Page 19 - History of War - Issue 18-15

ANATOMY OF THE MARY ROSE

THE RISE AND FALL OF dramatic shift in the types of guns and the nature An Anthony Roll
This was a short period of intense change, with a
illustration of the
THE MARY ROSE of warfare. Ships used to employ the tactic of very Mary Rose
short-range bombardments followed by boarding,
Henry VIII came to the throne in 1509; a year later but the change brought longer-range warfare where
work began on two new ships. It is believed that the ships would move closer. There was still some
the Mary Rose was one. During his reign, Henry close-quarters confl ict, as demonstrated by the
increased the British fl eet from four vessels to 58, numbers of longbows and staff weapons carried on
and 20 of these were great ships (four-masted board. Ships like it, with the capability of at least a
warships). The Mary Rose was the second largest partial broadside, marked the beginning of a type of
of these. Its life span somewhat mirrors the warfare that was to endure until the middle of the
reign of the king (1509-47), as it sank on 19 July 19th century. The Mary Rose, with her incendiary
1545 defending the English coast from a French darts, longbows and long-range culverins, was
invasion force larger than the Spanish Armada. indeed a ship of a transitional era.

FORWARD FIRING CAST IRON GUNS GUN DECK CABINS ARCHERS, BOWS MATCHLOCK
CAPABILITIES Fourofthe20‘hailshot Themaingundeckwasnot AND ARROWS ARQUEBUSES
Due to the shape of the pieces’listedfortheship onlyafightingarea.Cabins For the battle, chests of bows Parts of fi ve of the 50 handguns
hull, the ability to fi re ahead were found. These guns are for the navigator, surgeon, andarrowshadbeentakenup listed for the ship were found.
was limited. The main thefirstevidenceofthemass and carpenter were also fromthemainarcherystoreon Three are snap matchlock
forward fi ring capability production of cast iron guns locatedonthisdeck. the orlop deck in the stern to arquebuses imported from the
was through cast bronze in England. With a rectangular the upper deck just inside the town of Gardone in Italy. Historical
culverins on the castle deck bore they fired small iron dice sterncastle, the muster station documents verify that 1,500 were
facing forward at the front at short range. for the archers. imported in 1544 in preparation
of the sterncastle. for the war with France.

INCENDIARY
DARTS
Three long darts with
incendiary sacks bound
closetotheir heads were
found beside a large gun
on the main deck.

IRON GUNS
The ship represented the
most advanced weapons
systems of its time. Breech
loading, the iron guns
could fi re solid limestone
shot or, at closer range,
canisters fi lled with fl akes
of fl int or pebbles.

ENGAGING THE
FRENCH
The Mary Rose did engage
with the French; some
of her guns had been
fi red and one was being
reloaded as the ship sank.

SHIP’S OVENS
The galley consisted of two brick UNIQUE GUN SHIELDS
‘ovens’ located in the centre of Remains of eight shields with breech-loading
the ship in the hold. Copper alloy handguns mounted centrally within them were
cauldrons enabled the cooking found in store on the orlop deck. These have
of a large amount of broth, while never been known in a combat situation before
haunches of meat could be dangle- and were previously thought to be the preserve
roasted in front of the oven. of the King’s Royal Guards.