The Royal Navy did not rely on a single fleet waiting for a decisive encounter. Squadrons watched French, Spanish, and Dutch ships at ports from the North Sea and Brest to Rochefort, Ferrol, Cadiz, Cartagena, and Toulon. Frigates, sloops, and brigs carried news of a breakout while ships traveling to and from repair or resupply could reinforce the nearest concentration. Nelson therefore had time between the allied fleet's first movement on 20 October and contact on the 21st to gather information and position his force. The large wartime navy built under John Jervis and William Pitt turned blockade into an intelligence and force-generation network rather than a static cordon.
Notable Point · 28:45-33:56
Britain's dispersed blockade network
A tour of 1805 deployments shows how Britain watched French, Spanish, and Dutch forces across several ports and sea lanes.
BrestBrigsCadizCartagenaChannel FleetCharles CottonFerrolFleet ConcentrationFleet DeploymentFrigatesGeorge ElphinstoneHoratio NelsonJohn JervisJohn OrdeNaval BlockadeNaval CommunicationsNaval IntelligenceNorth SeaPrivateersRochefortRoyal NavySloops Of WarThomas GravesToulonWilliam CornwallisWilliam Pitt The Younger