The Royal Navy tailored its force to Copenhagen's shallow approaches instead of sending every available ship into the same water. Nelson took the shallower-draught 74-gun ships, while Parker retained the heavier vessels outside. Nelson transferred his flag to HMS Elephant, whose name provides a joke about the supposedly shallow-draught element. Ship draught shaped the fleet's operational organization before the fighting began.
Notable Point · 15:26-16:43
Selecting shallow-draught ships for Copenhagen
Parker and Nelson divided the fleet by draught, sending suitable 74-gun ships into restricted water while heavier vessels remained outside.