The pride of the British Navy, Trafalgar Day marked a decisive victory over the combined French and Spanish fleets, with a lifetime spent battling at sea!

Speaking of legendary British naval leaders, Nelson’s fame is widely known, but his deputy Cuthbert Collingwood was equally a prominent figure who made significant contributions throughout history.

At the age of 12, Collingwood embarked on his naval journey by joining the Royal Navy alongside his uncle. In 1774, he was transferred to the North American naval station, and the next year, the American War of Independence erupted, with the Battle of Bunker Hill marking his first battle. In this fight, the young Collingwood showed his potential, earning a promotion to naval lieutenant due to his outstanding performance, laying a solid foundation for his military career.

In 1792, when the French Revolutionary Wars began, Collingwood served as flagship captain, leading forces in the Battle of the Glorious First of June under Admiral Richard Howe’s command. After defeating the French fleet, between 1797 and 1798, he operated in the Mediterranean as captain of the HMS Excellent. During this period, he took part in the blockade of Cádiz and fought alongside his friend Nelson at the Battle of Cape St. Vincent, making significant contributions against the Spanish Navy.

In 1805, the Battle of Trafalgar commenced. The British fleet divided into two squadrons, with Nelson commanding one aboard the HMS Victory, while Collingwood led the other aboard the HMS Royal Sovereign. The Royal Sovereign, being faster, was the first to engage the enemy. It swiftly and accurately fired upon the Spanish flagship, the HMS Santa Ana, severely damaging it before any other British ship opened fire. However, the Royal Sovereign was soon surrounded and heavily damaged by multiple enemy ships, with timely support from other British squadrons preventing a crisis.

During this battle, Nelson was tragically killed, and Collingwood was urgently appointed to succeed him as commander of the Mediterranean fleet, transferring his flag to the frigate HMS Euryalus. Nelson had planned for the fleet to anchor after the battle to prepare for an impending storm, but Collingwood, considering the severe damage to many British ships and prizes that made anchoring impossible, chose not to issue this order and instead focused on towing the damaged vessels. Although many prizes were wrecked or destroyed along the rocky coast to prevent recapture, fortunately, no British ships were lost.

After the battle, Collingwood was honored with a barony for his outstanding service. From Trafalgar until his death, although there were no major naval battles, several small French squadrons attempted to break the blockade, with one managing to land in the Caribbean two months after Trafalgar, though most were hunted down and sunk. Collingwood was busy with political and diplomatic affairs in the Mediterranean, demonstrating wisdom and sound judgment. He requested to relinquish command and return home, but the government retained him, stating that “facing the still significant threat from France and its allies, the nation could not afford to lose him.”

In 1809, Collingwood’s health rapidly declined, and he was granted permission to return home. On March 7, 1810, while departing from Mahón to England aboard the HMS Paris, he died of cancer. He was ultimately buried alongside Nelson in the crypt of St. Paul’s Cathedral. Along the coast of Tynemouth stands a monument commemorating him, where people still praise his and Nelson’s great achievement in defeating the combined French and Spanish fleets at Trafalgar, preventing Napoleon’s invasion of Britain.

This year marks the 220th anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar, and to honor this significant event, World of Warships has carefully prepared a special Trafalgar Day challenge.

From October 21 to November 13, players can access five new combat missions each week. Completing these missions rewards players with premium time, coal, credits, income buffs, and more. Additionally, finishing a set number of missions grants extra luxurious rewards. Completing seven missions awards the permanent “Jack Alliance” camouflage; completing ten missions unlocks the Y-class commander Cuthbert Collingwood, featuring six skill points and unique voice lines, allowing players to fight alongside this legendary leader!

Not only that, this year also celebrates the 250th anniversary of the M-class navy. To mark this, World of Warships is hosting a special themed event where players can build a unique toy M-class harbor in-game. By progressing through naval base supplies or using doubloons, players can obtain permanent M-class ship camouflages, commanders, and the Tier 8 cruiser Bridgeport!

But that’s not all! During the World of Warships 14.9 update, the entertaining Pinata event has returned. Players can draw Pinata ships at the Wishing Dock and experience a spectacular “fireworks festival” on the high seas! Winning a battle with a Pinata ship grants a lottery chance to win prizes such as a 5 RMB JD gift card, Redmi Buds 5 Pro headphones, or a Switch 2 gaming console!

Right now, World of Warships offers many exciting features and powerful ships for players to enjoy. Log in quickly to commemorate history, earn generous rewards, and discover even more surprises!