Trafalgar 200

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The re-enactment of the announcement of the death of Nelson from the Union Hotel, Penzance.

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II with Admiral Sir Alan West on board HMS Endurance.

First Sea Lord, Admiral Sir Alan West.

Trafalgar 200 was a series of events in 2005 held mostly in the United Kingdom to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar, where a British fleet led by Admiral Nelson (who died in the battle) defeated a joint Franco-Spanish fleet during the Napoleonic Wars. During the summer of 2005 there was an International Fleet Review, the first since 1977. Dinners and other commemorations focussed on Trafalgar Day 21 October at HMS Victory, Trafalgar Square (T Square 200) and other locations. In an apparent effort to avoid giving offence, at the Fleet Review the fleets in the mock battle were called simply "Red" and "Blue". This originates from the military map convention in which enemy positions are marked in red, and friendly (or allied) positions in blue. The phrase "blue on blue" refers to an attack on ones' own forces in a "friendly fire" encounter.

[edit] International Fleet Review

The Trafalgar 200 celebrations were perhaps most remembered for the International Fleet Review, held in the Solent in the presence of Elizabeth II. Planning this event was an enormous task, and Admiral Sir Alan West, then First Sea Lord, is shown here with the official chart of anchorages for the International Fleet Review.