Nuestra Señora de la Santísima Trinidad 45 points 12th Annual Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge (3)

Some ships are truly legendary and the Nuestra Señora de la Santísima Trinidad usually called just the "Santisima Trinidad."

Originally built as a 112 gun 3 deck ship of the line (First rate in English reckoning) in 1769. At some (possibly 1795) point she was increased to 130 or 136 or 140 guns. The best information I can find on her armament is 3decks.org which says she had 136 guns and 4 swivel guns which no one would count as part of her rating.

Her 4th Deck was actually just her spar-deck blanked over so it was flush allowing her to carry extra guns. This gave her a few extra guns but also made her top-heavy and ponderous indeed one of her nicknames was: "El Ponderoso" (another nick name was El Escorial de los mares royal palace of the sea... not a name that say "Battle Ready")

She fought in the American helping capture 55 ships out of a 63 ship convoy defended by the Royal Navy.

She faced the Royal Navy again in the Battle of Saint Vincent where she was forced strike but the English fail to take possession of her and two Spanish ships managed to rescue her. She was not so lucky at Trafalgar where just ahead of the French Flagship she was a high priority target. She was again dismasted and this time captured and then sank in the Trafalgar storm. Her reputation as one of the "most powerful warships" is probably over blown.

The French Ocean class was larger and with "only 120 guns" had a broad side only slightly lighter than the Santisima Trinidad. Her lack of Carronades meant that smaller British Ships of Line where much closer in strength than a simple count of guns would indicate. Still her massive size must must have made her an intimidating sight. 1st Rate ships of the line are 25 Points (or where last year) and the "no moon" add an extra 20 points.

Great work on this gin palace Adam. The Spanish navy had some fine ships and also some fine officers, but were sadly let down by their ministers and their choice of allies. However if you do things early in the Revolutionary period you can ally the Brits and Spanish as they blockade Toulon.