HMS Victory Engages
For 40 minutes, Victory was under fire from the enemy ships of the line Héros, Santísima Trinidad, Redoutable, and Neptune. She cut the enemy line between Villeneuve's flagship Bucentaure and Redoutable; cutting a devastating broadside against the flagship, before engaging the 74-gun Redoubtable directly. The melee resulted in the two vessels locking masts. Nelson was shot by a French marksman from the Redoutable at the height of the battle and was carried below decks.
As the crew of the Redoubtable prepared to board HMS Victory, the 2nd ship of the British windward column, HMS Temeraire, emerged from the smoke and poured devastating carronade fire into the starboard side of Redoubtable. Its Captain, with less than twenty per cent of his crew fighting-fit remaining, surrendered.
 
More and more British ships entered the battle, gradually overwhelming the remaining allied ships. Nelson did not die until 16.30, well after British victory was already assured. Out of a crew of 821, Victory suffered 57 men killed and 102 wounded; a significant number for a battle of this type.
 
Though he himself perished, Nelson's fleet captured or destroyed 22 enemy ships, for no losses. Some of the captured vessels were destroyed, however, in the aftermath of the battle.
Nelson's body was borne home aboard his flagship. After lying in state at Greenwich, he was buried in St. Paul's Cathedral on 9 January 1806.
 
After Trafalgar
HMS Victory herself suffered in the battle, and at forty years of service was refitted as a second rate in 1807. She did not see further combat. After further service in the Baltic and off the coast of Spain, Victory was put into reserve in 1812 in Portsmouth. The ship had struck the public's chord, and any threat of decommissioning the ship resulted in public outcry. To this end, HMS Victory remains a commissioned vessel of the Royal Navy to this day.
 
In the Game
H.M.S Victory is a potent force on the tabletop. Aside from a formidable array of weaponry and fantastic resilience, her inspiring presence confers a bonus to all nearby friendly ships when they are required to take a skill test. If Nelson is present, this bonus is augmented yet further!