Oldest warship. The oldest operating ship of the Russian Navy. Remains of the world's oldest shipwreck discovered in the Black Sea

How many years do ships live? The exact answer to this question, most likely, cannot be found in textbooks on maritime affairs. Then you can try to find the oldest operating ship in the fleet.

The Black Sea Fleet of the Russian Federation, which is based in Sevastopol, is the oldest ship of the Russian Navy - rescue catamaran "Commune" , which has been in service for 99 years.

Rescue catamaran "Commune" is the oldest ship of the Russian Black Sea Fleet. November 12, 2012 will mark the 100th anniversary of the laying of the vessel.

Rescue catamaran "Commune" is the oldest ship of the Russian Black Sea Fleet. November 12, 2012 will mark the 100th anniversary of the laying of the vessel.

The project of the first specialized double-hull submarine rescue vessel in Russian history was developed back in 1911 by order of the Naval General Staff. The German catamaran-rescue "Volcano" was used as a prototype. The original name of the court was "Volkhov", and the name "Commune" was received in 1922.

"Commune" has a displacement of 3100 tons, its length - 81 m, width - 13.2 m, draft - 3.7 m. Full speed - 8.5 knots, and cruising range - 4000 miles. There is no armament. Specialist. equipment: ship lifting equipment - the left hull for 80 tons, the right hull - for 30 tons. Crew: 23 people. It should be noted that the ship's hull is made of Putilov steel and is, of course, not in perfect, but in good working condition. The ship is constantly undergoing ongoing repairs, because, of course, even by human standards, it is no longer even pre-retirement, but deeply retired.

Let's go up the ladder to the "Commune" to get to know the veteran better.

Let's go up the ladder to the "Commune" to get to know the veteran better.

A plaque with a brief history of the ship.

There is another sign in the wardroom. It was minted in the year of the launch of the ship - in 1915. It is interesting that (and this is noticeable on the plate) the coat of arms of the Putilov factory was changed much later.

"Commune" is a catamaran-type ship, a mobile platform with a descent module moves between its sides. It is driven by four cable drives located in pairs on the sides of the vessel in the front and rear parts.

View of the platform from the upper truss

View of the platform from the upper truss

Huge drums with cables allow you to immerse the descent vehicle to a depth of up to 1 kilometer

Huge drums with cables allow you to immerse the descent vehicle to a depth of up to 1 kilometer

Descent vehicle platform drive cables

Descent vehicle platform drive cables

The main object of the "Commune" is a working remote-controlled uninhabited underwater vehicle RTNPA. Allows you to work at depths up to 1 km (limited by the length of the cable). Designed for search and detection of underwater objects using sonar, lifting loads up to 150 kg, cutting cables, etc.

RTNPA is equipped with 4 video cameras and a pair of manipulators. Manipulators are interchangeable, designed for various purposes - capturing an object, installing a radio beacon, grabbing a cable, biting or cutting. The device is equipped with 10 engines, allowing for exceptional maneuverability of the device

A manipulator with a cutting disc that allows cutting metal and cables at depths up to 1 km

A manipulator with a cutting disc that allows cutting metal and cables at depths up to 1 km

All electronic systems are in yellow capsules. When diving, all the air is forcibly pumped out from there. This ensures complete sealing of the capsules by compressing with water pressure.

All electronic systems are in yellow capsules. When diving, all the air is forcibly pumped out from there. This ensures complete sealing of the capsules by compressing with water pressure.

The control bridge of the descent underwater vehicle. Machinery and equipment made in Norway

The control bridge of the descent underwater vehicle. Machinery and equipment made in Norway

Ship's bridge.

Ship's bridge.

The steering wheel and some elements have been preserved since the date of launching the ship - since 1915

The steering wheel and some elements have been preserved since the date of launching the ship - since 1915

The vessel "Commune" is based in the Streletskaya Bay of Sevastopol on the rented berths of the Naval Forces of Ukraine. Here the warships of Russia and Ukraine stand side by side

Searchlight on the upper deck

Searchlight on the upper deck

The highest felling is located at an altitude of more than 20 meters above sea level

The highest felling is located at an altitude of more than 20 meters above sea level

Spare screws

Spare screws

Anchor chain length indicators

Anchor chain length indicators

The chain goes out to sea...

The chain goes out to sea...

Engine room. Initially, two six-cylinder diesel engines of the Riga Felzer plant with a capacity of 600 hp were installed as the main engines on the Commune. (310 rpm). Subsequently, they were replaced by diesel engines with similar characteristics of the Kolomna plant.

Emergency sound signal system in case of an emergency

Emergency sound signal system in case of an emergency

There is also J…

galley plate

galley plate

The team is having lunch soon.

The team is having lunch soon.

Piano in the officer's wardroom. It was installed during the construction of the ship. Currently, it is not possible to take it out due to the difference in dimensions and doorways.

Piano in the officer's wardroom. It was installed during the construction of the ship. Currently, it is not possible to take it out due to the difference in dimensions and doorways.

Heading index

In some places on the "Commune" there are still pre-revolutionary signs

In some places on the "Commune" there are still pre-revolutionary signs

Voltmeters

Voltmeters

Storm ladder

Storm ladder

On the Day of the Russian Fleet, which will be celebrated on July 29, 2012, the ship will perform the task of the Neptune escort ship. In this regard, the team is painting lifeboats for the parade in honor of the holiday.

For the first time, the rescue ship was used for its intended purpose in the summer of 1917, when the submarine AG-15 sank with an open hatch in the Aland skerries during a training dive. Despite the fact that a strong storm interfered with the rescue work, on June 16 (29) at 00 hours 50 minutes the boat was raised by Volkhov's guinea. Within a month, the boat was repaired by the "rescuer" crew, and it was put back into operation. On September 24 (October 7), 1917, the Volkhov rescue ship from a depth of 13.5 meters successfully raised the submarine Unicorn, which had sunk during a navigational accident.

From May 15 to September 13, 1928, "Commune" performs work to raise the English submarine L-55 sunk on June 4, 1919 in the Koporskaya Bay of the Gulf of Finland. The boat was raised to the surface from a depth of 62 meters by a stepped method on July 21, 1928. And again, everyday work: lifting the sunken boat of the Marine Guard and the tugboat KP-7, ensuring the testing of new submarines and repairing the ships of the Baltic Fleet. "Commune" raised from the depths the Bolshevik, M-90 submarines, a torpedo boat and an aircraft that had crashed ...

With the beginning of the Great Patriotic War, the rescue ship Kommuna was based in Leningrad. Since March 1942, 32 Commune divers have been working on the Ladoga Road of Life. Part of the crew participated in landing operations on the Neva (and this is with 40% shortage). During this time, the sailors of the Commune raised four KV tanks, two tractors and 31 cars from the bottom. Kommunartsy prepared 159 light divers for the fleet, repaired six M-type submarines. the floating base of the OVR "TsO" Pravda ", docked two "pikes" and several "small hunters" ...

In 1944, "Commune" raised 14 sunken objects with a total displacement of 11,767 tons, provided assistance to 34 emergency ships and vessels. The entire crew of the ship was awarded medals "For the Defense of Leningrad". Only in 1954, the veteran ship was able to undergo a major overhaul, during which the main diesel engines were replaced with Dutch-made engines. At the end of November 1956, the catamaran again took up combat duty: the M-200 submarine rammed by the destroyer was raised from a depth of 45 meters. In October 1957, the M-256 submarine was raised from a depth of 73 meters, and in August 1959, a torpedo boat sunk at a depth of 22 meters. In total, during her service, the Commune provided assistance to more than a hundred ships and submarines.

In 1967, the veteran ship successfully made an inter-base transition from the Baltic to the Black Sea, safely arriving in Sevastopol, going around Europe. In Sevastopol, at the Sevmorzavod, the Kommuna was converted into a carrier vessel for deep-sea submersibles. The conversion project was completed by the end of 1969 in the Sevastopol Central Design Bureau "Chernomorets". By the end of work at the SMZ (April 27, 1973), the cost of re-equipment of the vessel amounted to about 11 million rubles

At the moment, the rescue vessel "Komunna" has undergone dock repairs, and, despite its age, is actively involved in various activities of the fleet's rescue service with access to the sea.

Our wicker was lucky. It is almost three-quarters covered with water - the cradle of all life. All the inhabitants of the Earth, one way or another, once left the primitive ocean or stayed there. But land people had to look for ways to move through an unfriendly element. So there were boats, ships and ships. The first attempts to create something capable of moving on water date back to cave times. Therefore, information about prehistoric ships has come down to us in the form of rock art. But later designs have been preserved in material form.

The oldest found ship is most often called the ship, which is now stored in the Kyrenia fortress-museum. Several halls are allotted for this exposition. They exhibit the skeleton of the ship itself, the utensils and goods found on it.

Archaeologists claim that the ship belongs to the legendary times of the reign of Alexander the Great, i.e. 300 BC. A small merchant ship was carrying amphorae of wine, almonds and other valuable goods when they were attacked by pirates. The ship was robbed, taking away everything more or less valuable and the ship's cash desk, and sunk.

The ship lay under water for more than two millennia, when in 1968 a diver accidentally stumbled upon it. Archaeologists, with all possible precautions, removed his skeleton from under the water and moved it to the museum to the delight of the audience.

The age of the ancient ship from Kyrenia is considered to be confirmed, which made it possible to put it in first place in our rating. But there are many older vessels that are still undergoing examination. For example, quite recently, archaeologists from the Turkish city of Ankara discovered a ship whose age dates back only approximately - about 4000 years.

So far, the historical relic still lies at the bottom of the sea, near the ancient port. It can take several years to rise, because you need to protect its parts from destruction, carefully disassemble and return to land. The work doesn't end there. Each plank must be cleaned of salt and impregnated with special solutions to stop decay. After proper processing, the ancient ship, of course, will not float, but it will stand in the museum for many years.

So uncomplicated is the name of one of the oldest courts. This is the oldest clipper that has survived to this day relatively unharmed. It was launched in 1864 and served faithfully for many years, transporting emigrants from England to Australia. It is believed that about 70% of the current population of Australia are the descendants of people who arrived on this particular ship. True, then it was called "City of Adelaide". But what does it change?

For a long time it served as a floating hospital, then it became a training ship. And recently it was decided to transfer it to Australia, for which this ship is a valuable relic. It was moved in tow to the coast of the Green Continent, where, after reconstruction and restoration, it will become a floating museum, a symbol of the most important era for the state.

This is just a unique exhibit - the most ancient sailing ship. It has survived to this day unchanged. And although in recent years the ship has been laid up forever, formally it is still part of the American combat fleet.

Films can be made about the adventures of this ship. It was launched into the water in 1797, participated in several wars, where it showed itself excellently. Its hull is made of extra strong Virginian oak, making cannonballs simply bounce off of it. For this, he received the nickname "Iron-sided old man."

The year 1830 almost became fatal for him. A ship of this age was already considered junk and was destined for scrapping, but fate intervened. A poem dedicated to the ship was published, which stirred up the public. People demanded to keep the ship for history.

Now Ironsides old man stands at the pier in Boston and receives up to half a million tourists annually. Not surprising, because it closes the famous tourist Freedom Trail. This ship is a real historical relic, but it needs constant care of people. Without it, the ship would die in less than a year, simply from rot.

The American Constitution is the oldest sailing ship that is formally in service. But in Russia there is a ship that actually belongs to the ranks of the navy, is on the move and performs its functions. This is the Commune submarine rescuer.

It was launched back in 1913. Then it was called Volkhov. The ship received its current name in 1922. The list of his merits includes many rescued submarines, participation in the Second World War. Later it was modernized, equipped with an underwater robot.

The Commune recently celebrated a unique anniversary - a century since the launch of the ship. Few vessels cross such a boundary, and only a few at this age are able to perform their functions. This ship is one of them. Moreover, this is the oldest ship not only in the Russian Navy, but also in the world.

How many years do ships live? The exact answer to this question, most likely, cannot be found in textbooks on maritime affairs.
Then you can try to find the oldest operating ship in the fleet.
The Black Sea Fleet of the Russian Federation, which is based in Sevastopol, is the oldest ship of the Russian Navy - the rescue catamaran ship "Commune", which has been in service for 99 years.

2. Rescue catamaran "Commune" is the oldest ship of the Black Sea Fleet of Russia. November 12, 2012 will mark the 100th anniversary of the laying of the ship. The project of the first specialized double-hull submarine rescue vessel in Russian history was developed back in 1911 by order of the Naval General Staff. The German catamaran-rescue "Volcano" was used as a prototype. The original name of the court was "Volkhov", and the name "Commune" was received in 1922.

3. "Commune" has a displacement of 3100 tons, its length - 81 m, width - 13.2 m, draft - 3.7 m.
Full speed - 8.5 knots, and cruising range - 4000 miles.
There is no armament. Specialist. equipment: ship lifting equipment - the left hull for 80 tons, the right hull - for 30 tons. Crew: 23 people.
It should be noted that the ship's hull is made of Putilov steel and is, of course, not in perfect, but in good working condition. The ship is constantly undergoing ongoing repairs, because, of course, even by human standards, it is no longer even pre-retirement, but deeply retired.

4. Let's go up the ladder to the "Commune" to get to know the veteran better.

5. A plate with a brief history of the ship..

6. There is another sign in the wardroom. It was minted in the year of the launch of the ship - in 1915.
It is interesting that (and this is noticeable on the plate) the coat of arms of the Putilov factory was changed much later.

7. "Commune" - a catamaran-type ship, a movable platform with a descent module moves between its sides.
It is driven by four cable drives located in pairs on the sides of the vessel in the front and rear parts.

8. View of the platform from the upper truss

9. Huge drums with cables allow you to immerse the descent vehicle to a depth of up to 1 kilometer

10. Ropes of drives of the platform of the descent underwater vehicle

11. The main object of the "Commune" is a working remote-controlled uninhabited underwater vehicle RTNPA. Allows you to work at depths up to 1 km (limited by the length of the cable). Designed for search and detection of underwater objects using sonar, lifting loads up to 150 kg, cutting cables, etc.

12. RTNPA is equipped with 4 video cameras, as well as a pair of manipulators. Manipulators are interchangeable, designed for various purposes - capturing an object, installing a radio beacon, grabbing a cable, biting or cutting.
The device is equipped with 10 engines, allowing for exceptional maneuverability of the device

13. A manipulator with a cutting disc that allows cutting metal and cables at depths up to 1 km

14. All electronic systems are in yellow capsules. When diving, all the air is forcibly pumped out from there. This ensures complete sealing of the capsules by compressing with water pressure.

15. The control bridge of the descent underwater vehicle. Machinery and equipment made in Norway

18. Navigation bridge of the ship.

19. The steering wheel and some elements have been preserved since the date the ship was launched into the water - since 1915

20.

21.

22. The vessel "Commune" is based in the Streletskaya Bay of Sevastopol on the rented berths of the Naval Forces of Ukraine.
Here the warships of Russia and Ukraine stand side by side

23. Searchlight on the upper bridge

24. The highest cutting is located at an altitude of more than 20 meters above sea level

25. Spare screws

26. Anchor chain length indicators

27. The chain goes to sea ...

28. Engine room. Initially, two six-cylinder diesel engines of the Riga Felzer plant with a capacity of 600 hp were installed as the main engines on the Commune. (310 rpm). Subsequently, they were replaced by diesel engines with similar characteristics of the Kolomna plant.

29. System of emergency sound signals in case of emergency

30.

31. There is also Zh ...

32. Plate galley

33. Soon the team has lunch

34. Piano in the officer's wardroom. It was installed during the construction of the ship. Currently, it is not possible to take it out due to the difference in dimensions and doorways.

35. Heading indicator

36. In some places on the "Commune" there are still pre-revolutionary tablets

37. Ammeters

38. Storm ladder

39. On the Day of the Russian Fleet, which will be celebrated on July 29, 2012, the ship will perform the task of the Neptune escort ship. In this regard, the team is painting lifeboats for the parade in honor of the holiday.

40. For the first time, the rescue ship was used for its intended purpose in the summer of 1917, when the submarine AG-15 sank with an open hatch in the Aland skerries during a training dive. Despite the fact that a strong storm interfered with the rescue work, on June 16 (29) at 00 hours 50 minutes the boat was raised by Volkhov. Within a month, the boat was repaired by the "rescuer" crew, and it was put back into operation. On September 24 (October 7), 1917, the Volkhov rescue ship from a depth of 13.5 meters successfully raised the submarine Unicorn, which had sunk during a navigational accident.

41. From May 15 to September 13, 1928, "Commune" performs work to raise the English submarine L-55 sunk on June 4, 1919 in the Koporskaya Bay of the Gulf of Finland. The boat was raised to the surface from a depth of 62 meters by a stepped method on July 21, 1928. And again, everyday work: lifting the sunken boat of the Marine Guard and the tugboat KP-7, ensuring the testing of new submarines and repairing the ships of the Baltic Fleet. "Commune" raised from the depths the Bolshevik, M-90 submarines, a torpedo boat and an aircraft that had crashed ...

42. With the beginning of the Great Patriotic War, the rescue ship "Commune" is based in Leningrad. Since March 1942, 32 Commune divers have been working on the Ladoga Road of Life. Part of the crew participated in landing operations on the Neva (and this is with 40% shortage). During this time, the sailors of the Commune raised four KV tanks, two tractors and 31 cars from the bottom. Kommunartsy prepared 159 light divers for the fleet, repaired six M-type submarines. the floating base of the OVR "TsO" Pravda ", docked two "pikes" and several "small hunters" ...

43. In 1944, the Commune raised 14 sunken objects with a total displacement of 11,767 tons, assisted 34 emergency ships and vessels. The entire crew of the ship was awarded medals "For the Defense of Leningrad".
Only in 1954, the veteran ship was able to undergo a major overhaul, during which the main diesel engines were replaced with Dutch-made engines. At the end of November 1956, the catamaran again took up combat duty: the M-200 submarine rammed by the destroyer was raised from a depth of 45 meters. In October 1957, the M-256 submarine was raised from a depth of 73 meters, and in August 1959, a torpedo boat sunk at a depth of 22 meters. In total, during her service, the Commune provided assistance to more than a hundred ships and submarines.

44. In 1967, the veteran ship successfully completed an inter-base transition from the Baltic to the Black Sea, safely arriving in Sevastopol, going around Europe. In Sevastopol, at the Sevmorzavod, the Kommuna was converted into a carrier vessel for deep-sea submersibles. The conversion project was completed by the end of 1969 in the Sevastopol Central Design Bureau "Chernomorets". By the end of work at the SMZ (April 27, 1973), the cost of re-equipment of the vessel amounted to about 11 million rubles

45. To date, the rescue ship "Komunna" has undergone dock repairs, and, despite its age, is actively involved in various activities of the fleet's rescue service with access to the sea.

2. Rescue catamaran "Commune" - the oldest ship of the Black Sea Fleet of Russia. November 12, 2012 will mark the 100th anniversary of the laying of the ship. The project of the first specialized double-hull submarine rescue vessel in Russian history was developed back in 1911 by order of the Naval General Staff. The German catamaran-rescue "Volcano" was used as a prototype. The original name of the court was "Volkhov", and the name "Commune" was received in 1922.

4. Climb up the ladder to the "Commune" to get to know the veteran better.

5. A plate with a brief history of the ship..

6. There is another sign in the wardroom. It was minted in the year of the launch of the vessel - in 1915.
It is interesting that (and this is noticeable on the plate) the coat of arms of the Putilov factory was changed much later.

7. "Kommuna" - a catamaran-type ship, a mobile platform with a descent module moves between its sides.
It is driven by four cable drives located in pairs on the sides of the vessel in the front and rear parts.

8. View of the platform from the upper truss

9. Huge drums with cables allow you to immerse the descent vehicle to a depth of up to 1 kilometer

10. Ropes of drives of the platform of the descent underwater vehicle

13. A manipulator with a cutting disc that allows cutting metal and cables at depths up to 1 km

14. All electronic systems are in yellow capsules. When diving, all the air is forcibly pumped out from there. This ensures complete sealing of the capsules by compressing with water pressure.

15. The control bridge of the descent underwater vehicle. Machinery and equipment made in Norway

18. Navigation bridge of the ship.

19. The steering wheel and some elements have been preserved since the date of launching the ship - since 1915

20.

21.

22. The vessel "Kommuna" is based in the Streletskaya Bay of Sevastopol on the rented berths of the Naval Forces of Ukraine.
Here the warships of Russia and Ukraine stand side by side

23. Searchlight on the upper bridge

24. The highest cutting is located at an altitude of more than 20 meters above sea level

25. Spare screws

26. Anchor chain length indicators

27. The chain goes to sea...

28. Engine room. Initially, two six-cylinder diesel engines of the Riga Felzer plant with a capacity of 600 hp each were installed as the main engines on the Commune. (310 rpm). Subsequently, they were replaced by diesel engines with similar characteristics of the Kolomna plant.

29. System of emergency sound signals in case of emergency

30.

31. There is also Zh...

32. Plate galley

33. Soon the team has lunch

34. Piano in the officer's wardroom. It was installed during the construction of the ship. Currently, it is not possible to take it out due to the difference in dimensions and doorways.

35. Heading indicator

36. In some places on the "Commune" there are still pre-revolutionary tablets

37. Ammeters

38. Storm ladder

40. For the first time, the rescue ship was used for its intended purpose in the summer of 1917, when the submarine AG-15 sank with an open hatch in the Aland skerries during a training dive. Despite the fact that the rescue work was hindered by a strong storm, on June 16 (29) at 00 hours 50 minutes the boat was raised by the Volkhov forces. Within a month, the boat was repaired by the "rescuer" crew, and it was put back into operation. On September 24 (October 7), 1917, the submarine "Unicorn" sunken during a navigational accident was successfully raised by the rescue ship "Volkhov" from a depth of 13.5 meters.

41. From May 15 to September 13, 1928, "Commune" performs work to raise the British submarine L-55 sunk on June 4, 1919 in the Koporskaya Bay of the Gulf of Finland. The boat was raised to the surface from a depth of 62 meters by a stepped method on July 21, 1928. And again, everyday work: lifting the sunken boat of the Marine Guard and the tugboat KP-7, ensuring the testing of new submarines and repairing the ships of the Baltic Fleet. "Commune" raised from the depths the submarines "Bolshevik", M-90, a torpedo boat and an aircraft that had crashed ...

42. With the beginning of the Great Patriotic War, the Kommuna rescue ship was based in Leningrad. Since March 1942, 32 Commune divers have been working on the Ladoga Road of Life. Part of the crew participated in landing operations on the Neva (and this is with 40% shortage). During this time, the sailors of the "Commune" raised four KV tanks, two tractors and 31 cars from the bottom. "Communards" prepared 159 light divers for the fleet, repaired six submarines of the M type. the floating base of the OVR "TsO" Pravda ", docked two "pikes" and several "small hunters" ...

43. In 1944, "Commune" raised 14 sunken objects with a total displacement of 11,767 tons, provided assistance to 34 emergency ships and vessels. The entire crew of the ship was awarded medals "For the Defense of Leningrad".
Only in 1954, the veteran ship was able to undergo a major overhaul, during which the main diesel engines were replaced with Dutch-made engines. At the end of November 1956, the catamaran again took up combat duty: the M-200 submarine rammed by the destroyer was raised from a depth of 45 meters. In October 1957, the M-256 submarine was raised from a depth of 73 meters, and in August 1959, a torpedo boat sunk at a depth of 22 meters. In total, the Commune provided assistance to more than a hundred ships and submarines during its service.

44. In 1967, the veteran ship successfully completed an inter-base transition from the Baltic to the Black Sea, safely arriving in Sevastopol, going around Europe. In Sevastopol, at the Sevmorzavod, the Kommuna was converted into a carrier ship for deep-sea submersibles. The conversion project was completed by the end of 1969 in the Sevastopol Central Design Bureau "Chernomorets". By the end of work at the SMZ (April 27, 1973), the cost of re-equipment of the vessel amounted to about 11 million rubles

45. To date, the rescue ship "Comunna" has undergone dock repairs, and, despite its age, is actively involved in various activities of the fleet's rescue service with access to the sea.

This report was prepared with the assistance of the command of the Black Sea Fleet of the Russian Federation

The British plan was deliberately simple. They divided the fleet into two squadrons. One was commanded by Admiral Horatio Nelson, who intended to break the enemy's chain and destroy the ships in the forefront and in the center, and the second squadron, under the command of Rear Admiral Cuthbert Collingwood, was to attack the enemy from the rear.

At 06:00 on October 21, 1805, the British fleet lined up in two lines. The flagship of the first line of 15 ships was the battleship Royal Sovereign, carrying Rear Admiral Collingwood. The second line under the command of Admiral Nelson consisted of 12 ships, and the battleship HMS Victory was the flagship. The wooden decks were sprinkled with sand, which protected from fire and soaked up blood. Having removed everything superfluous that could interfere, the sailors prepared for battle.

At 08:00, Admiral Villeneuve gave the order to change course and return to Cadiz. Such a maneuver before the start of a naval battle upset the battle order. The French-Spanish fleet, which is a crescent-shaped formation, curved to the right towards the mainland, began to turn around chaotically. Dangerous distance gaps appeared in the formation of ships, and some ships, in order not to collide with a neighbor, were forced to “fall out” of action. Admiral Nelson, meanwhile, was approaching. He intended to break the line before the French sailboats approached Cadiz. And he succeeded. A great naval battle began. Cannonballs flew, masts began to break and fall, people died, the wounded screamed. It was complete hell.

In a number of battles in which the British won, the French took up a defensive position. They sought to limit damage and increase the chances of retreat. This position of the French resulted in flawed military tactics. For example, gun crews were ordered to aim at masts and rigging to make it impossible for the enemy to pursue French ships if they retreated. The British always aimed at the hull of the ship in order to kill or maim the enemy crew. In the tactics of naval combat, longitudinal shelling of enemy ships was considered the most effective, while shelling was carried out in the stern. In this case, with an accurate hit, the cores swept from stern to bow, causing incredible damage to the vessel along its entire length. During the Battle of Trafalgar, the French flagship Bucentaure suffered from such shelling, which lowered the flag, and Villeneuve surrendered. During the battle, it was not always possible to perform the complex maneuver necessary for the longitudinal attack of the ship. Sometimes the ships became sides of each other and opened fire from a short distance. If the ship's crew, which survived the terrible shelling, survived, then hand-to-hand combat awaited them. Opponents often sought to capture each other's ships.