TheMary Rosewas a large warship in the Tudor Navy of King Henry VIII.
She was the second most powerful ship in King Henry VIIIs fleet and a favourite of the king.
Almost all of theMary Rosecrew, up to 500 men, drowned.
Several attempts were made to salvage the sunken ship soon after it sank.
It was eventually raised in 1982 in one of the most ambitious and costly maritime salvage operations ever undertaken.
The Mary Rose by Geoff Hunt.
Building a warship of this scale was a massive undertaking, requiring vast amounts of high-quality materials.
It is estimated that approximately 600 large oak trees were felled to provide the timber necessary for her construction.
TheMary Rosewas built during a period of significant transition in naval warfare.
The Mary Rose as depicted in the Anthony Roll, circa 1540s.
Similarly, the 17th-century Swedish warshipVasasank due to flooding through its gun ports.
This vulnerability was not unique to theMary Roseor theVasa.
TheMary Roses broadside, equipped with a formidable battery of cannons, made her ideally suited for close-quarters combat.
TheMary Rosefirst saw battle in 1512, in a joint naval operation with the Spanish against the French.
However, a sudden storm in the North Atlantic forced the fleet back to Dartmouth in Devon.
The Sinking
By 1545, England and France were once again at war.
During this manoeuvre, a sudden gust of wind caused the ship to heel sharply.
Water poured in through her open gun ports, and she rapidly capsized.
The Sinking of the Mary Rose by Geoff Hunt.
Only about two dozen sailors managed to escape the sinking vessel.
Modern historians largely agree, noting that the ship became increasingly unstable after her 1536 refit.
English historian John Hooker supported this explanation but added that insubordination among the crew also contributed to the disaster.
This process would be repeated until the entire vessel was raised.
However, his optimism was misplaced.
The initial salvage effort failed, but hope lingered for some time.
The wreck of Mary Rose, now at the Mary Rose Museum, Portsmouth, England.
Upon investigation, the remains were identified as those of the long-lost warship.
Numerous ideas for salvaging the wreck were considered and ultimately rejected.
In the end, the chosen method combined careful engineering with advanced technology.
The hull was first reinforced with steel braces and frames to prevent further damage during the operation.
Cables were then carefully attached to the structure by drilling holes through the surviving timbers.
Once secured, the ship was gently lifted from the seabed and placed on a steel cradle underwater.
The wreck of the Mary Rose being raised out of water.
Together, these artefacts and remains bring to life the stories of those who served aboard this iconic vessel.
