HMS Victory: A NEVER-BEFORE-SEEN Look Under Nelson's Flagship! ⚓ | Forces TV

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Visitors will be able to see Lord Nelson's famous flagship from below for the first time when Portsmouth Historic Dockyard reopens later this month. HMS Victory, best-known for her part in the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805, underwent the work as part of a £35m conservation project. It includes new supports to stop the 3,600-tonne ship from collapsing under her own weight.
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#HMSVictory #Portsmouth #RoyalNavy

[@sshep86]

Who would have thought a ship of the line built in 1759 (completed 1765, commissioned in 1778) that saw action at the Battle of trafalgar (1805) against the combined fleets of France and Spain, would get bombed by Germans in 1941. Really quite amazing when you think about it. 242 years service, also very impressive.

[@DininDalael]

Damn.. the Germans were really bad at sinking British ships if they couldn't even destroy a wooden vessel anchored on land.

[@dovahkiin2]

@@DininDalael ask the hood

[@TheArgieH]

Somewhere around 1796 she was going to be converted to a prison hulk and taken out of service. However, around 1800 the Admiralty found themselves short of a 100 gun ship and she was sent for reconditioning with a view to putting her back in the line. In fact what resulted was a major rebuild taking 3 years, with many added improvements and costing 3 x the original cost estimate. There's something oddly familiar about that!

[@sshep86]

TheArgieH yes. I I knew about the hospital/prison hulk refit, but you have definitely reminded me and educated me in areas I had forgotten. Ha, and yes, that does seem quite familiar with current military accounts.

[@MostlyPennyCat]

Have you all toured the Warrior?

[@Ferraday_]

I remember touring around inside the ship, after butting my head 130 times I’m surprised I got out without a concussion 😂

[@MorrowindES17]

lol luckily I was small when visited this amazing ship

[@kaspernbs]

If you are over x height please were these hard hats.

[@cycleSCUBA]

A majestic ship. The conservation project much needed and worth it.

[@royalhero4608]

I couldn't get over just how STEEP the stairs were to each deck, I would more likely have been killed in battle knocking my skull running up those stairs than by a splinter or cannonball lol

[@royalhero4608]

@carlos Rivas I agree but the ones we do have are fantastic. Portsmouth dockyard museum has the Victory, HMS Warrior and the Mary Rose all in the same location

[@DrumsTheWord]

I think the engineering of ships like this are even more impressive than modern ships. Incredible design and construction before the time of computers and/or precision instruments.

[@frederickgates4349]

I would like to have a model of this beautiful ship and and build her myself from the keel upwards

[@frederickgates4349]

Exactly my opinion with all the fancy technology out there todays so called wiseguys they won't do any better tops to the English at the time

[@marek9784]

I disagree. this ship was amazing for its time, but so are the latest navy ships.

[@DrumsTheWord]

@@marek9784 I agree they are amazing. Incredible technology. But I am specifically talking about the craftsmanship before the use of etc etc.

[@mattmcguire1577]

There is a 64 gun ship in Sweden, called the Vasa. It was built without plans in 1626. That is craftsmanship. Although she did sink on her maiden voyage, so maybe not the best example. But others were built without plans.

[@dennisammann9104]

When I was a little boy last century growing up in the 1950s, dreaded city of Lost Angeles, Nutty-fornia, my hero was Lord Horatio Nelson! He was real, not fake like superman, batman, etc. I didn't care about so called 'sports' heroes too. Instead of baseball cards, they should have printed great world naval admirals and captains, my opinion. I would spend hours at the public library reading books about him, reading about his great sea battles, I even built a Revell model of HMS Victory. Sometimes when out to sea during my 20 year naval career, I'd look out over the ocean and imagine what it would be like sailing in a fleet of tall ships. I've been in an amphibious fleet exercise with 25 ships all around, but that wasn't the same. I've been in combat like Adm Nelson, but that wasn't like Trafalgar with 100+ ships, my experiences were just 4 destroyer formation making runs on a highway at night many years ago trying to knock off supply trucks. How I'd love to visit HMS Victory, but now my age is catching up on me... It's so wonderful to see the UK taking care of her by supporting her in dry dock. I don't have time to read, 350+ comments, but the ones I read were so positive and patriotic to keep HMS Victory preserved for all to visit and admire. What a fitting tribute to Lord Nelson!!!

[@MostlyPennyCat]

I take it you've seen Master & Commander then?

[@hannecatton2179]

Thank you my American friend. I hope you can make it over to the U.K. You will be pleased with the welcoming nature of the British. Especially to our American brothers and sisters.

[@dennisammann9104]

@@hannecatton2179 One of my top 5 best friends here is a professor of astronomy & physics at a local college. He's from Manchester, UK and we hit it off as soon as we met through a youth organization his son and I were involved in. As an amateur astronomer, I have questions. I just call him up and he explains complex subjects to me. I also have a friend in Brighton, UK who I correspond with. Every Brit I met in my life has been the perfect gentleman or lady. So much history you have over there. All of our U.S. Naval traditions come from the Royal Navy, and yours from the Roman Navy! I feel privileged to be called your American friend! :-)

[@daneelolivaw602]

I hope you manage to make it one day sir, the Dockyard at Portsmouth is well worth a visit, and if you are lucky they will have open the display of the Victory sail, they still have one that was used at Trafalgar, with all the battle damage, it's increadible to see. The National Museum of the Royal Navy, has a face book page, and every Wednesday broadcast live pictures of the harbour, from a mast on HMS Warrior, she is a beautiful ship. After reading your post I really hope you can make it, I know that you would love it, you would need a few days to see everything, including the submarine HMS Alliance, across the harbour in Gosport. The very best of luck to you sir.

[@dennisammann9104]

@@daneelolivaw602 Thank you for the kind words and wonderful wishes for me. You know a lot about the local goings on there at Portsmouth, so I assume you are a Brit. I didn’t know they still had a battle damaged sail from HMS Victory’s battle in 1805. It is an honor to exchange replies with you. 😀 Fair winds and following seas! 🇬🇧🇺🇸

[@nigelcarter9503]

good job, she has be kept for the Nation.

[@nhhammer8782]

Hard to believe it’s been 50 years since I was last aboard her, how time flies.

[@josephlezano7691]

If I may , and being from British Gibraltar, UK Overseas Territory 🇬🇧 . I would like to Say some Words about , Admiral Lord Horatio Nelson and His Ship ,HMS Victory , and it's connection with Gibraltar. But firstly I'd like to say that in 1793 Nelson had been wounded in combat ,loosing sight in one eye in Corsica, aged 35. The 230th Anniversary of The Battle of Trafalgar is coming up but, wouldn't know if this year it's going to be celebrated due to Covid- - 19. Before the Battle of Trafalgar on the 21st of October 1805 . Lord Nelson Had anchored/docked here many times in Gibraltar , for provision's etc. He had also set foot on land here and visited the Fortress and Garrison and well to do businessmen . Every year since time immemorial a special service ceremony conducted by , The Royal Navy , takes place here every year on the 21st of October, in our Trafalgar Cemetery, in memory of those men that had been brought here injured, and had later died after that battle against a numerous and Formidable combined French and Spanish Flotilla at ,Cape Trafalgar, close to Gibraltar. In 1797 Admiral Nelson lost his right arm at the Battle of Santa Cruz de Tenerife , the Spanish Island's ,in the Atlantic . After the healing of his right arm amputation he returned to active duty. His next command service was with the fleet of, Sir John Jervis, (later 1st Earl of St Vincent .Nelson received a Knighthood amongst other honours too after that battle ) at the Straits of Gibraltar ( not the Battle of Trafalgar ) which took place 7 year's later . In 1798 at Toulon , France , the French were assembling and out- fitting a large expedition . Nelson was sent with 3-line of battle ship's and 5 frigates to keep watch on the port . unfortunately a gale scattered and damaged his ship's and the French were able to get away on the 19th of May 1798. This was the expedition carrying Napoleon to Egypt , the trip took 4 week's. Nelson frantically hunted but was unable to overtake the French expedition , but he finally found the French fleet in Abukir Bay, Egypt. On the 1st of August 1798 he engaged it in battle and annihilated it . For this feat , which he doomed Napoleon's Egyptian Expedition . He was created Baron Nelson of the Nile. In 1799 , Nelson also aided in the recovery of Naples ,which had been seized by the french. In 1801 Nelson was made Vice - Admiral and was sent to attack Copenhagen. On his victorious return he was made Viscount. In 1803 , war was renewed with France ,he was appointed the command of the Mediterranean sea fleet ,and sailed away on his flagship ,HMS Victory, for 2 year's he once again engaged in blocking the port of Toulon. On the 30th of March 1805 despite of Nelson's vigilance the French fleet got out of port and they joined a Spanish ship squadron , and sailed to the West Indies. Nelson Persue's them , and they return to Spain , Cadiz. Taking shelter in Cadiz, Nelson also returns to England . On the 21st of October 1805, Nelson sets sail to engage the combined French and Spanish fleets off, Cape Trafalgar, Cadiz Spain. The final and and mortal wound on Nelson at Trafalgar comes from a French sharp shooter in the mizzen (middle) top mast sail of the french ship 'Redoubtable' , who picks out Admiral Nelson on board ,HMS Victory , on his quarter deck and fires his musket ball into him . He died a few hours later with these words : Thank God , I Have Done My Duty. Admiral Lord Nelson's body and the badly damaged , HMS Victory , were towed to Gibraltar by ,HMS Neptune, and anchored in Rosia Bay . The Ship worker's fitted jury mast , and repaired the rigging and quickly patched her up . His dead body was brought to land in Gibraltar, and quickly submersed and encased in a big barrel of brandy by surgeon ,William Beatty , for preservation for the journey back to England for his heroism, and burial . Great Video of ,HMS Victory , and now visible keel to be able to appreciate the Ship's entire restoration . Excellent ! With Best Wishe's, British Gibraltar, UK Overseas Territory 🇬🇧. .

[@deepwoodguy2]

thank you

[@UnseenSpirit]

Cool post

[@josephlezano7691]

@Benjamin twist Thank you Benjamin .

[@kevinengland4675]

Very cool 🇨🇦(from a loyal colonist)

[@royalhero4608]

People forget this was also John Jervis flagship at the great Battle of Cape St Vincent in 1797 too, when the British fleet was outnumbered almost 2:1 by the Spanish, who had much larger ships too

[@TheArgieH]

So did the Armada!

[@TheLondonForever00]

Never defeated, not even the Luftwaffe could stop her.

Pff, amateurism still... Look at the Dutch. Right next to the Blitzkrieg when it started. Poland beaten. France crushed. Great Britain defeated and evacuated. But they couldn't occupy the Dutch province of Flevoland. They fought an entire war, but the nazis couldn't occupy it.

@Mf1984 So, defeat then. Stop being butthurt.

[@HeidiLandRover]

So she stood up to the Luftwaffe as well? Truly the greatest of all ships. It's a real treat to be able to see those curves.

[@harrietharlow9929]

Doesn't she have wonderful lines? She is one tough Lady. 256 years young. Here's to the HMS Victory.

[@user-lv7ph7hs7l]

​@@harrietharlow9929 Not just pretty but functional. Her lines where used for another 100 years on new ships. At 11-12 knots she was as fast as the average frigate and faster than most 2nd or 3rd rates. And often a ship is either fast or maneuvrable (long vs. wide). Victory achieved both. They liked to copy the shape of fish for the hull. There is a cool painting of a frigate where the lower hull has a tuna painted over it perfectly matching the shape of the fish.

[@harrietharlow9929]

@@user-lv7ph7hs7l That is cool!

[@lumpyfishgravy]

My great-grandfather's naval record shows him being posted on Victory around 1910, but it is not clear what that involved as she was in a poor state at that time. He later became a submariner in WW1.

[@chrisneedham5803]

My Great Grandfather was the lookout at Pearl Harbour, you know how that ended

[@adamatch9624]

Chris Needham was he blind.?

[@bartbart5013]

@@adamatch9624 unlikely they would post a blind guy as a lookout😂😂😂

[@MrRnipperBrockleBroadcasting]

Well WW1 I believe she served as a training base for radio operators - at least that was what my grandfather was on board for, and she was still afloat at the time. Back in 1805 James Nipper was a gunner who transferred with Captain Hardy from his previous command, and may be the seaman who called Hardy to Nelson’s death bed.

[@PompeyMatt17]

Victory was a Shore Base then as well....so he was probably based there

[@gavg89iiuktvii35]

Thankyou for your SERVICE GOD BLESS YOU ALL 💎🇬🇧💎

[@shaider1982]

2:43 imagine that, a ship from the 18th century has damage due to enemy action from ww2.

[@stumac869]

And they still couldn't sink her.

[@flyingdutchman810]

Shame about Cornwall being sunk by an air raid. May have been a museum ship

[@wokohedgehogs]

I remember an April fools joke, years and years ago on a BBC/ITV news programme that said they were going to re-float her 😁. Beautiful ship and so deserving of every penny spent on her restoration.

[@Jabber-ig3iw]

Matt Turner well they refloated the USS constitution after 100 years in dry dock so it could be done. But the cost would be astronomical. And pretty pointless.

[@wokohedgehogs]

munuc that would be awesome, still find it amazing that she is still commissioned in the Royal Navy. Would be amazing to see her with another ship. I believe she’s got a lot of concrete in her bilge so would be even more difficult to re-float her

[@PenzancePete]

@@wokohedgehogs The concrete wouldn't make much difference. It would act as ballast.

[@brockpoche7944]

@@Jabber-ig3iw But USS Constitution has been in the water nearly her entire life and has only spent a few months (maybe year or two) out of the water at any given time. She never spent 100 years out of the water. HMS Victory has ben out of the water for nearly 100 years and much of her hull is in pretty rough shape (which is why she was put in drydock to begin with) I'd imagine a bit of her hull would need to be replaced in order to make her seaworthy again. Would be very nice to see but I doubt it will happen due to the cost/risk.

[@Caesar233996]

@@brockpoche7944 Plus the bigger the ship, the more dangerous the rope work becomes when you actually get to sea. With modern H&S standards, it’d basically be impossible. Would be great to see her floated again but it’s better the way that it currently is, one of the few commissioned warships of the RN that’s fully open to the Public!

[@royalhero4608]

Seeing her always makes me imagine what Trafalgar must have been like, roughly 30 ships of the line on each side all firing broadsides. The smoke, the noise, you just can't imagine what it must have been like, nobody can

[@g6rcteam81]

Disney can! P.o.t.c. 1

[@royalhero4608]

@@g6rcteam81 Oh please

[@maximumboverdrive5961]

@@royalhero4608 The opening scene of Master and Commander: The Far Side Of The World multiplied by a hundred.

[@msmvanuatu]

Great to see and hear people who seem to value and treasure such a vital part of British History; a foundation for so much that is good in the world!

[@nudibanches]

I lived in London '92-'94 and visited Victory. I remember standing more or less at the spot where Nelson fell and looked up at the masts (then intact). The most incredible sense of history and moment came over me. Very powerful. More powerful than that wimpy Luftwaffe bomb I dare say!!!!

[@minecraftcrafter21]

Thank God they wore safety helmets under there, they would have never survived the ship falling without them

[@unscentednapalm8547]

It's more for protection from head bangs.

[@JohnnyC01]

It's not always big parts that would drop down. A nail will have a huge impact on the top of your head. Think about that.

[@Trebor74]

@@unscentednapalm8547 if it was protection from banging their heads they would be wearing a bump cap. A hard hat is protection from falling objects

[@TheArgieH]

@@Trebor74 I've been down a coal mine, "Big Pit" of the Museum of Wales. My miner's helmet (we were issued with helmets, lamps and escape breathing sets as per regulation) was more like a hard hat than anything else. I was VERY grateful for it because of the number of times my head and something collided, it did the job. Obviously, I doubt it would have done me much good in the event of anything truly serious falling, like the roof. Incidentally "Big Pit" is a great experience and entrance is free (or was then anyway), I recommend it. If you intend to go down, it was once a working pit and mine regulations still apply, for example you have to leave anything with a battery, plus any other potential sources of ignition, on the surface. When I first went down with my children some years ago the guides were ex-miners who had actually worked the pit. When I last went down some of the guides were their sons. All of them really knew their history and were justly proud of it.

[@Henry-ok6cd]

Original copper and Elm from 1759.... nearly 300 years old and still holding strong. Awesome engineering and a great video to see it

[@danielwhyatt3278]

This is just incredible. Can’t wait to finally go and visit her again once visiting the site opens to the public again.

[@farmeresscherrylanford3539]

Thank you very educational. In addition gives me ideas on floor boards.

[@markbrandon7359]

She's a beauty, The USS Constitution is almost 100% replaced very little of the original ship remains and is still an active ship in the US navy. K would love to see HMS Victory sale again

[@steveconkey7362]

HMS Victory is also almost 100% replaced. Why would you think otherwise?

[@alasdairblack393]

mark Johnson May she never be for sale, it would be interesting to see her sail again though.

[@michaelwilkening8542]

If you look at that hull with an eye of someone who has restored wooden boat you see a LOT of rot. Unless that is taken care of any attempt to refloat the victory would become a salvage operation. Also a lot of the upper decks have been destroyed by oak borers common in England. You might be able to refloat her but at enourmous expense. Willing to be that the majority of the hull would need to be redone. Dryrot happens where wooden parts meet on the inside in the dark moist areas a lot more than on the outside of the ship. So if the outer planking is that rotted the insides would be even worse.

[@markbrandon7359]

@@steveconkey7362 I said absolutely nothing to that effect and lets see the fact that she's in drydock awaiting repairs

[@ClementinesCoins]

@@steveconkey7362 about 10% of constitution is original timber, 20% for the victory, wouldnt really call that almost 100%

[@davepearce6359]

Fantastic conservation work. Great to see. 👍🏻😊

[@georgea.567]

I like the new shade of yellow in the Nelson Chequer.

[@kevinm3751]

Very cool, thanks a ton for sharing this!

[@jackvisser]

TY for the Excellent Videos

[@jameshewitt8828]

Quite incredible actually

[@msmith5080]

Benjamin 01 it must hurt being this edgy

[@msmith5080]

Benjamin 01 yeah I am...I’m so hurt some internet troll can’t see the reason to keep it than I’m literally crying while I’m writing this

[@msmith5080]

Benjamin 01 I was being sarcastic you muppet

[@davidbarnsley8486]

I just saw it from above and that was spectacular It was amazing 😍😍👍👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

[@daviddavies2072]

Great video thank you , as a young sea cadet , back in the 70s, we spent time on the victory, great history and fantastic to see her being looked after , well done all 👍🇬🇧❤️

[@robam3801]

fantastic.. have toured her 3 times now but cannot wait to "go below" next trip over

[@zenASDF]

It would be fabulous to see her floating again and used as an active training ship!

[@skyhiker9669]

Thank you. Somethings should be maintained forever.

[@_stoatchaser]

After that awesome helicopter video last time out you are back on form. This is awesome

[@daringdare5078]

I wish they would have given the same care to HMS Ark Royal

[@Adargi]

@Johnston Steiner Warspite too perhaps, Dreadnought would have been a good one too.

[@johnholt9399]

HMS Warspite best fighting record of any British battleship, would have been much more significant than HMS Belfast. US did the same their most important ship in WW2 ship USS Enterprise (CV-6) was scrapped and later preserved several battleship and carriers which did much less In WW2

[@bazd884]

Would love to have seen a KGV class preserved as a museum.

[@johnholt9399]

paulm696 Trouble is we were broke at the time. They never even got her to the scrapyard though she was so bl++dy minded she ran aground on Dorset coast and had to be scrapped in situ a tough old lady if you look at all the battle damage she had had

[@paoloviti6156]

@paulm696 in truth the authorities didn't want to preserve any of the battleships and most of the warships because of the truly staggering amount of debts both because of their own war production and the lend-lease act given by America that had to pay back of which I believe it was fulfilled only around the early eighties not to mention the loss of many colonies. Very sad..

[@benhack3102]

Beautiful Just beautiful

[@d.aardent9382]

pretty amazing display dry dock. This would be one of my top of the list things to see if I ever get a chance travel over there.

[@JohnSmith-zv8km]

cannot wait to see it again.

[@hhfireworks9294]

I was there during hollyday in 2017. Very impressive

[@niallogilvy7704]

Nice update video on the HMS Victory project. It would have been good to hear what the end goals and end date of the project are, rather than just be told it has, 'A long way to go.'

[@PillSharks]

I’m amazed they’ve not painted a massive rainbow along the side of her!! Anyway, top work, my fathers built a model of her and has been down a few times over the years, I think we will have another visit now!

[@eliduttman315]

What are the prospects of making Victory seaworthy? I'm American and would dearly like to see Constitution and Victory exchange courtesies. These IRREPLACEABLE connections to the past must be maintained and passed on to posterity.

[@TheArgieH]

Did you know she is still a commissioned ship in the RN, and still a flagship. During the Falklands unpleasantness there was a joke that they might have to use her.

[@eliduttman315]

@@TheArgieH U.S.S. Constitution, which also remains in commission, is maintained in seaworthy condition. Not that long ago, the good citizens of Charleston, South Carolina, felled some of their Live (a species) Oak trees to provide wood for Constitution's maintenance. If sufficient, suitable, British timber is not available for Victory's maintenance, perhaps those good Charleston folks could be coaxed into providing some.

[@TheArgieH]

@@eliduttman315 How kind. Getting good seasoned hardwood timber is always a problem. Our "great storm" of 1987 provided a useful supply of felled oaks during a refit of Victory at that time. There was a catchline dating back to WW II, any problem was met with "You can't get the wood you know", no matter how inappropriate the circumstance. After WW II Canada sent some timber so that Field Marshall Montgomery could work on his house. As I mentioned on here, an admiral of Nelson's era carried a bag of acorns to plant, to ensure the future of the Navy - taking the long view.

[@Cailus3542]

Eli Duttman As amazing as that would be, it’s unlikely. HMS Victory is a very old ship at this point. Accumulated damage from battle and time means that the ship would probably not be capable of sustained travel, even if it was seaworthy. Moreover (and this is just guesswork), Constitution is a frigate. Victory is a 100 gun ship of the line, and somewhat more difficult to sail as a result. There is a very real risk of losing Victory if the Royal Navy tried to sail her any real distance. The same is true of Constitution, sadly. Neither ship is really capable of crossing the Atlantic, I suspect, nor would anyone risk it.

[@TheArgieH]

@@Cailus3542 Yes it does come down to old age. In her day Victory had the reputation of being a fine sailor and quite fast too. I am always fascinated by how relatively small her rudder looks. I wonder where one would find a skilled crew for a first rate ship of the line - the press gang has fallen out of fashion (yes I know the press was really looking for skilled experienced mariners such as fishermen - not too many of those either these days.).

[@seanbriggs]

Going back on Saturday for 2nd time, the last time was about 3years ago can’t wait to look under the ship 😁

[@pdkodude283]

I love that we keep this ship in such incredibly good condition! It's a piece of our history kept alive. Must admit...I'd love to see it under full sail departing Portsmouth again! What a sigh that would be!

[@harrietharlow9929]

I'd love seeing that myself.There's just something about the sight of a great sailing ship underway, her sails bellying in the wind. Her younger American cousin, USS Constitution is still on the registry of active naval vessels. It's wonderful to see this part of our maritime history still here for us to see.

[@eagleone5456]

This is by far, the most beautiful ship I've ever seen. Please do what you can to preserve her. God bless our friends across the pond!

[@user-ts5dx7qm4z]

being able to see this ship from another age is amazing, she's older the the United States

[@gurtsmunta1]

Every year when I was a child till I was 12 ,my mum would on my birthday take me across on the ferry to a tour on the victory,40 years later I went to the docks again ,did the warrior ,awesome, went round the Mary rose spectacular finally the victory on this occasion no guide but I inadvertently by explaining things to a family had a dozen other people listening in and them saying “please carry on “ One chap at the plaque where Nelson fell said “of course it’s just a mock up init “he was shocked when I said this is the actual ship. The one thing about victory is the smell ,it brings back so many fond childhood memories .

[@biddyboy1570]

Even the Luftwaffe couldn't sink her!

[@lawrencestone8488]

Thats the original keel? she was laid down with when construction began on her? if it its quite astonishing

[@fredygump5578]

I would expect it is the original keel. Literally every part of the ship is built off of the keel, so you can't just swap it out for a new one.

[@codyking4848]

Yes, that is the original keel

[@AbbaZabbaOlyFrn]

The salt from the sea water helped preserve the wood from moisture

[@frederickgates4349]

Yes Sir I agree with you today's warships from the smallest to the biggest including submarines is really state off the art I think actually magnificent

[@tonyk.9212]

The ship that smashed French and Spanish hopes to pieces..... England expects every man to do his duty.

[@deepwoodguy2]

Amen

[@montyzumazoom1337]

Us British are just like our old ships, with a heart of oak.

[@deepwoodguy2]

I can hear "Hearts of Oak" playing on those ships of the line as they prepare to go into battle..👍

[@zeus-mt7wx]

Tony k. Just keep the armed guards on 24 hr alert. I hear antifart is attacking England next.

[@BridishBuffoon]

Blah b People and things get older, nothing is resilient against time.

[@spreadeagled5654]

What a precious national treasure and symbol of the United Kingdom. Lord Horatio Nelson lives! 🇬🇧.

[@DavidThomas-ke7ih]

she would have been a very impressive sight back in her day

[@ArenBerberian]

Still is!

[@TheSoling27]

I am a huge fan of her and will not take away anything from the restoration team but am sad to see that she will never sail again -- props to the team at USS Constitution for keeping her afloat.

[@nickatkinson5692]

Brava

[@ULTRAWIDE.]

Its mental there's only a few of these ships that exist today considering how many were built. This ship is a treasure.

[@user-lv7ph7hs7l]

None like Victory. Only frigates left. No ships of the line. 100 years ago you had a 100 ships of the line. All scrapped besides Victory. HMS Implacable was scuttled in 1949, the last remaining 74 gun 3rd rate ship of the line. Yep we almost had a 74... but no money was around so they put a shell into her. And she was a Trafalgar veteran too. Now there are only the frigates Unicorn, Trincomalee and Constitution as well as the raised Wasa and the replica Hermione.

[@Wolvenworks]

that bottom view reminded me of the time i visited Cutty Sark

[@looking8030]

That’s cool

[@stratac30]

I believe the keel the only part of HMS Victory that is original, all the rest of the ship has been replaced over the centuries, this i was advised when I visited it about 10 years ago. I was told it was a bit like Triggers broom! Anyway original or not it’s well worth the visit and restoration.

[@sshep86]

I believe even us humans aren't the original cells we were born with. Most of our body is replaced every 10 years or so (at cellular level). Still very much the same person though.

[@PenzancePete]

@@sshep86 You're quite correct. As a seventy year old I'm now on my third skeleton.

[@tonyjames5444]

The lower gun deck is original and in place since the Napoleonic wars along with the Elm Tree pump, worth pointing out that modern warships like HMS Queen Elizabeth will over her lifetime be fitted with a new flight deck, wiring plus have her main machinery replaced and upgraded plus many more things.

[@daneelolivaw602]

It is estimated that around 20% is original.

[@sshep86]

It's weird. Because I discovered the thought experiment called the 'ship of theseus' yesterday. And it made me think of this ship and this comment thread. Look it up. Its quite interesting.

[@doyoumind9356]

I love old boats

[@PercyPruneMHDOIFandBars]

HIS Victory is NOT, never has been, nor ever will be a boat. She is a First rate SHIP of the line and is the oldest commissioned Flagship in the world!

[@Bob-Horse]

English Elm, English Oak, 👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

[@number8485]

Astonishing that this amazing flagship is just over 260 years old and was already 46 years old at Trafalgar!

[@user-lv7ph7hs7l]

And she proved such a good sailor that her lines where used for 1st rates for another 100 years. At her best point of sail she could reach 11 knots or more, chasing down the occasional frigate. The Iowa style fast battleship of the day.

[@foskco87]

It absolutely blows my mind that this ship is just sitting out in the elements like that. I mean seriously, this has got to be the most invaluable ship on the planet. They cant build a basic hanger roof over it or something?

[@dk6419]

I wonder is there a plan to re-float her or is she to remain out of water? I think it would be amazing to see her sailing under her own power say for an anniversary of Nelsons final battle in a tall ship parade.

[@VanderlyndenJengold]

HMS Victory is, of course, most noteworthy for the 1981 visit of... me!

[@davidrasch3082]

A model shipwright's dream come true.

[@paulmcdonough1093]

Fantastic this smashed the french bottlers it did

[@TermiteUSA]

In a book about hunting the Tirpitz, one of the mini-sub pilots states that right before he left for the mission he sought shelter by getting down under the ship during an air raid. He said he saw a small fragment of the keel chipped away from a blast and took it with him in the sub as a good luck charm. Is there anyway of confirming this or has anyone heard the story?

[@Mr-Damage]

I find it pretty cool that she sustained damage from a Luftwaffe air raid. Nelson might not agree.

[@Mr-Damage]

@Mf1984 I find it cool because not even a Luftwaffe air raid could finish off a battleship that was handbuilt 180 odd years prior. What I find cool and you find not all depends on a point of view. What I see is probably one of the greatest battleships ever to grace the waves get another battle scar of which if she could speak of she'd probably be proud of it.

[@anthonywatkins2783]

Any idea when the mast and yards are to be fitted 😬🤔

[@orangekayak78]

As close as you can get to keelhauling and live to tell the tail

[@gramps7056]

I visited the VICTORY at Portsmouth in 1999. Another American visitor told me three times he was a US Naval Academy graduate. Then he corrected one of the VICTORY's tour guides repeatedly. I visited again the next day and the guide asked, "Didn't you bring the admiral today?"

[@frederickgates4349]

But I also love forests i would to have served on her even as a cadet don't mind the hardworking

[@standrewpics]

A bit different to HMS Unicorn at Dundee , the Unicorn floats . A Chatham built ship like Victory but at risk and May need to be dry docked to save the ship.

[@dannybartlett4225]

wheres the copper sheets when victory was refitted she was given a copper keel that made her faster and stopped her needing dry docking less often

[@elizabetharmada5335]

What kind of woods do they used to built it?

[@jackferrari6668]

Does anyone know when (if) the masts and rigging will be put back?

[@tonyjames5444]

The mast and rigging was taken down because the weight was adding to the collapse of the hull, it should be put back once the support struts are in place.

[@PompeyMatt17]

the average height of a sailor in the 17 and 1800s was about 5ft 6in....hence the low deckheads and small compartments, but as I recall the ships Carpenter was 6ft 2 ! 😁

[@as03uk]

Does anyone know when the sails will be reinstalled? I’ve been excitedly checking over the last years.

[@PompeyMatt17]

probably never...there is a plan to install carbon fibre or fibreglass (wood is far too heavy for her now) but that could be up to 15 years away

[@ClementinesCoins]

yeah as the other comment said, the masts are far too heavy for her now, it was causing damage to her to have the masts. but i do hope they put something in place as a replacement

[@as03uk]

@@ClementinesCoins Thank you both! I feel extra lucky to have seen her with sails now!

[@fluffymacaw933]

Her keel is very weathered

[@sgtsarge2617]

can you imagine that in 300 years we might be walking under a modern aircraft carrier in the same way and wonder about it

[@masonjarhillbilly]

I visited in 1992. Is that the drydocks nearby that were built in the early 1700's

[@TrainmanDan]

I always thought that she was copper bottomed. You learn something every day!

[@normanbraslow7902]

dan gory, I believe she was coppered.

[@PercyPruneMHDOIFandBars]

That was my first thought. Where's the copper?

[@normanbraslow7902]

Percy Prune MHDOIF and bars, the copper had to be removed to clean up the wood.

[@mrbachittarsingh9243]

Percy Prune MHDOIF and bars it's been sold for scrap

[@normanbraslow7902]

bob bob, I'll bet the copper was sold in small pieces in the gift shop. Better than melting down for scrap.

[@BELCAN57]

Bring her to Mystic, Connecticut. They have the facilities for rebuilding this great warship and have worked on many wood hulled vessels.

[@jabom99]

No.

[@lordhamptonwick5320]

We don't need to avail ourselves of the expertise in Connecticut, thanks for the offer though. We have the expertise to do it here where she was born.

[@BELCAN57]

@@lordhamptonwick5320 Point taken. From what I understand from this video, it seems that Victory will be patched up with supports moved to stronger areas of the hull. This doesn't sound like a long term solution to the problem. A vessel of this historical significance should be restored as completely and authentically as possible so as to ensure that it survives well into this new century. Hopefully, someday I'll get the opportunity to see her in person.

[@peteralfredwallis8417]

The should definately replicate this ship in order to have an operational sailing version.

[@Jabber-ig3iw]

Peter Wallis are you going to pay for it?

[@niallogilvy7704]

Although that sounds great in many ways, there may quite possibly be no one on the planet who would actually know how to sail her?

[@niallogilvy7704]

@J Calhoun This may be true, but it is possible to reverse engineer finished woodwork, (unless rotted away, I guess). I do know of a feasibility study that was commissioned by the National Maritime Museum to build 2 sloops of war of this period. This was about 15 - 20 years ago, and then it was identified that a few yards in the Far East could do the the work. There are a lot of drawings and plans available that could be used in jigsaw fashion to put together a single set of detailed plans, perhaps?

[@michaelwilkening8542]

@J Calhoun They built the Hermione from scratch and old drawings. If someone had a couple hundred million to waste on a boat the might be only good for 25 years or so it could be done.

[@michaelwilkening8542]

@@niallogilvy7704 USCG personnel who served on board the USCG Eagle know how to sail a square rigger. They were recruited to sail both the USS Constitution and the Hermione.

[@WojciechP915]

Had anyone ever considered attaching a large blimp to the underside and liberating the vessel?

[@miroslavtordaji1675]

so is the wood preserved/comservated to make it last for ever?or she will slowly "desintegrade" ?

[@daneelolivaw602]

Victory, just like Constitution, in the U.S. is always having work done, and both ships will still be with us for many years to come, although in the future who knows how much of the original wood will still exist.

[@captainhindsight8779]

Triggers broom comes to mind

[@briandear5354]

Wikipedia says that after 242 yrs shes stiill on active Naval service....

[@PompeyMatt17]

for ceremonial duties only...she's owned by the Preservation Trust now

[@peternewman3487]

The three most moving experiences of English history for me are as follows, Visiting sir Winston Churchill’s grave and Blenheim Palace and HMS Victory.

[@alasdairblack393]

Peter Newman which would be British history as well as English. Lots of nationalities aboard in Nelsons day.

[@billbaynes3432]

I always thought the bottom was covered in copper sheet? Or am I getting mixed up?

[@shakes.dontknowwhatyergettin]

It was, they probably stripped it off at some point.

[@johnryan2193]

The luftwaffe thought Nelson would arise to fight again !

[@tommiatkins3443]

I'm asking the five dislikes. Did you search for HMS Victorys Hull between wind and water and have an issue with the restoration?

[@sih1095]

Didn't we do a visit to Victory with Tv12 Tim?

[@nt5434]

i wish at some point that ship got a full refit to be seaworthy again

[@craighawke5702]

what is the hole for at 1min and 32seconds

[@SNOWDONTRYFAN]

such a wide draft to contemplate if one ever gets keel hauled ?

[@glennwilliams6522]

@ mountain dweller Oh do behave!

[@Rodger_Young]

Will the masts ever be replaced?

[@PompeyMatt17]

doubtful...certainly not wooden ones

[@daneelolivaw602]

Yes, they have been taken down for preservation purposes, they will be back, the refit Victory is currently undergoing was due to be finished this year, but because of problems like covid, amonst other things this has caused delays.

[@BenjWarrant]

Makes me sad to think I probably won't live to see the masts finished and replaced.

[@HaakSO]

A major technological innovation to the British Navy in the decades leading up to the 1805 Battle of Trafalgar was the addition of copper cladding to the underside of the ships. Did HMS Victory not receive these smooth copper scales on her belly to help her glide more swiftly through the sea?

[@bluntcabbage6042]

Victory was built before copper sheathing was made standard.

[@HaakSO]

I looked it up. Victory was sheathed with a copper bottom in 1780. I guess it wore off or got removed since then, because I don't see the copper in this video

[@bluntcabbage6042]

@@HaakSO I believe it was stripped off for restoration; I was ignorant to the fact that Victory was copper sheathed later in her service prior to Trafalgar.

[@HaakSO]

Yeah, almost the whole fleet was sheathed. The copper bottom may not seem like much of a technological boost, but apperantly it gave the Royal Navy the edge on the French right after the American Revolution. That edge led to Pax Britannia. I hope they replace the copper bottom as part of the restoration. Expensive though.

[@royalhero4608]

Her sister ship at Trafalgar, Royal Sovereign (commanded by Collingwood) had been copper-bottomed, and she broke the Franco-Spanish line long before other British ships due to her speed