The coalition against France included Britain, Austria, Russia, Naples, Sicily, and Sweden. French power extended into the Netherlands and Italy, while Spain also stood on France's side. These alignments explain why Trafalgar involved a combined French and Spanish fleet within a wider European war. Swedish support would have been especially welcome to Nelson for its capable frigates, a type the Royal Navy never seemed to have in sufficient numbers.
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The Third Coalition's naval setting
Set the battle inside the Third Coalition and see why even Britain's large navy remained short of frigates.