| Probably the biggest peacetime naval event the | | | | USS Saipan and France's Charles de Gaulle aircraft |
| world will see throughout the whole of the 21st | | | | carriers to romantic tall ships under sail, tugs and |
| Century took place on Tuesday, June 28, 2005 in the | | | | Cunard's famous QE2 luxury liner, as well as a huge |
| Solent off Portsmouth, UK. A unique range of sea | | | | contingent of all types of warship from the Royal |
| vessels filled the waters of the eastern Solent and | | | | Navy. Merchant ships, racing and cruising yachts, |
| aircraft and helicopters took part in thrilling fly-pasts. | | | | fishing boats and family and work boats were also |
| The Royal Navy had invited 35 foreign navies and 24 | | | | there - a dramatic reminder of the importance of the |
| maritime organisations from around the world to send | | | | sea in Britain's national life. |
| a total of 105 warships and naval support ships plus | | | | The ships queued almost into Southampton as they |
| 51 non-naval vessels to take part in friendship in the | | | | were reviewed by Her Majesty The Queen, Elizabeth |
| International Fleet Review to celebrate Trafalgar 200 | | | | II, on waters that had seen the massive naval |
| ( T200 ) - 200 years since 1805, when at the Battle | | | | reviews of Victorian and Edwardian times - when |
| of Trafalgar Admiral Lord Horatio Nelson's fleet finally | | | | Britain's navy really did rule the waves and was |
| destroyed Napoleon's ability to invade Britain with his | | | | always kept bigger than the combined might of the |
| then invincible armies by sea. Nelson, in his famous | | | | world's next two biggest navies - all the way back to |
| flagship HMS Victory, died a hero at Trafalgar. | | | | King Henry VIII inspecting his warships in the early |
| International Fleet Review ranged from the massive | | | | 16th Century as he built the Royal Navy. |