Victory is the name of a famous HMS (Her Majesty's Ship) that made a great contribution to the history of England. She is now on dry dock in Portsmouth. HMS Victory is not just a ship, she is the most popular ship in the history of naval warfare. HMS Victory was the flagship of Vice-Admiral Lord Horatio Nelson.

She was the very ship Lord Nelson was on during the most notorious naval battle of England – the Battle of Trafalgar on 21st of Oct 1805. From this date on began the process of her long reconstruction to finally reach its current condition.

The keel of HMS Victory was laid in Chatham in 1759. Around 6000 trees, mainly oak, were used for her construction and the total cost for all the works came down to the equivalent of 5 million British Pounds today.

HMS Victory weighs 3500 tons and has 104 guns. The ship employs a crew of 800 men and is a superb combat vessel. After her construction, HMS Victory rested on Midway River for around 13 years without any war engagements. Her first battle was in 1778 and ended in glory – she crushed the French during the First Battle of Ushant. In 1797 she fought the Spaniards in the Battle of Cape St. Vincent. HMS Victory sailed under the command of Admiral Richard Howe, Admiral Sir John Jervis and Vice-Admiral Lord Horatio Nelson.

In 1805 Vice-Admiral Lord Horatio Nelson sailed HMS Victory from Portsmouth to enter the battle with the French and the Spanish fleet near Cape Trafalgar. The combat was fierce and Lord Nelson was trying to get every man willing to fight for his country. He was injured during the battle and died despite the quick reaction of the surgeons in attempt to save his life. Yet, he lived long enough to hear the good news that the battle was won by the English. HMS Victory is in her current dry dock station since 1922. Her detailed history is presented in the nearby Royal Marines Museum in Portsmouth.

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