Sea Veteran Is Training Flagship -- H.M.S. Nelson ("Nellie to the Royal Navy) at anchor in Torbay, Devon. The 34,000-ton H.M.S. Nelson, now retired from battle service, is the flagship of the Training Battleship Squadron, commanded by Rear Admiral H. Hickling, D.S.O., Rear-Admiral, Training Battleships, Home Fleet. Launched in 1925 and completed at a cost of ?7,500,000, the Nelson had has a distinguished career. She took park in the invasions of Sicily and Italy, and her guns sent 9 tons of high explosive per second into the Normandy defences on D-day. Two surrenders were made aboard her during World War II. September 19, 1946.