On this day in 1765………

[FLYING BANANA]

Today in 1765, the new HMS VICTORY is launched at Chatham Dockyard, Kent. She had been under-construction since July 1759.

6000 trees were used in her construction, mainly oak. Her construction was stopped and due to the end of the 7 years war which means she was left on the stocks to “season in” for 3 years. This meant her timbers were weathered more that usual which adds to her strength today.

Construction was restated in 1763 and launched in 1765 costing £63,176 (£8.4 million today). Because she had been idle for so long the timbers had swollen too much and she didn’t fit out of the dock. 6 inches had to be removed from the dock gate, once floated out she was placed “in ordinary” which means she wasn’t fully rigged or fitted out. She remained laid up until 1778 when France joined the American War of Independence.

She will go on to find fame at The Battle of Trafalgar as the flagship on Admiral Lord Nelson, she remains on the active list of the Royal Navy and is the oldest commissioned warship in the world and the only active warship in the Royal Navy that had engaged another ship in combat, other modern ships with such titles have all now long since decommissioned.

She is currently undergoing a huge restoration project including a new support system to support her weight and eventually new masts.

[Lancpudn]

I bet Rev Jules remembers that launching as a young lad.