How did Horatio Nelson’s tactics at Trafalgar differ from the traditional line-of-battle formation?

At the Battle of Trafalgar, Horatio Nelson abandoned the traditional ship-of-the-line warfare, which relied on rigid, parallel columns of ships designed to maintain control and maximize broadside fire.12

Instead, Nelson implemented a bold tactical shift by organizing his fleet into two separate squadrons. Rather than sailing parallel to the enemy, he ordered his ships to advance at right angles to the Franco-Spanish line. This maneuver allowed the British to break through the enemy’s formation at two points, effectively shattering their line and forcing a chaotic, close-quarters engagement known as a "pell-mell battle".32

By intentionally breaking the traditional line, Nelson prioritized aggressive, decisive action over the formalist approach of maintaining a single, controlled column. This strategy enabled the British to isolate and destroy enemy ships piecemeal, ultimately securing a decisive victory that established British naval supremacy for over a century.32