Thread by @LeBrunJames81

Today in 1805, the Royal Navy crushed the combined Franco-Spanish fleet at #Trafalgar, one of the greatest sea battles of all time. 1/

Convention stated 2 fleets should form in lines of battle + engage broadside. However, #Nelson served during era of tactical #innovation. 2/

Nelson divided his force into two groups + sailed straight into the enemy’s port beam; echoing the tactics of Rodney, Jervis, and Duncan. 3/

Although outnumbered, objective was to “bring forward a pell-mell battle” where superior British gunnery + seamanship would prevail. 4/

#HMSRoyalSovereign fought 8 enemy ships of the line, including the Spanish flagship #SantaAna, which alone suffered double her losses. 5/

#HMSColossus fought 3 enemy ships of the line + suffered heaviest casualty rate in British fleet; inflicted over double her own losses. 6/

#HMSVictory locked masts with #Redoutable; a French marksman fired a musket shot through Nelson's spine, mortally wounding him. 7/

Overall, British suffered ^1600 casualties, including the death of Nelson + inflicted over 10x that, while capturing/destroying 22 ships. 8/

#Spain lost her fleet, which alone preserved her position as a great, #imperial power. 9/

Napoleon’s naval power was destroyed; Britain’s prosperity guaranteed. RN sailed seas uncontested, free to resupply Wellington’s forces. 10/

Vice Admiral Horatio Nelson, in his final day, “won the greatest fleet battle of the age of fighting sail” - @ArthurLHerman. 11/11