Slightly Norse John
Mongoose
201 years ago to the day, twenty- seven Royal navy ships of the line, only eight larger than the third rate, engaged a force of thirty- three ships of the line of the Franco-Spanish Combined Fleet.
In total, the Combined Fleet carried a roughly one and a half to one advantage in number and weight of weapons, and size of crews.
By battle's end, one French ship had exploded, and seventeen of the combined fleet had been battered to helplessness and taken. No British ship had struck, and they had taken in total four hundred and forty nine fatal casualties, including two captains and an admiral, in the course of inflicting at least four thousand.
Most of the prizes were wrecked in the subsequent storm, four of the Combined Fleet that had escaped were captured on their way back to port, but only one of the Combined Fleet's ships was ever repaired sufficiently to see action again.
After 'England Expects', one further signal was flown from HM Ship of the Line Victory; code number 16 in the signal book.
Engage the enemy more closely.
As a professional last will and testament, a man could do much worse.
Ladies, gentlemen, the Immortal Memory.
In total, the Combined Fleet carried a roughly one and a half to one advantage in number and weight of weapons, and size of crews.
By battle's end, one French ship had exploded, and seventeen of the combined fleet had been battered to helplessness and taken. No British ship had struck, and they had taken in total four hundred and forty nine fatal casualties, including two captains and an admiral, in the course of inflicting at least four thousand.
Most of the prizes were wrecked in the subsequent storm, four of the Combined Fleet that had escaped were captured on their way back to port, but only one of the Combined Fleet's ships was ever repaired sufficiently to see action again.
After 'England Expects', one further signal was flown from HM Ship of the Line Victory; code number 16 in the signal book.
Engage the enemy more closely.
As a professional last will and testament, a man could do much worse.
Ladies, gentlemen, the Immortal Memory.
