Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 40:11-40:50

Sending HMS Victory back before the Spanish Armada

An unarmed Victory would still transform Elizabethan naval architecture if English shipwrights could study and equip her.

Age Of SailAlternate HistoryHMS VictoryNaval ArchitectureNaval GunnerySpanish Armada
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Question

What if HMS Victory arrived in England before the Spanish Armada with no guns or ammunition?

Short answer

England would learn enormously from her architecture and try to arm her, potentially gaining an unmatched flagship and design model.

Notes

An unarmed Victory would give English shipwrights a great deal to learn about naval architecture. They would try to fit her with guns. If successful, England would have the largest and most powerful warship in the world within this scenario. Operating her would be difficult, but seamen such as Drake are credited with the ability to work out a solution.