HMS Trafalgar (1841)

HMS Trafalgar was a 120-gun first-rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched on 21 June 1841 at Woolwich Dockyard. HMS Trafalgar was the last ship to complete the successful Caledonia class.[1]

Her Majesty's Visit to the Launch of the Trafalgar, 120 Guns, 21st June 1841
Woolwich Dockyard, launching of Trafalgar 1841
For other ships with the same name, see HMS Trafalgar.

HMS Trafalgar launched by Queen Victoria
History
UK
Name: Trafalgar
Ordered: 19 February 1825
Builder: Woolwich Dockyard
Laid down: November 1829
Launched: 21 June 1841
Renamed: HMS Boscawen, 1873
Fate: Sold, 1906
General characteristics [1]
Class and type: Broadened Caledonia-class ship of the line
Tons burthen: 2694 bm
Length: 205 ft 5.5 in (62.624 m) (gundeck)
Beam: 54 ft 6 in (16.61 m)
Depth of hold: 23 ft 2 in (7.06 m)
Propulsion: Sails
Sail plan: Full-rigged ship
Armament:
  • 120 guns:
  • Gundeck: 30 × 32 pdrs, 2 × 68-pdr carronades
  • Middle gundeck: 34 × 32 pdrs
  • Upper gundeck: 34 × 32 pdrs
  • Quarterdeck: 2 × 18 pdrs, 14 × 32 pdr carronades
  • Forecastle: 2 × 18 pdrs, 2 × 32 pdr carronades

The ship was named by Lady Bridport, niece of Lord Nelson at the request of Queen Victoria, who with Prince Albert also attended the launch. The wine used was some kept from HMS Victory after returning from Trafalgar. Five hundred people were on board the ship at the time of its launch, of whom 100 had been at Trafalgar. It was estimated 500,000 people came to watch the event and the Thames was covered for miles with all manner of boats.[2] The launch was the subject of the most notable work by Woolwich-based artist William Ranwell.

Trafalgar was fitted with screw propulsion in 1859. As training ship at Portland, she was renamed HMS Boscawen in 1873, and finally sold out of the service in 1906.[1] Commander Lawrence de Wahl Satow was appointed in command 15 April 1902.[3]

Notes
  1. Lavery, Ships of the Line vol.1, p190.
  2. Robert Wilson (1891). The life and Times of Queen Victoria, Volume I. London: Cassell and company. pp. 93–94.
  3. "Naval and Military intelligence". The Times (36736). London. 8 April 1902. p. 4.

References
  • Lavery, Brian (2003) The Ship of the Line - Volume 1: The development of the battlefleet 1650-1850. Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-252-8.
  • Lyon, David and Winfield, Rif (2004) The Sail and Steam Navy List: All the Ships of the Royal Navy 1815-1889. Chatham Publishing, London. ISBN 1-86176-032-9.


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