Bill Bones
Landlubber
Well, somebody mentioned it so here it comes.
The Santisima Trinidad was the largest ship of its era. After several reforms, it ended up with 4 gun decks and carrying 140 guns. The Santisima Trinidad was built in Havana in 1769 and originally it carried 120 guns. Anyway her performance left much to desire and was completely rebuilt, and the chance was taken to join the quarterdeck to the forecastle and turn them into a fourth battery. That rised the guns to 144, although they eventually where reduced to 130 and then raised again to 136. Anyway, after being rebuilt, her performances were as bad as before and all efforts made to trim the masts and rigging only improved them slightly. That earned her the Spanish nickname of "El Poderoso", which could translate as "The mighty One" yet also as the "The Fatty One" (in 18th centruy Spanish).
In its final configuration, it carried 30 x 36 pdr, 32 x 26 pdr, 32 x 18 pdr and 42 x 8 pdr, totalling 136 pieces. It was the most armed lineship of its time and also is the only four-decker ever built.
As many other Spanish ships of its era, she met her end in Trafalgar. Early in the battle she opened fire on the Victory, and some sources claim it was the Santisima Trinidad who took down the Victory's foremast. Anywa,y the British had msitaknt he SantÃsima for the Spanish flagship, and thus she was severely battered by three and eventually four British ships. She eventually gave up after suffering terrible losses; to the point that the ship was surrendered by a wounded lieutenant who almost couldn't stand on his feet from his bleeding, as all other officers had been dead or seriously wounded. After the battle, the Santisima Trinidad was in such poor shape that British did their best effort to rescue as many woudned as they could, while the ship was being towed. Anyway the storm following to the battle was too much for the wounded behemoth and the Santisima began intaking water badly, with her frame broken. The Santisima went to the bottom with at least 200 wounded still aboard, which couldn't be rescued despite the desperate efforts undertaken by Spanish and British sailors.
There are no original papers related to the Santisima Trinidad and only some extrapolations can be done from the plans for a 112 gun ship of the line. The amateur artist Giacomo Berlingero made a painting of the Santisima Trinidad, which is reproduced in the link below. Berlingero is somehow known for not being too skilled in proportion and also for painting the ships in colorful if fictionary schemes. Historians are almost certain that the poop in the painting does not reflect reality.
Anyway, here it is:
<a href="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/172/380379059_5abb815ce2_b.jpg" target="_blank">Santisima Trinidad as painted by Berlingero</a>.
And here is a 1970s drawing reflecting the best consensus reached on how would it look (the paint scheme is artist's choice as it is uncertain):
<a href="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/124/380379060_f93c169fa7_o.jpg" target="_blank">Santisima Trinidad in a modern interpretation</a>
Additionally, there is a full-size replica of the Santisima Trinidad (housing a restaurant, a cafeteria and a little exposition of historical weaposn and tools), harbored at the Malaga harbor, Spain. This replica is painted in black with the gunport rows in unpainted wood. Traditionally, Spanish ships were painted soberly.
PS: fixed the link to Berlingero's painting.
The Santisima Trinidad was the largest ship of its era. After several reforms, it ended up with 4 gun decks and carrying 140 guns. The Santisima Trinidad was built in Havana in 1769 and originally it carried 120 guns. Anyway her performance left much to desire and was completely rebuilt, and the chance was taken to join the quarterdeck to the forecastle and turn them into a fourth battery. That rised the guns to 144, although they eventually where reduced to 130 and then raised again to 136. Anyway, after being rebuilt, her performances were as bad as before and all efforts made to trim the masts and rigging only improved them slightly. That earned her the Spanish nickname of "El Poderoso", which could translate as "The mighty One" yet also as the "The Fatty One" (in 18th centruy Spanish).
In its final configuration, it carried 30 x 36 pdr, 32 x 26 pdr, 32 x 18 pdr and 42 x 8 pdr, totalling 136 pieces. It was the most armed lineship of its time and also is the only four-decker ever built.
As many other Spanish ships of its era, she met her end in Trafalgar. Early in the battle she opened fire on the Victory, and some sources claim it was the Santisima Trinidad who took down the Victory's foremast. Anywa,y the British had msitaknt he SantÃsima for the Spanish flagship, and thus she was severely battered by three and eventually four British ships. She eventually gave up after suffering terrible losses; to the point that the ship was surrendered by a wounded lieutenant who almost couldn't stand on his feet from his bleeding, as all other officers had been dead or seriously wounded. After the battle, the Santisima Trinidad was in such poor shape that British did their best effort to rescue as many woudned as they could, while the ship was being towed. Anyway the storm following to the battle was too much for the wounded behemoth and the Santisima began intaking water badly, with her frame broken. The Santisima went to the bottom with at least 200 wounded still aboard, which couldn't be rescued despite the desperate efforts undertaken by Spanish and British sailors.
There are no original papers related to the Santisima Trinidad and only some extrapolations can be done from the plans for a 112 gun ship of the line. The amateur artist Giacomo Berlingero made a painting of the Santisima Trinidad, which is reproduced in the link below. Berlingero is somehow known for not being too skilled in proportion and also for painting the ships in colorful if fictionary schemes. Historians are almost certain that the poop in the painting does not reflect reality.
Anyway, here it is:
<a href="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/172/380379059_5abb815ce2_b.jpg" target="_blank">Santisima Trinidad as painted by Berlingero</a>.
And here is a 1970s drawing reflecting the best consensus reached on how would it look (the paint scheme is artist's choice as it is uncertain):
<a href="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/124/380379060_f93c169fa7_o.jpg" target="_blank">Santisima Trinidad in a modern interpretation</a>
Additionally, there is a full-size replica of the Santisima Trinidad (housing a restaurant, a cafeteria and a little exposition of historical weaposn and tools), harbored at the Malaga harbor, Spain. This replica is painted in black with the gunport rows in unpainted wood. Traditionally, Spanish ships were painted soberly.
PS: fixed the link to Berlingero's painting.
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