History of the Division

His Majesty’s Ship Warspite was launched on 16 November 1807 at Chatham Royal Dockyard. She was designed by Sir John Henslow as one of the large class 74s and was the second, and last, a vessel of a class of two the other being namely her sister ship HMS Colossus. She was armed with 24 pounders on her upper gun deck instead of the standard 18 pounders found on other 74 gunships of the line.

During the Napoleonic Wars
HMS Warspite spent three years between 1807 and 1810, supporting the Peninsular War. She played a significant role during the blockade of Toulon, after this, she joined the Channel Fleet in 1810. In 1813 Warspite took two lucrative prices, including the US Schooner Philadelphia. After this she was sent to West Indies, she participated in several missions in Saint Lawrence River, in British Canada, under the command of Captain Lord James O’Brien.

After the Napoleonic Wars
HMS Warspite would go on to have a lucrative career after the Napoleonic Wars, until her accidental destruction in a suspected arson in 1879, while on loan.

Her Majesty’s Ship Orion was launched on 1 June 1787 at Deptford Dockyard, as the 3rd ship of the Canada Class. HMS Orion was a 74 third rate ship of the Line.

French Revolutionary Wars and the Napoleonic Wars
In 1794 she would fight at the Glorious First of June under Captain John Thomas Duckworth, Orion would take part in the Battle of Groix under the command of Captain James Saumarez.
In 1797 she would join the Mediterranean Fleet, distinguishing herself at the Battle of Cape St. Vincent, she then joined the blockade of Cadiz until April 1798. She participated in the Battle of the Nile where Captain Saumarez was wounded.

In October 1805, under the Command of Edward Codrington, she took part in the battle of Trafalgar, where with HMS Ajax she forced the surrender of the French 74-gun Intrépide. After Trafalgar, Orion continued to blockade Cadiz. On 25 November, she shared in the prize money with ten other warships after the detaining of Ragusan ship Nemesis, which was sailing from Isle de France to Leghorn Italy, carrying a cargo of spice, indigo dye and other goods.