Page 56 - All About History - Issue 28-15

Greatest Battles

Collingwood
British Fleet 01 The British fl eet approaches 02 engages Santa Anna
At 6.30am, the crew of the British ships beat to
SHIPS 27 quarters, preparing the gun decks for battle. As the formation Vice Admiral Collingwood’s flagship Royal
approaches the Combined Fleet, between 11am and noon,
Sovereign receives a broadside from the French
Nelson sends out a signal to the entire fleet: “England expects
ship Fougueux, but holds fire until coming
GUNS 2,148 that every man will do his duty.” Approaching from the west, astern of the Santa Anna. A full broadside from
with a light wind behind them, the two British Squadrons
Royal Sovereign cuts all the way down the
Windward and Leeward each attack a separate section of length of the Spanish ship, killing hundreds
enemy ships. They have to endure heavy fire from the enemy of its crew. The guns of Royal Sovereign have
without replying as they sail straight into the side of the been ‘double-shotted’ – each loaded with
Combined Fleet’s line. both grape shot and a ball, to cause more-
devastating damage upon impact.
The
03Leeward
squadron
attacks 06
Following their flagship,
the ships of the Leeward
squadron fan out to assist
when Collingwood comes 01
under extreme pressure. The
HORATIONELSON Royal Sovereign manoeuvres
within the Combined Fleet,
LEADER firing both broadsides
relentlessly.
The formidable British admiral
wasamongthemostfearedand
respected naval commanders of
his time
Strengths An unrivalled ability to Nelson engages
out-think his enemy tactically 04 At first feinting to take on the
Weakness His unorthodox vanguard of the fleet at the very front, Victory
methods carried great risk suddenly changes course to break the line 10
between Redoubtable and Bucentaure, the
French flagship. Unable to find a way through
the densely packed ships, Victory rams straight
into Redoubtable. Now in deadly close quarters
with the enemy, Nelson exchanges broadsides
with Redoubtable, Bucentaure and the Spanish
flagship Santisima Trinidad. The Windward
squadron follows Victory’s line and also engages
with broadsides.

HMS VICTORY

KEY VESSEL
Nelson’s famous first-rate flagship The Temeraire 03
Strengths 104 guns over three 05 manoeuvres
gun decks Moving around Redoubtable to attack its
Weakness A huge frame made other flank, the British ship Temeraire quickly
manoeuvring more difficult becomes surrounded by ships firing broadsides
at lethally close range. Meanwhile, the
remainder of Windward squadron engages this
section of the Combined Fleet, as the front
section breaks off and begins to sail away.

02

24-POUND GUN
KEY WEAPON
A hulking cannon capable of
immense destruction
Strengths Able to easily penetrate
thick hulls
Weakness Weighing three tons,
it was far harder to handle for the
gun crew

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