HMS Trafalgar, launched by Lady Bridport, niece of Lord Nelson, accompanied by Queen Victoria
History
Royal Navy EnsignUnited Kingdom
NameTrafalgar
Ordered19 February 1825
BuilderWoolwich Dockyard
Laid downNovember 1829
Launched21 June 1841
RenamedHMS Boscawen, 1873
FateSold, 1906
General characteristics [1]
Class and typeBroadened Caledonia-class ship of the line
Tons burthen2694 bm
Length205 ft 5.5 in (62.624 m) (gundeck)
Beam54 ft 6 in (16.61 m)
Depth of hold23 ft 2 in (7.06 m)
PropulsionSails
Sail planFull-rigged ship
Complement900 (820 peacetime)
Armament
  • 120 guns:
  • Gundeck: 30 × 32 pdrs, 2 × 68-pdr carronades
  • Middle gundeck: 34 × 32 pdrs
  • Upper gundeck: 34 × 32 pdrs
  • Quarterdeck: 2 × 18 pdrs, 14 × 32 pdr carronades
  • Forecastle: 2 × 18 pdrs, 2 × 32 pdr carronades

HMS Trafalgar was a 120-gun first-rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched on 21 June 1841 at Woolwich Dockyard. HMS Trafalgar was the last ship to complete the successful Caledonia class.[1]

Her Majesty's Visit to the Launch of the Trafalgar, 120 Guns, 21st June 1841
Woolwich Dockyard, launching of Trafalgar 1841

The figurehead was a bust of Lord Nelson, and is now on display at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard.[2] The ship was named by Nelson's niece Lady Bridport at the request of Queen Victoria, who with Prince Albert also attended the launch. The wine used was some kept from HMS Victory after returning from Trafalgar. Five hundred people were on board the ship at the time of its launch, of whom 100 had been at Trafalgar. It was estimated 500,000 people came to watch the event and the Thames was covered for miles with all manner of boats.[3] The launch was the subject of the most notable work by Woolwich-based artist William Ranwell.

Trafalgar was engaged in the Bombardment of Sevastopol on 17 October 1854 during the Crimean War.[4]

Life in a Training-Ship, sketches on board Boscawen. The Graphic 1883

The ship was fitted with screw propulsion in 1859. As a training ship at Portland, she was renamed HMS Boscawen in 1873, and finally sold out of the service in 1906.[1] Commander Lawrence de Wahl Satow was appointed in command 15 April 1902.[5]

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 Lavery, Ships of the Line vol.1, p190.
  2. ↑ Meyric-Hughes, Steffan (31 May 2011). "Nelson loses an eye in figurehead restoration". Classic Boat Magazine. Retrieved 24 May 2023.
  3. ↑ Robert Wilson (1891). The life and Times of Queen Victoria, Volume I. London: Cassell and company. pp. 93–94.
  4. ↑ Duckers, The Crimean War at Sea, Appendix 1.
  5. ↑ "Naval and Military intelligence". The Times. No. 36736. London. 8 April 1902. p. 4.

References

  • Duckers, Peter (2011) The Crimean War at Sea: The Naval Campaigns against Russia, 1854-56. Pen & Sword Maritime. ISBN 1-84884-267-8.
  • Lavery, Brian (2003) The Ship of the Line - Volume 1: The development of the battlefleet 1650-1850. Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-252-8.
  • Lyon, David and Winfield, Rif (2004) The Sail and Steam Navy List: All the Ships of the Royal Navy 1815-1889. Chatham Publishing, London. ISBN 1-86176-032-9.


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