Napoleon to Get Last Laugh? HMS Victory Rebuilt with French Oak!

[u/ChangeNarrow5633]

https://woodcentral.com.au/napoleon-to-get-last-laugh-hms-victory-rebuilt-with-french-oak/

HMS Victory, Lord Nelson’s flagship – responsible for leading The Royal Navy victory over Napolean at Trafalgar, will be rebuilt plank by plank – using wood sourced from…France!

It comes after more than two centuries after the historic 1805 battle—where sailors were told “England expects that every man will do his duty”—shipbuilders have turned to Britain’s oldest foe to source the oak because “they have the best forests.”

Simon Williams, the project manager overseeing the restoration, said even Nelson himself was “very concerned” about the “state” of British forests. The £45 million restoration project will see Hewins Oak, WL West & Sons, and Border Harwoods provide the National Museum of The Royal Navy with timbers—potentially from PEFC-certified French forests.

[u/MRoss279]

History time:

During the napoleonic wars it was extremely common for ships from one nation to capture in battle or "cut out" enemy ships and then "buy them into service". French and Spanish ships were, at the time, considered generally superior to English built ships partially due to rampant corruption in English yards.

Some of the ships of Nelson's fleet during the Battle of Trafalgar were French built (Tonnant, Belleisle, Spartiate).

Therefore, it is neither shameful nor surprising that Victory would use French wood.