Trafalgar and the name of Nelson stand high in naval history. Let
us draw a military comparison between Trafalgar and the battle of
Skagerrak. At Trafalgar there were on the British side 27 ships of the
line, (of which 8 had 80 guns, 16 had 74 guns, and 3 had 64 guns,) four
frigates, and two smaller vessels. On the side of the allied French and
Spanish fleet there were 33 ships of the line, (of which 10 had from
80 to 110 guns, 22 had 74 guns, and one had 64 guns,) three frigates,
and two smaller vessels. The French and Spanish fleet was not only
numerically stronger, but its ships were better built and better armed.
[Illustration: A GERMAN DIAGRAM OF THE BATTLE OF THE SKAGERRAK
(JUTLAND)]
In the battle of Skagerrak we had opposing each other: On the British
side, thirty-one dreadnoughts, inclusive of six battle cruisers, and
four armored cruisers; on the German side, twenty-one dreadnoughts,
inclusive of five battle cruisers, and six older cruisers. Roughly
speaking, we had twenty-seven big ships against thirty-five. Here also
the better quality, judged by size, up-to-dateness, and armament, was
on the side of the larger fleet. Apart from these big ships, there were
on each side about fifty smaller vessels.
The total tonnage of the British fleet at Trafalgar was equal to about
two modern dreadnoughts, as one of the ships of the line in Nelson's
time was of about 2,000 tons. In numbers of guns and of crew there were
more at Trafalgar, as at that time the ships were sailing vessels.
The British had between 17,000 and 20,000 men engaged, against 21,000
to 24,000. At Skagerrak we had from 35,000 to 40,000, as against 45,000
to 50,000 men. In this way we can compare the battle in its general
aspect with Trafalgar. But if we look into the matter more closely, the
French and Spanish fleet had within it an element of weakness arising
from the fact that it consisted of two allied forces, between which
there is never complete co-ordination. The French were further weakened
by effects of the Revolution and exhaustion from previous battles. The
French Admiral himself said: "Never before was the French fleet at such
a low standard. We had bad masts, bad sails, bad rigging, bad officers,
and bad seamen." Of the Spanish, Nelson said: "They have neither
seamen nor officers." At the head of the allied forces was a French
Admiral who had no confidence in the fleet and who was acting under
instructions issued by Napoleon, which he felt incapable of carrying
out. Opposed to him was the seasoned and well-schooled fleet of Nelson,
so that it was not a battle of equal opponents and the result was
annihilation. None of the French or Spanish ships was again seen at
sea; nineteen were captured or destroyed, ten were driven into harbor
and blockaded; four escaped, only to fall into the hands of the victors
a few days later.