|
The lines of the Victory are based on those of the Royal George launched in 1756.
Building Costs At the time of her launching in 1765, cost £63,176. For comparison, this would be equivalent to the cost of building an aircraft carrier today.
Dimensions
Item
|
Imperial |
Metric |
|
feet |
inches |
metres |
| Length overall - bowsprit to taffrail |
226 |
6 |
69.0 |
| Length on the lower gun deck |
186 |
0 |
56.6 |
| Length of the tread of the keel |
151 |
3. 5/8 |
49.0 |
| Breadth - extreme |
51 |
10 |
15.7 |
| Depth in hold (includes orlop) |
21 |
6 |
7.0 |
| Tonnage - Burthen |
2,162 |
- |
2196.6 |
| Tonnage - Displacement |
3,500 |
- |
3556.0 |
Construction
Victory was constructed from approximately 6000 trees, 90% of which was oak.
This equates to 100 acres (40 hectares) of woodland.
Hull thickness at waterline - approximately 2ft (0.6m)
Timber types used for hull - oak, elm, and fir.
Timber for masts & yards - fir, pine & spruce.
Lignum Vitae - small quantities used for various applications.
Masts - With exception to the bowsprit, heights are taken from waterline
|
Bowsprit -
(length beyond ships head) |
110 ft |
33.5m |
| Fore mast |
182 ft |
55.4m |
| Main mast |
205 ft |
62.4m |
| Mizzen mast |
152 ft |
46.3m |
| Main yard |
102ft |
31.0m |
Rigging
A total of 26 miles (41.9 km) of cordage which was used to rig the ship.
768 blocks, made from elm or ash, were used for the rigging. (A further 628 used for the guns).
Many other blocks were carried for the ground tackle, the ship's boats, storing and spares.
216 deadeyes were also used on the standing rigging.
Sails
Victory could spread a maximum of 37 sails.
In addition the ship carried 23 spare sails.
Total sail area - 6,510 square yards (5,468.4 square metres)
Speed
The Victory was one of the fastest first rate ships of the line at her time, and had excellent handling abilities. In general wind conditions and sail configuration she could reach a maximum speed of 8-9 knots (10 miles per hour). Her maximum recorded speed was 10-11 knots, approximately 12 miles per hour. PRO. Adm. 95/37
Copper
In March 1780 the bottom of the ship below the waterline was sheathed with 3,923 sheets of copper to protect her hull against the ship worm (teredo navalis). Each copper sheathing plate measured 4 ft x 14 ins (1.22 m x 35.6 cm).
Armament at Trafalgar
|
Lower Gun Deck |
30 x 32 pounder |
|
Middle Gun Deck
|
28 x 24 pounder |
|
Upper Gun Deck
|
30 x 12 pounder (long)
|
|
Quarter Gun Deck
|
12 x 12 pounder (short)
|
|
Forecastle
|
2 x 12 pounder (medium)
2 x 68 pounder carronad
|
Details of Guns
|
Gun Type |
Weight of Piece |
Length of Piece |
Bore Diameter |
Shot Diameter |
Charge weight |
Maximum Range at
10 o Elevation (Approximate) |
|
pounder |
cwt |
kg |
ft |
ins |
m |
ins |
cm |
ins |
cm |
lbs |
kg |
yards |
metres |
|
32 long |
55 |
1361 |
9 |
6 |
2.9 |
6.7 |
17.0 |
6.10 |
15.5 |
11 |
4.9 |
2640 |
2402 |
|
24 long |
49 |
2467 |
9 |
6 |
2.9 |
6.1 |
15.5 |
5.54 |
14.1 |
8 |
3.6 |
1760 |
1603 |
|
12 long |
34 |
1714 |
9 |
6 |
2.9 |
4.8 |
12.3 |
4.40 |
11.2 |
4 |
1.8 |
1320 |
1201 |
|
12 medium |
32 |
1613 |
9 |
0 |
2.7 |
4.8 |
12.3 |
4.40 |
11.2 |
4 |
1.8 |
1300 |
1183 |
|
12 short |
31 |
1562 |
8 |
6 |
2.6 |
4.8 |
12.3 |
4.40 |
11.2 |
4 |
1.8 |
1280 |
1165 |
|
68 carronade |
36 |
1814 |
5 |
2 |
1.6 |
8.1 |
22.6 |
8.0 |
20.3 |
6.4 |
2.9 |
1280 |
1165 |
NOTES:
1. Range for carronade given at 5 degrees elevation.
2. Point Blank range for all carriage guns was about 400 yards (364 m) using a standard charge.
3. Point Blank range for the carronade was about 370 yards (336.7 m).
Combined weight of gun and carriage
|
Gun |
cwt |
pounds |
kilograms |
|
32 long |
65.0 |
7280 |
3276 |
|
24 long |
58.0 |
6496 |
2923 |
|
12 long |
40.1 |
4491 |
2021 |
|
12 medium |
37.8 |
4234 |
1905 |
|
12 short |
36.6 |
4099 |
1845 |
|
HMS Victory 
