Undoubtedly the most famous and decisive battle in the history of naval warfare. The battle of Trafalgar was fought on a calm, almost windless day, on 21st October 1805. Nelsons revolutionary battle plan was to cut apart the larger Franco-Spanish fleet of Vice-Admiral Villeneuve by sailing in two single column divisions directly at right angles into the combined fleet and thus rendering almost half of the leading ships useless until they could turn and join the fight, which in such calm conditions could take hours. The battle raged for five hours in which time not one British ship was lost, however, Nelson would tragically lose his life at the very moment of his triumph, a triumph which rendered the British Navy unchallenged in supremacy for over a century. Here, Nelsons flagship, HMS Victory, followed by HMS Temeraire is seen breaking the Franco-Spanish line and commencing her murderous hail of gun fire into the stern of Villeneuves flagship, Bucentaure. Meanwhile the Victory herself is being fired upon by the French Neptune. Redoutable can be seen at the far right.