Victory served as a hospital ship in 1798 and narrowly avoided conversion into a prison hulk, which the Navy Board warned would be irreversible. After the 98-gun HMS Impregnable was wrecked, the fleet needed another three-decker and chose to restore Victory. Work expected to cost about £24,000 exceeded £71,000 as the yard discovered far more extensive needs. The refit added gunports, copper-lined the magazine against sparks and rodents, enclosed stern galleries, improved weatherproofing, moved chain wales clear of gun handling, lightened the fighting tops, and returned the ship to service in 1803.
Notable Point · 2:56:31-3:03:21
Victory's 1800 refit restores a hospital ship to battle
The loss of HMS Impregnable pushed the Navy to return Victory from hospital service through a much larger and costlier refit than expected.