to leave these shores ,was hated by the admiralty exposed cowereds like granby ,did not ask his men to do anything he would not do himself the admiralty robbed him of prize money and tried to destroy him ,how we ever won anything with the leaders we had army and navy , nte British British saiors , and soldiers who stood ,

[@HankD13]

@@meganjb10 Lord Thomas Cochrane is the "suggested" basis for these characters - Patrick O'Brian never said he was, but a mixture. The Royal Navy had plenty of quality to choose from - Nelson himself, Edward Pellew, Sydney Smith, Philip Charles Durham, George Cockburn, Thomas Hardy, Charles Napier to name but a few. Their exploits and controversies get added and mixed in with Cochrane. CS Forester has said Hornblower was based on a mixture of actual Naval hero's - Horatio Nelson definitely.

[@jasitweb]

You should go and visit its a great day out. I have some of her copper as a souvenir. She is still in service under the command of admiral radakin, although purely ceremonial, bit still commissioned.

[@Anglo_Saxon1]

It's great to watch Conner,you can see he is totally absorbed in his subject matter 👌

[@Salewis77]

Dude! The salute at 31:35. Respect.

[@monza1002000]

Brilliant description, "a giant floating shot gun" 😆😆😆😆😆