Forever associated with Nelson's last battle, HMS Victory is one of the most famous ships of all time, and is now preserved as a major part of the Royal Naval Museum, Portsmouth. The ship's survival is particularly appropriate since Victory is not only an example of the ultimate sailing warship - the three-decker First Rate - but was also the most popular and successful 100-gun ship of the period. Forty years old even by the time of the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805, she had been the flagship of half a dozen famous admirals, and was to continue in active service until 1812.

This superb book includes a full description of the ship and her influence in the development of the First Rate ship of the line, a photographic pictorial reference section, and more than 300 perspective and three-view drawings with in-depth descriptive keys. General arrangements, hull construction, fittings, decoration, masts and yards, rigging and armament as presently restored are all covered in considerable detail.