Page 54 - All About History - Issue 28-15

Greatest Battles

England expects Taking out the mast
Nelson’s flagship Victory signalled In the close-quarters fighting at
the now-famous message to the Trafalgar, gun crews on opposing
British fleet – “England expects ships simply blasted one another
that every man will do his duty” to the point where each was
– prior to the battle. This used a almost entirely wrecked. Taking
‘telegraph’ system whereby each out the masts of an enemy ship
ship passed the message on to the was the best way of crippling its
next in the line, communicating it ability to manoeuvre – in effect
to the entire fleet. taking it out of the battle.

Full broadside
The most devastating tactic of any ship
of the line was to hammer an enemy
vessel with all of its available guns on
either the port or starboard side. A well-
timed broadside could often change the
course of a battle, and spell disaster for
the opposing ship and its crew.

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