I ve worked on this aircraft and am so glad they kept her. The Sea king's were one of the finest machines the Navy had in that they worked all weathers and were solid workers.
Being 6ft tall walking through the decks when I visited in 2018 my head did take a few bangs. The headroom below decks is so low. I was also told at the time the reason for there being only the lower portions of the masts on the ship was due to the condition of the keel. The weight of the masts would have sent them through the bottom . The new ones when fitted will be made from carbon fibre. I look forward to paying a second visit when all restoration is complete.
Hi there, Due to the ongoing conservation work, and with Victory’s current project underway, we are unable to give an exact percentage. For example, since 1765 the ship went through five major repairs; she had been almost completely rebuilt by the time of the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. For updates on Victory’s project, please take a look at our website linked here: www.nmrn.org.uk/hms-victory-live-big-repair/. ^NH
I traveled all the way from Australia in 2017 to visit England and this was one thing I had to do as an ex English man and that was See victory We went and did the whole Portsmouth tour and I walked the decks of that incredible ship This please me no end to see the work in restoring her properly and I would my ultimate wish to travel there once again to see the ship in all glory and with masts and rigging ❤❤❤
I had the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity - living on from the other side of the world as I do - to see HMS Victory last (northern) summer. But (of course) it was closed for repairs, so I could not. But I soon set aside my disappointment because it is wonderful to understand that this magnificent old ship is being properly looked after. In a hundred years, I'll be long gone but other visitors from the Antipodes will be able to see it. Great work people!
They probably will, I have a copper ingot cast from the copper hull sheets that were removed decades ago as they trapped water behind them and contributed to timber rot in drydock.
Hi there, Due to the ongoing conservation work, and with Victory’s current project underway, we are unable to give an exact percentage. For example, since 1765 the ship went through five major repairs; she had been almost completely rebuilt by the time of the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. For updates on Victory’s project, please take a look at our website linked here: www.nmrn.org.uk/hms-victory-live-big-repair/. ^NH
I served for 22 years and knew many of the guides personally, and I think I got a different answer to that question every time I asked it. It's generally thought that any original timbers will be pretty much out of sight and out of reach to visitors, although the museum obviously has specific pieces thought to be original. I was always told the lower masts are steel and hollow, and bedded into the dock bottom - not the keel. When fully rigged, it should also be noted that the masts are supported from turnbuckles on the dockside some way away from Victory. One interesting piece of history is that the ship - and the dock - were damaged by bombing in WW2, and I believe that damage is still visible. Other trivia which obsessed me was: who shot Nelson? This isn't known, and as far as I know nobody ever claimed to. But the avenger of Nelson's death is credited to Midshipman John Pollard, who shot the only riflemen left in Redoutable's mizzen-top. A popular pub quiz trick question is: Over which eye did Nelson wear a patch? The answer (technically) is, he never lost an eye nor wore a patch. His right eye was injured by stone fragments from a near miss in Corsica, and it is generally supposed he had to play on its loss of sight to qualify for a pension, because it wasn't subsequently removed. He did however wear a green shade over his other eye to shield it from glare.
I'm just curious, if the timbers are going to deteriorate every 50 years or so no matter what, what's the advantage of keeping Victory in a drydock permanently instead of back in the water?
Yes, on the starboard side, a high percentage of the frames (futtocks) have deteriorated and are currently being replaced before the hull planking is manufactured and installed.
As a Cold War veteran and lifelong engineer may I commend all those who restored this wonderful old lady to her younger self. And may the fallen forever walk in glory and all those who fought and came home - Our thanks and gratitude.
My Grandfather was Lieutenant Commander of landing craft 159 in the Dunkirk Landings. At the end of the war, the ship was on Loch Ewe in Scotland. My mum was christened by the Naval Chaplain using the ship's upturned bell, a Royal Naval tradition for officer's families.
I have a piece of rusted metal on my desk from Holland 1. When I was a kid, my grandmother took me there very often when it was outside and I picked a piece up off the floor as a souvenir - sorry! Is so good to see how well preserved she is now. Same as Alliance - She was in a heck of a state before the restoration. I've only been to your museum once since the various restorations with limited time so plan to make a day of it sometime this summer.
When I was 17 I built a model by Revell of Hms Hood. Till this day I think she is beautiful and radiates dignity. So unmeasurably sad she died as she did. May all the souls aboard be with God and His Angels.
The same Warship vessel that took part the Battle of Trafalgar 1805 against the French Empire of Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte and the Spanish. Truly a National Treasure and a symbol UK Rule Britannia ! Britannia rule the waves !
