VANJON, VANJOHN, or VANTY
Ward room names for the card game of "Vingt-et-un" or "Pontoon".


VICAR
THE VICAR
A familiar name for the Chaplain on board.


VICARAGE
An unofficial name for the chaplain's cabin on board.


VICTORY
H.M.S. VICTORY
Laid down at Chatham 1759, launched 7th May, 1965; built of 100 yr old oak
cut from the new forest said to have cost -83,000, she was the most powerful
line-of-battle ship of her time, armed with 104 guns. 2162 tons, length
overall 227 ft., extreme beam 52 ft., complement 840 officers and men. Not
commissioned until March, 1778. In seagoing service wore flags of 14
Admirals. Prison and Hospital ship at Chatham 1797-1799; refitted and
modernised 1801-1803. Nelson's flag hoisted (C. in C. Mediterranean) 18th
May, 1803. On 19th July, 1805, Nelson went ashore at Gibraltar - his first
time on shore since 16th June 1803. After the battle of Trafalgar, the
VICTORY was towed to Gibraltar whence she sailed home in November, 1805, with
Nelson's body on board (see BLOOD) in bad weather. The ship had a further
refit in 1806 and again in 1815; she was then laid up in reserve at
Portsmouth. She wore the flag of the Portsmouth Port Admiral on and off from
1824 to the present day. Large numbers of visitors to the ship inspired by
Queen Victoria's visit in 1844. Replaced as Port Flagship at Portsmouth by
the DUKE OF WELLINGTON 1869-1893 but ever since has been the port flagship.
Shifted from Portsmouth Harbour to No. 2 dry dock in Portsmouth Dockyard (the
oldest dry dock in the world, dating from the time of King Charles II) in
January, 1922, then completely restored to her 1805 condition.


VICTUAL
THE VICTUALLING DEPARTMENT OF THE ROYAL NAVY
Founded by Samuel Pepys in 1665. Prior to that date the Captains and Pursers
of H.M. Ships used to make their own arrangements for victualling their
ships, and took a suitable 'rake-off' in so doing. It was because of this
that Mr. Pepys instituted the Victualling Department.


VINE
VINE STREET
Unofficial slang name for the office of the Master-at-Arms on board - from
the well-known London police station.


THE GRAPE VINE
Slang expression for the wonderful way in which a rumour spreads.