Trafalgar with British losses

Okay, so what if the British won Trafalgar to the same degree of actual significance but lost [more] ships of the line in the process [including prizes]?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Order_of_battle_at_the_Battle_of_Trafalgar

Let's assume that the p.o.d. is Dumanoir's squadron reaching the scene of battle earlier due to sailing closer to the French-Spanish fleets and interfering with the attempt by HMS Temeraire to stop HMS Victory's capture. In this case, the British losses [taken from the most heavily damaged ships] are:
HMS Victory captured by the Redoubtable and Bucentaure and later recaptured only to sink from damage with the French ships and Admiral Nelson.
HMS Temeraire dismasted or boarded by Dumanoir [and wrecked after a storm].
HMS Royal Sovereign and Belleisle totally dismasted and [initially] captured.
[HMS Mars and Tonnant totally or heavily dismasted but either saved or wrecked.]
HMS Bellerophon and Colossus boarded or devastated in hull with heavy dismasting, sinking after the battle.

[The French and Spanish practically lose what they actually lost in reality plus Dumanoir's Squadron on the same week as the French-Spanish losses, mostly to wrecking or all to wrecking in an attempt to save some of the above British vessels. In other words, only approximately 10 ships of the line return to Cadiz intact, the rest being wrecked or captured only to be wrecked. The British lose 4-8 of the above vessels.] How would this battle be seen even if the Napoleonic Wars proceed as o.t.l. due to defeat?
 
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The British lost Lord Horatio Nelson the man widely regarded as being the greatest admiral in the history of the British Royal Navy. In addition to his death they lost multiple skilled captains and multiple ships. It was by no means a curbstomp battle.
 
It may be less of a glorious victory for the British but it's not clear if it would have changed the direction of the wars that much. Napoleon had already abandoned plans to invade England by the time it was fought.
 
Off topic, but if the storm after Trafalgar wasn't that heavy, which of the captured ships would provide useful service for Britain? At least the Bucentaure and some Temeraire class ships, but what about the Spanish ships?
 
Which British ships were lost at Trafalgar?
Ten ships under British flags were lost. Redoutable sank, Santísima Trinidad and Argonauta were scuttled, Achille exploded, Intrépide and San Augustín burned, and Aigle, Berwick, Fougueux, and Monarca were wrecked in a gale following the battle.
 
Had the British sustained a more catastrophic loss at Trafalgar than Lord Nelson himself, I can't help but wonder if the French and Spanish might not have taken the opportunity to relieve Great Britain of Gibraltar.
 
With some of the british navy gone and the franco-spanish navy relieved, i can see them proceeding to somewhere else (the atlantic or the caribbean, specifically) to attain experience while navigating.
An invasion of britain is a bit of a tall order and would require a lot of skilled ships and admirals, but it could still be attempted. Once Boney is in firm british soil, he can still sack London or something alike, seeming as he was as dominant on land as the british were at sea. But i think a truly successful invasion of Britain, one that forces the british to surrender and to be possibly occupied, would require full commitment from the continental alliance (Tsar Paul of Russia not dying, staying with Napoleon, and defeating Nelson at Copenhagen could have the desired effects on this).
But overall, a victory at Trafalgar, even an inconclusive one, could do good for Napoleon's naval forces. I agree with Londinium, they could indeed have taken Gibrlatar. Now i want to know what would be the consequences for Haiti.
 
With some of the british navy gone and the franco-spanish navy relieved, i can see them proceeding to somewhere else (the atlantic or the caribbean, specifically) to attain experience while navigating.
An invasion of britain is a bit of a tall order and would require a lot of skilled ships and admirals, but it could still be attempted. Once Boney is in firm british soil, he can still sack London or something alike, seeming as he was as dominant on land as the british were at sea. But i think a truly successful invasion of Britain, one that forces the british to surrender and to be possibly occupied, would require full commitment from the continental alliance (Tsar Paul of Russia not dying, staying with Napoleon, and defeating Nelson at Copenhagen could have the desired effects on this).
But overall, a victory at Trafalgar, even an inconclusive one, could do good for Napoleon's naval forces. I agree with Londinium, they could indeed have taken Gibrlatar. Now i want to know what would be the consequences for Haiti.
A big difference between Trafalgar and Jutland is that at the latter nearly the entirety of the RN's offensive firepower was concentrated. At Trafalgar, Nelson's force was a mere fraction of the RN's strength. Have the RN suffer reasonably increased losses at Trafalgar and they've still got plenty of Ships of the Line and competent Admirals and officers to lead them. There is no chance of an invasion.
 
This thread is about a British victory at Trafalgar with several (between 3 and 9) British ships of the line lost. The p.o.d. is having French and Spanish ships that didn't participate in the battle much be more active and threatening due to closer sailing or recognition with the main fleets.
 
This thread is about a British victory at Trafalgar with several (between 3 and 9) British ships of the line lost. The p.o.d. is having French and Spanish ships that didn't participate in the battle much be more active and threatening due to closer sailing or recognition with the main fleets.
Gotcha, but I don't see any impact with this POD.

There were twenty-seven British ships of the line at Trafalgar, but the Royal Navy had over 100 ships of the line. Granted some would be in refit, repair or in reserve (eg. older 64s), but losing 9 ships at Trafalgar is a loss the RN can easily absorb.
 

Saphroneth

Banned
Had the British sustained a more catastrophic loss at Trafalgar than Lord Nelson himself, I can't help but wonder if the French and Spanish might not have taken the opportunity to relieve Great Britain of Gibraltar.
How? Gibraltar's a fortress, and has held off attacks (and a three-and-a-half-year siege) by a huge army and forty-seven ships of the line (the Great Siege) - and since then the fortifications have undergone a major plan of improvement.
 
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