HMS Victory

HMS Victory is a 104-gun first-rate wooden sailing ship of the line moored in Portsmouth. Built in the 18th century, she sits in a dry dock at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard. The ship was ordered during the Seven Years' War and laid down in 1759. Over 6,000 trees, mostly oak, were used in her construction. She was designed by naval architect Sir Thomas Slade and built under master shipwright John Lock, later Edward Allin. Victory saw action in major naval battles including the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. Admiral Horatio Nelson hoisted his flag aboard her in 1803. Before that, she served in the Mediterranean Fleet during the French Revolutionary War. The ship also took part in the relief of Gibraltar in 1782. After decades of service, she became a harbour ship in 1824. Visitors find Victory preserved as a museum ship in Portsmouth. The vessel features three continuous gun decks with over 100 cannon. Her mainmast rises 62.5 metres from the waterline. The ship’s lower deck gunports sit close to the waterline, limiting firepower in rough seas. Despite this, she remains a remarkable example of 18th-century naval engineering.