Quotes About Naval

In truth, though, Villeneuve was still in command, and still in Cadiz.

The first shots had been fired from the enemy line. The Battle of Trafalgar had begun.

The wind was coming mostly from the south. Villeneuve gave the order to sail at 6 a.m.

They were complemented by another twenty-nine ships of the line, five frigates and two brigs – a total of forty vessels in all.

Each gun fired in turn, straight into the unprotected stern of the Santa Ana,

Shortly before 7 p.m., Captain Jean Lucas of the Redoutable caught his first glimpse of Nelson's fleet to starboard:

Villeneuve didn't hesitate. Gravina was right. The whole fleet must form line of battle at once,

Turning hard aport, the Royal Sovereign quickly drew alongside the Santa Ana,

It was a race to see which ship could fire

With almost fifty guns already loaded and still working on the starboard side, the Spanish won.

The Royal Sovereign reeled under the impact, heeling 'two strakes out of the water

He would be followed by Vice-Admiral Honoré Ganteaume with six frigates and twenty-one ships

They were all to cross the Atlantic and link up with Admiral Missiessy off Martinique.

aiming for the English Channel. Its ultimate destination was top secret,

Captain Harvey held his fire until the Fougueux's yardarms were almost touching the Téméraire's

At his command, three decks of guns fired simultaneously into the Fougueux,

to get the box containing the signals and ship's orders and throw it into the sea.

There was nothing to be gained from fighting the British off Brest.

Nelson's fleet had been spotted off the Spanish coast, barring the way to the Atlantic.

Almost a mile to the north, the Victory was still short of the enemy line,

The enemy ships in her path included the Santissima Trinidad, the Redoutable and the Bucentaure,

Villeneuve's flagship.

the teeth marks he left in it on the day of Trafalgar are visible still.

Badcock's ship had already tried to push ahead of the Victory and lead the dash towards the enemy line,