HMS Vanguard

----- A beautiful ship - a classic "74", one of the best ships Nelson ever commanded, seems he preferred AGAMEMNON, a "64", whose sailing qualities Nelson felt well suited to ... Used to have Avalon Hill's Wooden Ships & Iron Men board game -- I RE-FOUGHT the Battle of the Nile a few years back, used Nelson's own tactics just as HE had done, even added frigates to even things up... The FRENCH WON... Instead of the French L'ORIENT of 120 guns exploding, it was HMS CULLODEN that blew up... I used the French at anchor with springs to swing/pivot their ships - that made all the difference... Ships at anchor make devastating gun platforms... Below's a model of HMS VANGUARD I'd pulled off the internet awhile back... Like I said, she's one BEAUTIFUL ship... Quite odd in this painting that 'spritsail' in position on her jib boom crossing yard... Waxing a bit late for those by 1799... That big ship ahead of her shows studsails set outside tops and topgallants... They're sure in one big hurry, wherever they're bound for...