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Naval Battles

Battle of Trafalgar

21 October 1805

BritishCombined FleetWind WNW

21 October, 6:00 a.m.

The Combined Fleet

At daylight the British see 33 French and Spanish ships of the line some ten miles to the east, heading south for the Straits. Nelson signals to form two columns and bear down on them.

The battle

On 21 October 1805 Vice-Admiral Lord Nelson’s 27 ships of the line found Vice-Admiral Villeneuve’s 33 French and Spanish ships off Cape Trafalgar, heading for the Straits of Gibraltar, and bore down on them in two columns to cut through their line.

Collingwood’s lee column broke into the rear about noon; Nelson’s weather column cut through the centre, astern of Villeneuve’s flagship, about three quarters of an hour later. In the close fighting that followed the British took or destroyed some eighteen ships, and Villeneuve was captured.

Nelson was shot from the Redoutable’s rigging at about a quarter past one and died at half past four, as the battle ended. No British ship was lost; 449 British were killed and 1,214 wounded. A gale over the following days wrecked many of the prizes.

Reading the chart

  • Ships’ clocks differed by up to an hour. The chart keeps one timescale: first fire on the Royal Sovereign at noon, the Victory through the line at about 12.45, Nelson shot at 1.15 and dying at 4.30 (Beatty), the French Achille blowing up at about 5.25.
  • Positions come from the logs’ bearings of Cape Trafalgar, corrected for 20 degrees west compass variation; the corrected noon fixes put the Combined centre about ten nautical miles west-north-west of the cape. Uncorrected, everything would sit four or five miles further north.
  • The crescent follows Collingwood, Corbett and Desbrière: about three nautical miles long, bowed to leeward, with ships a cable out of line where they fell to leeward or windward. Its exact shape is an inference.
  • After the lines were cut, ships are placed in the groups the logs and James describe: the Victory, Redoutable, Temeraire and Fougueux locked together; the Royal Sovereign alongside the Santa Ana; and so on. Places within the mêlée are approximate, and the whole fight drifts slowly east with the wind.
  • The columns follow Collingwood’s list of the order of attack; in practice Belleisle led Mars. Strike times follow the British logs; French accounts put several later, the Bucentaure’s by up to two hours.
  • The storm of 22–28 October and Strachan’s capture of Dumanoir’s four ships off Cape Ortegal on 4 November are told in the text, not on the chart.
  • Ship lengths are from secondary sources. Ships are drawn larger than life; rates of fire are representative, not counted.

The ships

  • VictoryBritishFirst rate, Nelson’s flagship, 100 gunsCapt. Thomas Masterman Hardy, with Vice-Admiral Lord Nelson (mortally wounded)Under fire for half an hour before she could reply; broke the line astern of the Bucentaure and fought the Redoutable. 57 killed and 75 wounded.
  • TemeraireBritishSecond rate, 98 gunsCapt. Eliab HarveyFought with the Redoutable on one side and the Fougueux on the other, and took them both. 47 killed and 76 wounded.
  • NeptuneBritishSecond rate, 98 gunsCapt. Thomas Francis FremantleRaked the Bucentaure and fought the Santísima Trinidad. 10 killed and 34 wounded.
  • ConquerorBritishThird rate, 74 gunsCapt. Israel PellewTook possession of the Bucentaure, with Villeneuve aboard. 3 killed and 9 wounded.
  • LeviathanBritishThird rate, 74 gunsCapt. Henry William BayntunRaked the Bucentaure; boarded and took the San Agustín. 4 killed and 22 wounded.
  • AjaxBritishThird rate, 74 gunsLt. John Pilfold, actingBroke through the centre, then turned on the van. 2 killed and 9 wounded.
  • OrionBritishThird rate, 74 gunsCapt. Edward CodringtonTook the Swiftsure with Colossus, and the Intrépide with Africa. 1 killed and 23 wounded.
  • AgamemnonBritishThird rate, 64 gunsCapt. Sir Edward BerryFought the Santísima Trinidad. 2 killed and 7 wounded.
  • MinotaurBritishThird rate, 74 gunsCapt. Charles John Moore MansfieldEngaged Dumanoir’s van as it passed, then took the Neptuno. 3 killed and 22 wounded.
  • SpartiateBritishThird rate, French-built, 74 gunsCapt. Sir Francis LaforeyWith Minotaur, took the Neptuno. 3 killed and 20 wounded.
  • BritanniaBritishFirst rate, 100 gunsCapt. Charles Bullen, with Rear-Admiral the Earl of NortheskA slow sailer; broke through about the fourteenth ship from the van. 10 killed and 42 wounded.
  • AfricaBritishThird rate, 64 gunsCapt. Henry DigbyMissed the night signal to wear and came down alone from the north along the whole enemy van. 18 killed and 44 wounded.
  • Royal SovereignBritishFirst rate, Collingwood’s flagship, 100 gunsCapt. Edward Rotheram, with Vice-Admiral Cuthbert CollingwoodFirst into action; broke the line astern of the Santa Ana and took her. Lost her main and mizen masts. 47 killed and 94 wounded.
  • BelleisleBritishThird rate, French-built, 74 gunsCapt. William HargoodBroke through abreast the Fougueux and was totally dismasted; towed out by Naiad. 33 killed and 93 wounded.
  • MarsBritishThird rate, 74 gunsCapt. George Duff (killed), then Lt. William HennahFought the Pluton and the Fougueux. 29 killed and 69 wounded.
  • TonnantBritishThird rate, French-built, 80 gunsCapt. Charles Tyler (wounded)Ran aboard and took the Algésiras. 26 killed and 50 wounded.
  • BellerophonBritishThird rate, 74 gunsCapt. John Cooke (killed), then Lt. William Pryce CumbyFouled with the Aigle; took the Monarca and the Bahama. 27 killed and 123 wounded.
  • ColossusBritishThird rate, 74 gunsCapt. James Nicoll Morris (wounded)The heaviest British loss, 40 killed and 160 wounded. Took the Bahama and, with Orion, the Swiftsure.
  • AchilleBritishThird rate, 74 gunsCapt. Richard KingFought the Montañés, Argonauta and Berwick, and took the Berwick. 13 killed and 59 wounded.
  • PolyphemusBritishThird rate, 64 gunsCapt. Robert RedmillFought the French Achille; later towed prizes and the Victory. 2 killed and 4 wounded.
  • RevengeBritishThird rate, 74 gunsCapt. Robert Moorsom (wounded)Broke through between the fifth and sixth ships from the rear. 28 killed and 51 wounded.
  • SwiftsureBritishThird rate, 74 gunsCapt. William George RutherfordRelieved the dismasted Belleisle; took the Redoutable in tow, and she sank. 9 killed and 8 wounded.
  • DefenceBritishThird rate, 74 gunsCapt. George HopeFought the Berwick, then took the San Ildefonso. 7 killed and 29 wounded.
  • ThundererBritishThird rate, 74 gunsLt. John Stockham, actingRaked the Príncipe de Asturias. 4 killed and 12 wounded.
  • DefianceBritishThird rate, 74 gunsCapt. Philip Charles Durham (wounded)Boarded and took the Aigle. 17 killed and 53 wounded.
  • PrinceBritishSecond rate, 98 gunsCapt. Richard GrindallA slow sailer, late into action; set the French Achille on fire and saved 140 of her men. No casualties.
  • DreadnoughtBritishSecond rate, 98 gunsCapt. John ConnTook the San Juan Nepomuceno in about fifteen minutes. 7 killed and 26 wounded.
  • EuryalusBritishFrigate, 36 gunsCapt. the Hon. Henry BlackwoodRepeated Nelson’s signals and towed the Royal Sovereign; Collingwood shifted his flag to her at 5.55.
  • NaiadBritishFrigate, 38 gunsCapt. Thomas DundasTowed the dismasted Belleisle.
  • PhoebeBritishFrigate, 36 gunsCapt. the Hon. Thomas Bladen CapelRepeated signals and towed prizes.
  • SiriusBritishFrigate, 36 gunsCapt. William ProwseTowed the Temeraire after the battle.
  • PickleBritishSchoonerLt. John Richard LapenotièrePicked up some 120 of the French Achille’s men.
  • EntreprenanteBritishCutterLt. John PuverPicked up more than 160 of the French Achille’s men.
  • NeptunoSpanishShip of the line, leading the van, 80 gunsBrig. Cayetano Valdés (wounded)Cut off and taken by Minotaur and Spartiate a few minutes before sunset. Retaken on 23 October and wrecked.
  • ScipionFrenchShip of the line, 74 gunsCapt. Charles BérengerEscaped with Dumanoir; taken off Cape Ortegal on 4 November.
  • IntrépideFrenchShip of the line, 74 gunsCapt. Louis InfernetCame back from the van to fight; the last French ship to strike, to Orion and Africa. Burned on 24 October.
  • RayoSpanishThree-decker, 100 gunsCdre Enrique MacDonellReached Cádiz; taken on 24 October after the sortie, and wrecked.
  • FormidableFrenchShip of the line, Dumanoir’s flagship, 80 gunsCapt. J.-M. Letellier, with Rear-Admiral DumanoirLed the van’s late turn south, then escaped; taken off Cape Ortegal on 4 November.
  • Duguay-TrouinFrenchShip of the line, 74 gunsCapt. Claude TouffetEscaped with Dumanoir; taken off Cape Ortegal on 4 November.
  • Mont-BlancFrenchShip of the line, 74 gunsCapt. G.-J.-N. La VillegrisEscaped with Dumanoir; taken off Cape Ortegal on 4 November.
  • San Francisco de AsísSpanishShip of the line, 74 gunsCapt. Luis de FloresReached Cádiz; wrecked near Rota in the sortie.
  • San AgustínSpanishShip of the line, 74 gunsCapt. Felipe Jado CagigalBoarded and taken by Leviathan; burned at the end of October.
  • HérosFrenchShip of the line, 74 gunsCapt. J.-B.-J.-R. Poulain (killed)Returned to Cádiz.
  • Santísima TrinidadSpanishFour-decker, the largest ship in either fleet, 130 gunsCdre F. J. de Uriarte, with Rear-Admiral Hidalgo Cisneros (wounded)Dismasted and struck; scuttled on 24 October.
  • BucentaureFrenchShip of the line, Villeneuve’s flagship, 80 gunsCapt. J.-J. Magendie (wounded), with Vice-Admiral VilleneuveRaked by Victory and the ships astern of her; struck to Conqueror, and Villeneuve was taken. Retaken by her crew, then wrecked off Cádiz.
  • NeptuneFrenchShip of the line, 80 gunsCdre E.-T. MaistralReturned to Cádiz.
  • San LeandroSpanishShip of the line, 64 gunsCapt. José QuevedoReturned to Cádiz dismasted.
  • RedoutableFrenchShip of the line, 74 gunsCapt. Jean-Jacques LucasFought Victory and Temeraire at the closest range; Nelson was shot from her mizen top. Lost 300 killed of 643, and sank in tow on 22 October.
  • San JustoSpanishShip of the line, 74 gunsCapt. Miguel GastónReturned to Cádiz with only her foremast.
  • IndomptableFrenchShip of the line, 80 gunsCapt. J.-J. Hubert (drowned)Reached Cádiz; wrecked off Rota in the sortie with nearly all her people.
  • Santa AnaSpanishThree-decker, 112 gunsCapt. José de Gardoqui, with Vice-Admiral Álava (wounded)Raked and fought by the Royal Sovereign and struck to her; retaken on 23 October.
  • FougueuxFrenchShip of the line, 74 gunsCapt. L.-A. Baudoin (killed)Opened the battle on the Royal Sovereign; fell aboard the Temeraire and was taken. Wrecked on 22 October.
  • MonarcaSpanishShip of the line, 74 gunsCapt. Teodoro ArgumosaStruck to Bellerophon; wrecked off San Lúcar.
  • PlutonFrenchShip of the line, 74 gunsCdre Julien Cosmao-KerjulienReturned to Cádiz in a sinking state, and led the sortie of 23 October.
  • AlgésirasFrenchShip of the line, 74 gunsCapt. Laurent Le Tourneur, with Rear-Admiral Magon (killed)Struck to Tonnant; retaken by her own crew, and reached Cádiz.
  • BahamaSpanishShip of the line, 74 gunsBrig. Dionisio Alcalá Galiano (killed)Fell to leeward, leaving the gap Collingwood’s column struck; taken, and sent to Gibraltar.
  • AigleFrenchShip of the line, 74 gunsCapt. P.-P. Gourrège (killed)Fouled by Bellerophon, then boarded and taken by Defiance; wrecked in the gale.
  • SwiftsureFrenchShip of the line, formerly British, 74 gunsCapt. C.-E. L’Hospitalier-VillemadrinTaken by Colossus and Orion, and sent to Gibraltar.
  • ArgonauteFrenchShip of the line, 74 gunsCapt. Jacques ÉpronReached Cádiz.
  • MontañésSpanishShip of the line, 74 gunsCapt. Francisco AlcedoReturned to Cádiz.
  • ArgonautaSpanishShip of the line, 80 gunsCapt. Antonio Pareja (wounded)Struck to the British Achille; scuttled.
  • BerwickFrenchShip of the line, formerly British, 74 gunsCapt. J.-G. Filhol-Camas (killed)Taken by the British Achille; wrecked in the gale.
  • San Juan NepomucenoSpanishShip of the line, 74 gunsBrig. Cosme Churruca (killed)Struck to Dreadnought, and sent to Gibraltar.
  • San IldefonsoSpanishShip of the line, 74 gunsBrig. José de Vargas (wounded)Struck to Defence, and sent to Gibraltar.
  • AchilleFrenchShip of the line, 74 gunsCapt. Gabriel Deniéport (killed)Caught fire in her foretop and blew up near sunset; more than 400 of her men were picked up by British boats.
  • Príncipe de AsturiasSpanishThree-decker, Gravina’s flagship, 112 gunsCdre Á. R. de Hore, with Admiral Gravina (wounded)The rear ship. Gravina led the survivors back to Cádiz.
  • CornélieFrenchFrigate, 40 gunsKept to leeward of the line; returned to Cádiz.
  • HortenseFrenchFrigate, 40 gunsKept to leeward of the line; returned to Cádiz.
  • FuretFrenchBrig, 18 gunsKept to leeward of the line; returned to Cádiz.
  • RhinFrenchFrigate, 40 gunsKept to leeward of the line; returned to Cádiz.
  • HermioneFrenchFrigate, 40 gunsKept to leeward of the line; returned to Cádiz.
  • ThémisFrenchFrigate, 40 gunsTowed the Príncipe de Asturias out of action.
  • ArgusFrenchBrig, 16 gunsKept to leeward of the line; returned to Cádiz.

Sources

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