Facts & Figures

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 carronade

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

Ship's Boats

Boats: Type, Size and Uses:   Type Length Launch 34ft - 10.36m Barge 32ft -   9.75m Pinnace 28ft -   8.54m 2 x Cutter 25ft -  ...
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Model Making (1)

Colour Scheme for HMS Victory 
The following information has been disclosed to assist you in providing authenticity to your model of HMS Victory as she appeared at the Battle of Trafalgar 21st October...
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Model Making (2)

Running and Standing Rigging Amendment Sheet  The following information has been disclosed to assist you in providing an authentic model of HMS Victory. These amendments conform to current research undertaken...
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Facts & Figures

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...
Read More...

The Victory Cutter

HMS Victory has a working cutter that takes part in regattas and events such as the River Race and the International Festival of the Sea. If you would like to know where you can see the cutter this year...
Read More...

Ongoing Restoration

Work is constantly going on to continue the restoration of HMS Victory. The curator researches and plans changes which need to be made in order to keep the ship in the best possible condition and to help...
Read More...
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