The Mary Rose… But It Wasn’t Simply Just One.

A look back at the marine career of a great carrick-type ship. Why, Where, and How? Can we see any learning curves here?

This vast English warship (carrick-type vessel) was first commissioned during Henry VIII’s reign and often served as the flagship of the fleet of that time period. It was built in Portsmouth, England, between the years of 1509 & 1511, where she served in the Royal Navy until it was sunk in 1545.

I find it disturbing yet interesting too, that this great ship of the time, never left any exact details of its overall dimensions. No accuracy of these records was ever documented or recorded.

Suffice to say, only rough approximations are available of these. According to Britannica, this ship ran lengths ranging from 110 feet (34 meters) to 148 feet (45 meters) end-to-end, with an initial weight of up to 600 tons. The Mary Rose was heavily armed, with the vessel carrying 60–80 guns and had a crew of 400–500 men. The main building block of the Mary Rose was designed & erected from walnut wood, revered for its rich, dark color, and its propensity to last.