Wikipedia:Peer review/Battle of Trafalgar/archive1

Battle of Trafalgar
This needs to be a featured article on October 21 the 200th anniversary of the battle. To that end, it's here for peer review. Dunc|&#9786; 19:11, 9 Jun 2005 (UTC)


 * It needs a references section to become a FA. You might also want to add a map, either of the location of the battle, or of the lines of battle before the engagement. The description of the battle itself is a little lacking. From reading Decision at Trafalgar, I seem to remember there being something about the front ships of the Spanish-French fleet (which had been far from Nelson's point of attack), turning to regroup and launch an unsuccessful counterattack toward the end of the battle. Sayeth 20:00, Jun 9, 2005 (UTC)


 * Great stuff. I've added a link to Nelson's Pillar.   A couple of points:  using the classic skin, I see a square wodge of four images to the left of the infobox before I get to the lead paragraph. Second, there is sharp transition from the section on strategic background to the digression on 18th century naval tactics, and then back again to Nelson's battle plan.  The reader needs the tactical background to understand the battle, but I can't help thinking there must be a more elegant way of integrating it - perhaps by describing Nelson's plan and then explaining why it was against the prevailing methods? -- ALoan (Talk) 20:21, 9 Jun 2005 (UTC)


 * It looks good overall. Although it is mentioned somewhat, I think I'd like to see a little more of an explanation of why Nelson's plan was unorthodox. Crossing the tee was a standard naval tactic for the time, and his plan seemed to run smack into that logic. I believe his lead ships did get heavily pummeled as a result, including Nelson's flagship (which is likely also why he died during the battle). Also I've seen old maps showing the ship locations as Nelson's fleet approached the French. It'd be helpful if there were something like that here. Thanks. &mdash; RJH 17:36, 10 Jun 2005 (UTC)
 * Also as a note, the Gutenberg book 10694 has a chapter (IX) on the centenary of Trafalgar, and some critiques of the battle. (Although it's undoubtedly outdated by now. Still it's interesting to see what was thought about the battle a century ago.) See also chapter XI of the same. &mdash; RJH 17:43, 10 Jun 2005 (UTC)


 * Expand. Background sections are good, but Nelson's Battle Plan, Battle and Consequences are way too short. I'd like to see them tripled in size (more or less). Format references according to Cite sources. --Piotr Konieczny aka Prokonsul Piotrus Talk 10:43, 11 Jun 2005 (UTC)

Agree with all above, esp. a geograpical location map Plus tactical map definitely needed. These two paragraphs mixes Napoleon with the actual governing entity in 1803. He was still only a medium size frog in the French pond at that point:
 * When the Napoleonic war broke out in 1803, after the short lived Peace of Amiens, Napoleon Bonaparte was determined to invade Britain. To do this he had to ensure that the Royal Navy would be unable to disrupt the invasion flotilla while the invasion was in progress. This would require the French fleet to control the English Channel.

Your next para jumps two years: I'll send you a ref source, and peruse on hardcopy for other input, but good job start based on a quick skim! Fabartus 06:06, 13 Jun 2005 (UTC)
 * At that time, there were major French fleets in Brest in Brittany and Toulon on the Mediterranean coast. Other ports on the French Atlantic coast had smaller but not insignificant squadrons. In addition, France and Spain were now allied so the Spanish fleet based in Cádiz was also available.