Talk:Battle of Trafalgar

An event mentioned in this article is an October 21 selected anniversary.

---

Peer review

This article had a peer review that has been [[Wikipedia:Peer review/Template:Namespace prefix of associated pageBattle of Trafalgar/Archive1|archived]]. It may contain ideas that you can use to improve this article.

[[Category:Old requests for peer review|Template:Namespace prefix of associated pageBattle of Trafalgar]]

---

Although I have added a lot of links to this monster, it is hardly limited to the Battle of Trafalgar but is general survey of French-British relations. To be sure it puts the Battle in context. But where would all this history rightly go? To French-English rivalry? User:Fredbauder

It ought to go into Napoleonic Wars. But it needs some heavy editing for NPOV.

Moved text over to Napoleonic Wars.

POV Problems?

This article reads like a Children's Encyclopaedia. It needs some heavy editing.

Seconded. Not a subject I know much about though. -- Tarquin

The language used in this article is too emotional. The text is too enthusiastic in describing the naval strategy. Please consider rewriting. --Jiang 08:38, 17 Sep 2003 (UTC)

Better rewrite?

Someone should re-write this with more attention to detail and history. In fact, the precedent for Nelson's battle plan at Trafalgar was the battle between Rodney and de Grasse off Iles des Saintes near Martinique in 1780. Rodney had 36 ships-of-the-line and de Grasse 33. The battle opened as usual maneauvering in parallel lines, but when deGrasse ordered a reversal in direction of his entire line, it was not well carried out and gaps appeared. Rodney, seeing the opportunity, ordered a 90-degree turn and movement into the gaps. The British effectively crossed the T of the French fleet in several places. Eventually all the French fleet surrendered or were sunk. The French lost 6,000 men.

Note also - Jervis at Cape St. Vincent 1797 sailed his smaller fleet through the Spanish fleet with the intention of dividing out a segment of the enemy fleet for closer attention. Jervis did intend to keep the ships in order by tacking in succession, after passing through the Spanish fleet. Nelson, who was fourth from the end of the British line, in "Captain" wore his ship out of line, in a questionable, but fortunate, interpretation of orders and headed off a portion of the fleeing Spanish. Jervis certainly did not maintain a line parallel with his opponents.

Also - it was Jervis' reform of the British Fleet in the 1790s that led to the high-quality of crews and much higher level of performance that allowed the melee tactics of Trafalgar to succeed. The British Royal Navy had lost only one battle since 1690, so it didn't begin an era of British Naval Supremacy, it merely continued it. -- Anon

Hello Anon!

Quick note; be bold when updating pages. If there is someting wrong with the article then please fix it. Don't be shy. :) --mav

"The British Royal Navy had lost only one battle since 1690, so it didn't begin an era of British Naval Supremacy, it merely continued it." That's far from true. British Navy has lost a LOT of battles since 1690. Being one the Battle of Cartagena (1741)

Striking one's colours

What does "strike their colours" mean? they sunk? -- Nojer2 23:24, 3 Mar 2005 (UTC)

"Striking your colours" means taking down your national flag from the mast. It was a sign that the ship was surrendering and would offer no further resistance. Dabbler 00:14, 4 Mar 2005 (UTC)

200th anniversary celebrations

Why is the 200th anniversary being celebrated in June and not October? adamsan 28 June 2005 14:23 (UTC)

You ever been to Portsmouth in October? It's wet and cold. The queen might get poorly, so it's held in the middle of June, when it's not really warm but certainly less wet and cold. Dunc|☺ 28 June 2005 14:30 (UTC)

foremost naval power

After the battle, the Royal Navy remained unchallenged as the world's foremost naval power until the rise of Imperial Germany prior to the First World War, 100 years later.

The German Imperial navy fleet was never in a position to beat the Royal Navy, which is why they did not break out of their home waters. I would like to alter this sentence, but I am not sure what to put in its place, possibly the the Washington Naval Treaty of 1922, but when did the U.S. Navy reach parity with the Royal Navy? -- Philip Baird Shearer 19:37, 9 July 2005 (UTC)

You are correct, the High Seas Fleet didn't "beat" the Royal Navy, but it did "challenge" it. Jutland was the first major naval battle since Trafalgar (although there were some other battles, like Navarino, but no major challenges).--JW1805 19:46, 9 July 2005 (UTC)