HMS Victory: Wooden First Rate Model

Originally launched in 1778, it was decided to rebuild HMS Victory and on 16 May, 1803, she became the flagship of Lord Nelson’s Mediterranean Fleet.

HMS Victory: Wooden First Rate Model

Where appropriate, all scale ship models are constructed with hardwood using the plank-on-frame technique and built to scale using ships' drawings. The models use cotton sails and rigging and in the case of the larger vessels are suitable for use as exhibits in galleries or museums. Many models are available in Large and Small sizes with both versions offering the same level of detail.

Stocks of most models are held but you should allow up to 8 weeks for some of the larger models. If you have specific enquiries for other ships, please contact us. Models are shipped all over the world in secure packaging at very reasonable prices.

In any event, if you have any queries, please contact us by mail or call us by telephone and we will be pleased to help.

HMS Victory: Ship's History

Original specifications: Type: First rate 100 (3 m); Dimensions (L/B/D): 69 x 15.8 x 6.6 m; Hull: Wood; Complement: 850; Armament: 2 x 68 pounder, 28 x 42 pounder, 28 x 24 pounder, 28 x 12 pounder, 16 x 6 pounder; Designer: Sir Thomas Slade; Built: Chatham Dockyard, England; Year: 1765

HMS Victory was launched in 1765 but was not commissioned until 1778. When France signed a treaty of co-operation with the US, HMS Victory was made flagship of Admiral Sir Augustus Keppel’s Channel Fleet.

In July 1778, she took part in an indecisive battle off Ushant, Brittany with 35 crew injured or killed. In December of that year, she captured a French convoy off Ushant bound for America. In 1782, HMS Victory was Lord Howe’s flagship in the relief of Gibraltar. Paid off at Portsmouth the following year, HMS Victory remained in ordinary for 8 years.

In 1792, HMS Victory became the flagship of Vice Admiral Sir Samuel Hood’s Mediterranean Fleet, which occupied Toulon and captured Bastia and Calvi (Corsica).

In 1800, it was decided to rebuild HMS Victory and, in May 1803, she became the flagship of Lord Nelson’s Mediterranean Fleet. At this time, Napoleon had begun formulating plans for the invasion of England and Nelson was ordered to contain Vice Admiral Pierre Villeneuve’s squadron at Toulon.

As the British lines approached the combined fleet (eighteen French and fifteen Spanish Ship of the line), Nelson ordered his most famous signal run up HMS Victory’s masts; “England expects that every man will do his duty”. HMS Victory was engaged by a number of French vessels. Nelson had insisted on wearing his full allotment of medals and decoration and, at 13:25, he was wounded by a French sharpshooter. Nelson was taken below and, at 16:30, having been informed of capture of 15 of the enemy ships, the hero of Copenhagen, the Nile and now Trafalgar died.

Towed to Gibraltar by HMS Neptune, HMS Victory sailed for England on 22 December, from where Nelson’s body was carried to St Paul’s Cathedral for a state funeral. His death was not in vain for he had destroyed the French and any threat of a Napoleonic invasion of Britain.

After a refit at Chatham in 1808, HMS Victory re-entered service as the flagship of Sir James Saumarez’s Baltic fleet, which blockaded the Russian fleet and kept opened the supply of naval stores from Sweden. She remained in the Baltic until paid off in 1812.

Since 1824, HMS Victory has served as the flagship of the Commander-in-Chief at Portsmouth. In 1922, she was dry-docked and opened as a museum. Ironically, she received her last battle wound in World War II, when a German bomb exploded in her dry-dock.

Models are handmade so delivery time may vary. Please contact us for more details