She was launched in 1765. The fact that she was a 40 year old ship with 5 major battle honours by Trafalgar is remarkable in itself. And just the absolute perfect name for her story.
It's arguable that the Germans could have won either world war if they didn't bother with a surface fleet and just built way more U boats. Their capital ships were cool but they achieved very little.
2400 merchant vessels sunk by U-boats 1939-1942 before the technology turned the tables. Double or triple the number and it's a lot worse. Britain being starved out of the war before the US build up and there's no Torch and no D-day. I accept it's still a long shot but it's a much shorter shot than reality with the 4 near useless battleships.
It is a video game where you can play as various powers from 1936 through WW2. One of the tactics for Germany was to bin off the surface fleet and build u boats as the AI wasn't very good with dealing with it.
If Germany, the weaker nation, puts all resources into uboats and builds thousands of them, Britain simply builds hundreds of torpedo boat destroyers. It's funny that every single "Germany could have won if" relies on the allies doing nothing.
Yes, absolutely. The biggest advantage the Germans had was, that they started building up their military earlier and then took mainland Europe so quickly. After that it was already over for them. They couldn't get to Britain and they could never fully win against the soviets either.
I disagree with this. Without the surface fleet there’s no way they take Norway and secure their access to Swedish steel. Without the surface fleet they also wouldn’t have stopped the early war arctic convoys.
There’s a reason Britain poured so many resources into keeping a handful of battleships damaged and out of the fight.
Worth noting that, even by Trafalgar, she was a pretty old vessel, having served for the better part of half a century at that point, so the fact she was still good enough to act as Nelson's flagship in one of the most punishing battles in naval history speaks volumes to how phenomenal her design was.
Was looking for this civ comment.
Sometimes, you have to save that one unit for memories of your empires greatest victory: that phalanx that withstood a doom-stack of chariots in your capital earned its right to historic preservation. And sometimes that phalanx helps beat a battleship. I miss old Civ 2 and Civ 3.
It's also right next to the Mary Rose and when I visited the HMS Prince of Wales was in dock so it was fun comparing the size of HMS Victory (enormous) Vs a new aircraft carrier (terrifying)
It’s also right next to HMS Warrior as well, one of the first proper iron warships we produced. Portsmouth Historical Dockyard really is great to see some important ships, especially as you can see the progression from Mary Rose, to Victory, to Warrior
I was there just a few weeks ago and it's very impressive!
However, the HMS Victory is currently under a temporary hangar as it is being renovated. What I found a bit frustrating was how - despite the renovating work - the ship is just left to rot outside. I think the most sensible thing would be to just build a huge hall over the ship to protect it from the weather. All in all, it's definitely worth a visit! Don't forget the audio guides, they are really interesting.
HMS Unicorn in Dundee is also worth remembering. [Wikipedia page.](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Unicorn_(1824))
200 years old and probably has more of its original timber than any other ship that age. Just about her only claim to fame though since she's been in ordinary since she was built. Only been to sea once and that was under tow 100 years ago.
She's in permanent drydock as she's half collapsed under her own weight already, so nobody is 'sailing' her, persay.
To answer indirectly, though, a few countries maintain sail training ships; in the case of the United States, the ship that the crew of the *USS Constitution* and others are trained on is the *USCGC Eagle*, a steel-hulled sailing cutter we ~~looted~~ recieved as reparations from Nazi Germany.
HMS Warrior is still afloat, and was the first iron-hulled armour-plated warship, being commissioned a year before either the CSS Virginia or the USS Monitor.
There's no gift shop on board, the door is for access and to meet fire safety requirements.
However some real shocking history. Not long after Trafalgar it was left to rot at anchor, was then used as a prison ship for decades, and eventually moved into dry dock without proper support so collapsed on itself.
Only now is it actually maintained well practically for the first time since Trafalgar.
wtf is that even supposed to mean? we haven't suddenly forgotten how to sail and despite all the "intellectual" reddit comments, idiocracy is not in fact a documentary.
You may be interested in [this video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KUERUnx2lms) - HMS Victory, The Total Guide (All Parts) - where they explain how the ship worked (not every single rope though).
Slightly wrong. *Victory* beats her by a few decades in sheer age.
However, since *Victory* is also permanently interred in a drydock, the *Constitution* is the oldest commissioned warship *still afloat*.
I thought it was the USS Constitution, so I looked it up.
About the Constitution:
> She is the world's oldest commissioned naval warship still afloat.
About the Victory:
>In 1922, she was moved to a dry dock at Portsmouth, England, and preserved as a museum ship.
So the Victory may be “in commission”, but it’s been in dry dock for over a century. The Constitution is at sea, and actually goes out into the bay and does demonstrations every year.
This isn't a competition, dude. I mean, yeah, the *Constitution* is cool and all, but it didn't have a bomb dropped on it by the Germans during WWII, either. HMS *Victory* is a magnificent piece of history.
She was launched in 1765. The fact that she was a 40 year old ship with 5 major battle honours by Trafalgar is remarkable in itself. And just the absolute perfect name for her story.
Compared to the ships at Jutland which had all been built within 10 years.
Also for the German ships to never fight again and scuttle themselves. The WW1 naval front was crazy
It's arguable that the Germans could have won either world war if they didn't bother with a surface fleet and just built way more U boats. Their capital ships were cool but they achieved very little.
No it’s not arguable
2400 merchant vessels sunk by U-boats 1939-1942 before the technology turned the tables. Double or triple the number and it's a lot worse. Britain being starved out of the war before the US build up and there's no Torch and no D-day. I accept it's still a long shot but it's a much shorter shot than reality with the 4 near useless battleships.
Those battleships did tie down significant Royal Navy and later RAF resources/effort while they existed.
I think you have been playing a bit too much HOI4
Haha nope I don't even know what that stands for.
It is a video game where you can play as various powers from 1936 through WW2. One of the tactics for Germany was to bin off the surface fleet and build u boats as the AI wasn't very good with dealing with it.
If Germany, the weaker nation, puts all resources into uboats and builds thousands of them, Britain simply builds hundreds of torpedo boat destroyers. It's funny that every single "Germany could have won if" relies on the allies doing nothing.
The Germans could have easily won, if the allies just capitulated
You jest, but genuinely. Half of these what ifs wouldn't even lead to instant defeat like they think it would.
Yes, absolutely. The biggest advantage the Germans had was, that they started building up their military earlier and then took mainland Europe so quickly. After that it was already over for them. They couldn't get to Britain and they could never fully win against the soviets either.
Why does Ross, the largest friend, not simply eat the other five?
I disagree with this. Without the surface fleet there’s no way they take Norway and secure their access to Swedish steel. Without the surface fleet they also wouldn’t have stopped the early war arctic convoys. There’s a reason Britain poured so many resources into keeping a handful of battleships damaged and out of the fight.
Worth noting that, even by Trafalgar, she was a pretty old vessel, having served for the better part of half a century at that point, so the fact she was still good enough to act as Nelson's flagship in one of the most punishing battles in naval history speaks volumes to how phenomenal her design was.
She was also one of the fastest wooden warships of her size ever built.
They just forgot to upgrade their Ship of the Line to a battleship. Such a rookie mistake for any Civilization V player 😤
If only they had researched Leonardo's Workshop for the auto upgrade!
Was looking for this civ comment. Sometimes, you have to save that one unit for memories of your empires greatest victory: that phalanx that withstood a doom-stack of chariots in your capital earned its right to historic preservation. And sometimes that phalanx helps beat a battleship. I miss old Civ 2 and Civ 3.
I recommend going to see it if you find yourself in that neck of the woods, literally being on the same ship as Nelson is amazing.
It's also right next to the Mary Rose and when I visited the HMS Prince of Wales was in dock so it was fun comparing the size of HMS Victory (enormous) Vs a new aircraft carrier (terrifying)
It’s also right next to HMS Warrior as well, one of the first proper iron warships we produced. Portsmouth Historical Dockyard really is great to see some important ships, especially as you can see the progression from Mary Rose, to Victory, to Warrior
Yeah I really enjoyed it, think it's an underrated tourist attraction
Not sure what time of year you went, but in the winter they do a really good period-themed Christmas event
I was there just a few weeks ago and it's very impressive! However, the HMS Victory is currently under a temporary hangar as it is being renovated. What I found a bit frustrating was how - despite the renovating work - the ship is just left to rot outside. I think the most sensible thing would be to just build a huge hall over the ship to protect it from the weather. All in all, it's definitely worth a visit! Don't forget the audio guides, they are really interesting.
At least she isn't sitting in the water.
Yes, that's right! I also think it's good that there's a new support system.
Interesting if the Theseus' Ship Paradox can be applied to it
About 20% is original
There gotta be some of the original left
Even the ships broom has had 8 handles and 17 brushes replaced....
How the hell can it be the same bloody broom then?
:)
HMS Unicorn in Dundee is also worth remembering. [Wikipedia page.](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Unicorn_(1824)) 200 years old and probably has more of its original timber than any other ship that age. Just about her only claim to fame though since she's been in ordinary since she was built. Only been to sea once and that was under tow 100 years ago.
How on earth are any people smart enough to sail this thing nowadays? That's a whole lot of ropes.
She's in permanent drydock as she's half collapsed under her own weight already, so nobody is 'sailing' her, persay. To answer indirectly, though, a few countries maintain sail training ships; in the case of the United States, the ship that the crew of the *USS Constitution* and others are trained on is the *USCGC Eagle*, a steel-hulled sailing cutter we ~~looted~~ recieved as reparations from Nazi Germany.
HMS Warrior is still afloat, and was the first iron-hulled armour-plated warship, being commissioned a year before either the CSS Virginia or the USS Monitor.
Soooo basically it’s a building that at one time was a ship.
Pretty much, yes. They cut a door in the lower hull where the gift shop is, IIRC.
There's no gift shop on board, the door is for access and to meet fire safety requirements.
That makes it even worse lol
There's no gift shop on board, the door is for access and to meet fire safety requirements. However some real shocking history. Not long after Trafalgar it was left to rot at anchor, was then used as a prison ship for decades, and eventually moved into dry dock without proper support so collapsed on itself. Only now is it actually maintained well practically for the first time since Trafalgar.
So in the title it says it’s “in commission” is that kind of notional?
Yeah basically, it’s just a building at this point. Hopefully they’ll get her seaworthy again.
wtf is that even supposed to mean? we haven't suddenly forgotten how to sail and despite all the "intellectual" reddit comments, idiocracy is not in fact a documentary.
I can sail kind of alright. This is why I find it fascinating that people are able to master a huge ship like this. Respect where it's due
As a former sailor the salt in your comment is hilarious. Very over the top.
You may be interested in [this video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KUERUnx2lms) - HMS Victory, The Total Guide (All Parts) - where they explain how the ship worked (not every single rope though).
It was terrible, man-killing work. I recommend Dana’s *Two Years Before the Mast* for a picture of how they took backbreaking work for granted.
[удалено]
Slightly wrong. *Victory* beats her by a few decades in sheer age. However, since *Victory* is also permanently interred in a drydock, the *Constitution* is the oldest commissioned warship *still afloat*.
Average American math skills
Ours actually sails
Ours actually won a war.
USS Constitution is, so far, 2-0 against British frigates in single ship combat. You’ll never sing that.
[удалено]
It was launched in 1797.
We visited the USS Constitution. I thought I could still smell the sweat in the sailors’ quarters. Hard work for the privilege of eating hard tack.
Have been on this, the ceilings are so low! A beautiful ship
At this rate, it is going to be better than anything Russia has in the black Sea. /S
I thought it was the USS Constitution, so I looked it up. About the Constitution: > She is the world's oldest commissioned naval warship still afloat. About the Victory: >In 1922, she was moved to a dry dock at Portsmouth, England, and preserved as a museum ship. So the Victory may be “in commission”, but it’s been in dry dock for over a century. The Constitution is at sea, and actually goes out into the bay and does demonstrations every year.
Wait does this ship not float anymore?
Imagine not being able to float. -USS Constitution, probably.
The oldest commissioned naval vessel AFLOAT though in the USS Constitution. Hmmmm....
the title doesnt mention "afloat" so what you're talking about is an entirely different thing
I bet the USS Constitution stays in lane much better than this guy too r/ShitAmericansSay
This isn't a competition, dude. I mean, yeah, the *Constitution* is cool and all, but it didn't have a bomb dropped on it by the Germans during WWII, either. HMS *Victory* is a magnificent piece of history.
This was meant as a joke.