Tag Archives: hms victory restoration

Future Plans for HMS Victory

by johnk on 28. Apr, 2010 in Model Ship History

Early in the 21st century, HMS Victory became listed as part of the National Historic Fleet, Core Collection. The National Historic Fleet lists only ships that are: of pre-eminent national or regional significance; spanning the spectrum of UK maritime history; illustrating changes in construction and technology; and meriting a higher priority for long term preservation. HMS Victory undoubtedly met these expectations, and after its listing she underwent even more comprehensive restoration for the bicentenary of the Battle of Trafalgar in October 2005. These restoration were done in an attempt to bring HMS Victory’s appearance to the way she appeared during the actual Battle of Trafalgar. On display are details down to toothbrushes, mess bowls, beakers and tankards in the ‘Marines’ Mess’, and shaving brushes and wash bowls in ‘Hardy’s Cabin.

The fore-topsail of HMS Victory was badly damaged at the Battle of Trafalgar from some ninety cannonballs and other projectiles fired into it. However, the sail was replaced and put in preservation until it came to be showcased at the Royal Naval Museum. The sail, which lays out across a large chamber, is displayed using low light projectors to enhance its qualities.

The entrance on the westernmost end of the Royal Navy facility in Portsmouth, HMS Nelson, is dubbed “Victory Gate”. Watching over HMS Victory as of September 1, 2008 is the 99th commanding officer, Lt-Cdr Douglas J ‘Oscar’ Whild of the Royal Navy. While several of Horatio Nelson’s direct descendants are alive today, the most active descendant of the Trafalgar ship’s company that is involved with HMS Victory is Honorary Commanding Officer James Smith-Hardy, who recently found out in October 2005 that he was descended from Sir Thomas Hardy.

HMS Victory is the oldest commissioned warship in the world, as it remains the flagship of the Second Sea Lord (one of the most senior admirals of the British Royal Navy), also Commander in Chief of the Royal Navy’s Home Command, or CINCNAVHOME. HMS Victory brings in about 350,000 people each year to visit its historic bearings in its role as a museum ship.While HMS Victory is the oldest commissioned warship in the world, it is the USS Constitution, launched 30 years later, that is the oldest commissioned warship still in action.

The future plans of the HMS Victory will be up to whoever is awarded the Defense Equipment & Support’s 9-year project management contract. Throughout this term, a sum between £15 million and £30 million, depending on the best bid, will be spread. The planned works will take place between April 2010 and April 2019, and is paid for by the UK Defense budget.

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HMS Victory in the 20th Century

by johnk on 26. Apr, 2010 in Model Ship History

In 1906, after HMS Victory was retired from active duty in the 19th century and downgraded to a depot ship, she was moved to her permanent place at the Chatham Royal Naval Barracks. Due to several years of inactivity, HMS Victory began to deteriorate around her anchoring and moorings. It was not long before the once great HMS Victory was in terrible condition. Refusing to let a historic, heroic, ship of legends go with the wind, a 1921 campaign to again revitalize her was started with the Save the Victory Fund. This fund was under the control of the Society for Nautical Research, whose aims were: to support and encourage research in maritime history and underwater archaeology; publish the pre-eminent academic journal for maritime history – The Mariner’s Mirror; sponsor events and conferences; purchase art and artifacts for the National Maritime Museum, which the Society helped to found; fund special projects, such as the preservation of HMS Victory, one of the original aims of the society at its foundation. HMS Victory would once more undergo a project to refurnish and revitalize its legendary structure.

Restoring HMS Victory

Due to the Society of Nautical Research’s campaign to restore and preserve HMS Victory, the British Government agreed to help with the project. The government did so in order to commemorate Nelson, the Battle of Trafalgar, and the Royal Navy’s supremacy before, throughout, and after the Napoleonic period. Then, finally, on January 12, 1922, HMS Victory was moved to Portsmouth’s No. 2 dock, the oldest in the world, to be restored. HMS Victory’s restoration was completed in 1928, and King George V unveiled a tablet to celebrate the momentous occasion. However, even after the official commemoration date, restoration and maintenance continued by orders of the Society for Nautical Research. In spite of this, the HMS Victory suffered from further damages when a bomb was dropped into HMS Victory’s dry dock by the Luftwaffe (a German air force). Despite German propaganda radio’s claims of the destruction of HMS Victory, the ship only sustained damage to its hull, and the Admiralty issued a denial of the German’s claims. It would seem that HMS Victory would live to fight another day. The future of HMS Victory is that of a museum ship, far from her role as a commissioned ship of the line, but its beauty still remains intact, and attracts many visitors to soak in its historic bearings.

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HMS Victory Overview / Introduction

by johnk on 08. Apr, 2010 in Model Ship History

HMS Victory Construction

The HMS Victory underwent construction in 1758, signalling a change from the Royal Navy’s previously smaller scale ships. The HMS Victory was designed to carry around 100 guns, and construction began in 1759. Named after “The Year of Victories”, the HMS Victory was commissioned in 1778 under Admiral Keppel’s flag.

HMS Victory Battles – First Battle of Ushant

The HMS Victory’s first major battle occurred at the Battle of Ushant on July 23, 1778 against an opposing French fleet. The French fleet did not intend to do battle, but the British force, including HMS Victory, cut them off from Brest and the begun. It was a confusing fight that ended with Admiral Keppel being court-martialed and Palliser being the brunt of unrelenting criticism.

HMS Victory Battles – Second Battle of Ushant

Now under the command of Captain Henry Cromwell, HMS Victory sailed with eleven other ships of the line in an attempt to intercept a French convoy. However, the convoy they were to intercept was protected by twenty-one ships of the line. Nevertheless, Admiral Kempenfelt still attacked, and used the North Atlantic’s strong winds to his advantage. The winds sent many of the French’s ships away, while Kempenfelt swooped in to capture the confused and fleeing ships.

HMS Victory Battles – Battle of Cape St. Vincent

In 1796, the HMS Victory was commanded by Captain Robert Calder and Captain George Grey, under the flag of Admiral Sir John Jervis. Horatio Nelson managed to pass undetected through thick fog to discover an enemy fleet. He passed the news on to the commanders of HMS Victory, who then sailed to intercept the fleet of unknown numbers. When the battle begun, John Jervis stood tall with his force of fifteen in the face of twenty-seven ships of the line. The British proved victorious, and the win was a huge boost to British morale.

HMS Victory Reconstruction

In February 1798 the HMS Victory was retired to Chatham and deemed unfit for warship service. However, once the HMS Impregnable was taken out of commission, the need for a new first rate warship opened up, and all eyes turned once again to the HMS Victory. Reconstruction started in 1800 and was completed three years late on April 11, 1803. A month later, HMS Victory was once again sailing, this time with Captain Samuel Sutton at the helm.

HMS Victory Under Admiral Nelson

Vice-Admiral Nelson hoisted his flag over the HMS Victory on May 16, 1803. Sutton commanded the HMS Victory during the Battle of Trafalgar, in which Nelson would lose his life to a sharpshooter. Despite this, Captain Sutton and the HMS Victory still managed to secure a huge victory over the French.

HMS Victory in the 19th Century

In the 19th century, the HMS Victory was passed from admiral to admiral, never finding a permanent home, until it was retired on November 7, 1812 to be used as a depot ship. In 1889, HMS Victory was turned into a Signal School, which it would remain to be until the 20th century.

HMS Victory in the 20th Century

After several years of inactivity, the HMS Victory began to deteriorate. In 1921, a Save the Victory fund was started to revitalize the HMS Victory. The British Government eventually got involved in the restoration process in order to honor Nelson and the Battle of Trafalgar. The restoration was completed in 1928, and the occasion was commemorated by King George V.

Future Plans for the HMS Victory

Today the HMS Victory is the oldest commissioned warship left in existence. She is used as a museum ship, and brings in over a quarter million visitors per year. The future planned works on the HMS Victory will take place between April 2010 and April 2019, and is paid for by the UK Defense budget.

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