Today In 1805, A Naval Battle That Set The Bar

[twyacht]

I know there are some Navy folks/ history buffs here, imagine point blank broadsides with grape shot, chain link, 24 lbs of shrapnel, or ball. For several hours.

http://www.britishbattles.com/waterloo/battle-trafalgar.htm

excerpt from a great and complete review of the battle.

Size of the fleet: 32 British (25 ships of the line, 4 Frigates and smaller craft), 23 French and 15 Spanish (33 ships of the line, 7 Frigates and smaller craft). 4,000 troops including riflemen from the Tyrol were posted in small detachments through the French and Spanish Fleets.

Wounds in Eighteenth Century naval fighting were often terrible. Cannon balls ripped off limbs or, striking wooden decks and bulwarks, drove splinter fragments across the ship causing great injury. Falling masts and rigging inflicted crush injuries. Sailors stationed aloft fell into the sea from collapsing masts and rigging and were drowned. Heavy losses were caused when a ship finally succumbed and sank or blew up.

Lord Nelson, kicked the French and Spanish Armada's butts.  Trafalgar, was the Naval Battle, for its day.

Nelson's tactics were used by many Captains, Admirals, including Nimitz, Admiral Günther Lütjens, of the Bismarck, Halsey, Spruance, and many others, including the Japanese,Captain Tameichi Hara––"The unsinkable Captain", studied Lord Nelson extensively.

Just thought it was a date of note......... Helluva day at sea.

[MikeBjerum]

Great site - Thanks tw!

[tombogan03884]

TW, the Nelson defeated the combined French and Spanish fleets. The Armada was about 100 years earlier.

One important difference between the 2 fleets was that the French and Spanish relied primarily on carronades, nicknamed "Smashers" they fired a much larger ball, up to 68 pounds, absolutely devastating, but only at close range, The English in contrast relied on the long 18 and 24  pounder guns less devastating, but had about 3 times the range, English ships were often able to stand out of range and just pound their opponent into flotsam.