HMS Victory television Special on the History Channel

great, thanks for the heads up Jake

I remember back in the 80s there was a series of programs done on the life of Nelson. As I remember, the last episode covered Trafalgar and was very well done for pre-CGI days.

The series cruichin is talking about was called "I Remember Nelson." It aired on PBS, and in Britain. It consisted of, if I recall correctly, four programs, each portraying Nelson from the viewpoint of somebody who was important in his life. The first three were his wife, Sir William Hamilton, and Captain Hardy. The fourth was a semi-fictitious sailor on the lower gundeck of the Victory at Trafalgar. The series was available briefly on VHS cassette a few years ago. I was lucky enough to see an ad for it in one of those catalogs we used to get in the mail (either "Signals" or "Wireless"), and I ordered it.

I agree with cruichin's assessment. The special effects aren't on the level of "Master and Commander," but the acting is excellent (I don't recall the name of the British actor who played Nelson, but he was pretty believable) and the historical research was quite sound. Episode 4 depicts the Battle of Trafalgar from the narrow viewpoint of the Victory's lower gundeck, and it does a good job of showing the claustrophobic conditions, the noise, and the generally panicky atmosphere - if not the gore. I strongly recommend the series. Maybe, in view of all the publicity surrounding the Trafalgar bicentennial during the next few months, we'll see it again.

Well, I remember watching many years ago, and thanks John, I may order me a set.

http://rottentomatoes.pricegrabber.com/search_getprod.php/masterid=109566501/

Scott

Hi all,

For what it's worth, I've read criticism of the Victory's design, most recently in a book, Broadsides by Nathan Miller. For one thing, the Victory apparently sailed so low in the water that she often couldn't bring her lowest and heaviest guns to bear (according to Miller).

Miller also states that the French ships of that same era were generally regarded as superior to the British-built ships, but doesn't go into much detail.

Now, there's no doubt that the Victory is a marvel, and maybe evena modern marvel, but I'd be interested to read what you folks think of her design compared to other ships from the same period.

Regards,

don't really matter? she won. it's the story not the ship really that makes her famous IMHO.
The Titanic was unsinkable...Little boy was an incredably crude design by todays standards. The mustang was and still is is an appaling car, all still world famous?
Pick anything modern, go on, anything, and I'll find printed word somewhere shouting it's downfalls.
I've read several of his books, and in general he's a good story teller, but I'd like to read a french review of Victory from someone 100yrds away on the other ship! Bet they'd be damm pleased she was not designed to well,lol

QUOTE: Originally posted by vapochilled don't really matter? she won. it's the story not the ship really that makes her famous IMHO. The Titanic was unsinkable...Little boy was an incredably crude design by todays standards. The mustang was and still is is an appaling car, all still world famous? Pick anything modern, go on, anything, and I'll find printed word somewhere shouting it's downfalls. I've read several of his books, and in general he's a good story teller, but I'd like to read a french review of Victory from someone 100yrds away on the other ship! Bet they'd be damm pleased she was not designed to well,lol

I think that Nelson and his captains would have won if the French had had the British ships and visa versa. But your comments remind me of an anecdote I read somewhere:

A fellow was taking a tour of the Victory and he saw some cannon balls in a shot rack. He asked the tour guide if those cannon bals were from the Battle of Trafalgar, and she replied, "No, sir, the French have those."

I'm not putting the Victory down -- it's an awesome ship -- I'm just curious about the general consensus in books that I've read that French and Spanish ships were better built and/or designed than British ships.

What made them better? What aspects of their design leads to that conclusion?

Regards,

A fellow was taking a tour of the Victory and he saw some cannon balls in a shot rack. He asked the tour guide if those cannon bals were from the Battle of Trafalgar, and she replied, "No, sir, the French have those."

ROFL

I'm sure JT will jump in on this one, but I agree it was down to ball size, and nelson had some! like trench warfare sea battles at the time seem very crude by "modern warfare" standards, yet wars were still won and lost, so there must have been some form of plan I guess. As to why the French had better ships, I'm still not sure that the argument will hold water(sorry, <pun>)
were they more agile in the water? better armed/amoured? surely if they were, the outcome would be very different, and we'd chating in French. I suspect the French had their own trials and tribulations with their ships, or maybe it was down to the three Ps on their part.
Don't forget it was not just one ship, we're talking about a fleet on both sides, maybe the Victory was an inferior ship tot he rest of the fleet, and we got lucky?
Hell if that damm sniper could get that shot on a swaying ship hitting Nelson, anythings possible,lol