Page 57 - All About History - Issue 28-15

Greatest Battles

08 Combined Fleet
10 Nelson dies Nelson is
Between 4.15 and
4.30pm, Hardy goes below deck shot SHIPS 33
to visit Nelson and inform him of With the muskets
the victory. Nelson replies: “Thank of the Redoubtable GUNS 2,630
God, I have done my duty,” before The French peppering Victory’s
finally succumbing to his wound. The 09counter-attack top deck, at 1.15pm a
French ship Achilles, heavily damaged Returningbelatedlytothebattle,theFrench shot strikes Nelson in
during the fighting, blows up at lead squadron threatens to break the British the shoulder. Critically
about 5.30pm, dramatically signalling attack, but a group from the Windward wounded, the admiral
the end of the battle. squadronformsupinlinetodivertthem. is taken below deck.
The relentless broadsides smash the French
shipsandtheyareforcedtochangecourse
away from the thick of the battle.

09 05
PIERRE-CHARLES

07 VILLENEUVE
LEADER
The French admiral’s cautious nature
had been accused of cowardice by
none other than Napoleon
Strengths A numerically stronger
fleet at his disposal
Weakness Indecision and a poorly
co-ordinated command structure
08
Victory
07 and
Redoubtable
clash
04 The captain of Victory,
Thomas Hardy, manoeuvres
to engage the smaller ship
Redoubtable, drawing
alongside it. A fierce
exchange of musket fire from
the top decks of each ship
begins, with experienced
French musketeers finding
easy targets among the
British sailors, marines and SANTISIMA TRINIDAD
KEY VESSEL
officers of Victory.
The largest ship in the battle, this
hulking first-rate vessel had four
gun decks
Strengths Overwhelming firepower
from its 140 guns
Weakness Slow and unresponsive
in light winds

Villeneuve
06recalls his
squadron
Seeing that the front third of his CHAIN SHOT
fleet is sailing north, away from the FORMOREGREATBATTLESSEE
battlefield, Admiral Villeneuve sends KEY WEAPON
out a command to recall them. They
respond, but their progress against A highly destructive ammunition
the wind is slow. ideal for taking out the masts and
rigging of ships
Strengths Could cripple an enemy
ISSUE 18 ON SALE NOW! ship by bringing down its mast
Weakness Only effective when
© EdwardsCrooks
fired at close range

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