Her Majesty's Dreadnought VICTORY  By the turn of the century
the traditional dominance of the Imperial Navy over the oceans
was in question, with the Prussian and Vulgarian Dreadnought
fleets closing the technological gap. The Victory was the
Admiralty's response.  At the time of her launch she was the
largest and most expensive vessel afloat, costing the then-vast
sum of one and a half million pounds. Armed with six long-range
guns designed to fire the new nitroglycerine shells, she was
capable of a devastating strike against both naval and shore
targets. For close-range defence she was also equipped with
carbines and anti-aircraft weapons.  She was also home to a
midget submarine and a squad of the famous Navy Seal-Divers.
These brave men, equipped with their distinctive diving
apparatus made from the skins of rare seal pups, were to become
world-famous for their exploits - in particular the daring
wartime raid on the Prussian submersible yards of Kiel.
Interested readers can see a rare colour photograph