Ship model,HMS 'Victory'
Object No. H5074
The HMS 'Victory' is considered the most famous ship in British naval history. She is the only surviving commissioned warship that fought in the American War of Independence, the French Revolutionary War and the Napoleonic Wars and is one of the longest serving naval vessels of more than 220 years. The most famous association made with the HMS 'Victory' is Lord Nelson and the Battle of Trafalgar (October 21, 1805). This Battle, which took place off Cape Trafalgar on the Spanish coast, saw Britain's decisive defeat of France and the curtailment of any potential invasion by Napoleon to British home soil. However, the Battle also had fatal consequences for Lord Nelson on board the 'Victory' who was shot by a ball fired from the mizzen top of the French ship 'Redoubtable'. The ball hit his left shoulder and penetrated his chest, killing Nelson within a matter of hours. The design of the 'Victory' is also remarkable in that she had a perfect balance of military qualities (including gun power and stability) with structural strength, handling and speed. Although her armament was always being modified, at the time of her launch she had 42-pounder guns on the lower deck, twenty-eight long 24-pounder guns on the middle deck, thirty 12-pounder guns on the upper deck and twelve long 6-pounder guns on the quarter deck. In addition to this, the 'Victory' was a fast sailor. She could travel up to speeds of 10-11 knots and once even chased and captured the French frigate, 'Embuscade'. The 'Victory' is one of the finest examples of an 18th century 'First Rate' and the masterpiece of one of the most important figures in naval design, Sir Thomas Slade. This model provides an accurate small-scale representation of the full-scale version which is today berthed at Portsmouth in the United Kingdom and also acts as a legacy for the highly detailed and technical work of Australian model maker, Mr A.C. Hansen. References Bennett, D.C., "How they built the Victory", Model Engineer (June 1, 1965) Martin, J., "How they built the Victory", Model Engineer (June 15, 1965) Royal Navy, "The Official HMS Victory Website", http://www.hms-victory.com/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1 (Downloaded 15/6/2007) Winchester, C (ed.)., "Shipping wonders of the world" (London, 1936)
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Summary
Object Statement
Ship model, HMS 'Victory', 1/16th scale, wood / metal, model made by A. C. Hansen, Australia, c. 1940
Physical Description
Ship model, HMS 'Victory', 1/16th scale, wood / metal, model made by A. C. Hansen, Australia, c. 1940 Fully-rigged ship model of the HMS 'Victory' made of wood with metal trimmings. The model is complete with full standing and running rigging, masts, yards and tops and deck details including anchors with bound stocks, blocks and catheads, belaying rails and pins, deck rails and companionways, gratings, two ship's boats on deck with thwarts and hammock netting. Also shown are the ship's lights and three stern lanterns, port entry steps, 94 guns with gun ports, 8 guns on deck in carriages and 2 stern guns. At the bow of the ship is the figurehead with a shield and motto and three flags suspended from the masts. The model is finished in pale blue, black and ochre and it is mounted on a stand.
DIMENSIONS
Height
510 mm
Width
190 mm
Depth
700 mm
PRODUCTION
Notes
This model of the HMS 'Victory' was made by Mr A.C. Hansen in Australia, c.1940 while the full-scale version was built between 1759 and 1765 at Chatham Dockyard, United Kingdom. The production of the full-scale version of the 'Victory' began with Thomas Slade's design in 1758, the same year Horatio Nelson was born in Burnham Thorpe, Norfolk, UK. Thomas Slade (1703-1771), spent his whole life in the shipbuilding industry eventually rising to become Master Shipwright at Deptford in 1753. He is the only surveyor of the era whose designs continued to be built after he died. For example, two further versions of the 'Victory' were launched in 1810 and 1811 respectively. On July 23, 1759 the building of the 'Victory' commenced under Master Shipwright John Lock and was completed by Edward Allen on May 7, 1765. As opposed to the construction of most vessels which were built on an ordinary inclined shipway, the 'Victory' was built in a dry dock at Chatham, Kent. 6000 trees (90% oak and 10% elm, pine and fir trees) went into her construction at a total cost of £63,175 (approximately £50 million today). One year into the ship's construction, she was named the 'Victory', the only available name at the time from a list of seven reserved for 'First Rate' vessels. She was launched in 1765.
HISTORY
Notes
On December 13, 1758 the Board of Admiralty in London submitted a request for the fabrication of twelve new line of battle warships, including a 100 gun 'first rate' - which was to become the HMS 'Victory'. Before the 'Victory' undertook her most famous role as the flagship of Lord Nelson, she had already been in service for forty years. Over this time, she had fought at Ushant in 1778 in the American War; served as the flagship of the Grand Fleet which opposed the Franco-Spanish 'Armada' in 1779; played a leading role in Admiral Kempenflet's annihilation of de Guichen's convoy in 1781 and led Lord Howe's fleet in its relief of Gibraltar in 1782 and the succeeding battle off Cape Spartel. During the French Revolutionary War, the 'Victory' was also Lord Hood's flagship in the occupation of Toulon and Corsica (1793-1794). She was also the fleet flagship of Sir John Jervis at the Battle of St Vincent, 1797. From 1800-1803, the 'Victory' underwent repairs and reconstruction. Her original stern was replaced by a much simpler flush stern and her elaborate figurehead was replaced with an unpretentious crowned shield containing The Royal Crown surmounted by cupids. Towards the completion of this, she was claimed by Lord Nelson as his flagship for the Napoleonic Wars, where she was subsequently used in the Battle of Trafalgar, 1805, off Cape Trafalgar on the Spanish coast between the combined fleets of Spain and France and the Royal Navy. Although Britain did not lose any ships and victoriously won the Battle, Admiral Nelson was shot and killed as the 'Victory' passed the 'Redoubtable' (a French ship). In 1812, the HMS 'Victory' retired from frontline duty and was subsequently anchored in Portsmouth Harbour where she remained for the next 110 years. In 1922 she was moved to Portsmouth's Royal Naval Dockyard and placed in No.2 Dry Dock where she is berthed today. Since this time, extensive restoration work has been carried out to display the vessel in the form as it appeared during the Battle of Trafalgar. Today, the 'Victory' is still manned by officers and ratings of the Royal Navy and is the flagship of the commander-in-chief naval home command. She is also a living museum to the Georgian navy. This particular model was bequeathed to the Museum by the model maker in 1950.
SOURCE
Credit Line
Gift of Mr A C Hansen, 1950
Acquisition Date
10 July 1950
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