Mary Rose

Named, by King Henry VIII of England, after the king's favorite sister Mary and the Tudor emblem the Rose, Mary Rose an early purpose-built sailing warship. She was built between 1509 and 1511, served until an accident sank her in 1545. Her wreck was rediscovered in 1968, and raised for restoration in 1982. She is preserved in Portsmouth Harbor.

Career

On 10 August 1512 she was part of an English force that attacked the French fleet at Brest. Mary Rose crippled the enemy flagship, bringing down her mast and causing 300 casualties. This was possibly the first battle in the Channel when ships fired their heavy guns through gun ports.

She was rebuilt, based on battle experience, in 1536

Sinking

On 19 July 1545 Mary Rose was part of an English fleet that sailed out of Portsmouth to engage the French. She fired a broadside at the enemy and was turning to fire the other broadside when water flooded into her open gun ports and the ship suddenly capsized in full view of Henry VIII watching from the shore. It is not certain what caused Mary Rose to capsize; she was overloaded with extra soldiers and may have been caught by a gust of wind, which made the ship heel over.

Restoration

Rediscovered in 1969, marine archeologists lifted her on 11 October 1982, towing her into Portsmouth Harbor "from where the ship had left on her last fateful journey 437 years before. Today the Mary Rose is preserved in No.3 dock in Portsmouth."