HMS Nelson flagship of the home fleet goes aground off Portsmouth . When leaving Portsmouth Harbour on the start of the spring cruise , HMS Nelson the flagship of the Home Fleet , went aground on the ebb tide off the Round Tower at the entrance to the harbour . The giant ship , which has 33,500 tons displacement and carries 1,361 officers and men , is ashore on the shingle bank just east of Victoria Pier , and is well fixed . Five tugs have so far failed to refloat her . Captain Patrick Macnamara , flag captain to Admiral Boyle and commander of HMS Nelson . Captain Macnamara was formerly British Naval Attache in Washington . 12 January 1934