HMS Victory

HMS Victory is permanently dry-docked at the Historic Dockyard in Portsmouth, England. It serves as a museum ship and is the world's oldest naval vessel still in commission, officially serving as the First Sea Lord's flagship.

The ship is most famous for serving as Admiral Horatio Nelson's flagship during the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. During this pivotal naval engagement, the Royal Navy defeated the combined French and Spanish fleets, though Nelson was mortally wounded on its deck.

As a massive first-rate ship of the line, HMS Victory was originally armed with 104 bronze and iron guns. This immense firepower allowed it to dominate enemy ships by firing devastating broadsides during fleet actions.

The ship was officially launched in 1765 after several years of construction at the Chatham Dockyard. It was built from over 6,000 trees, mostly oak, making it an incredibly heavy and durable warship for the 18th century.