On this day in 1545 the Mary Rose, flagship of the English navy, sank off the Isle of Wight.

The English King, Henry VIII was watching. One wonders what he thought. History does not record what he said. The Mary Rose was fighting off a French invasion fleet when she sank and the reason for this is still not properly understood. It is probable that the ship was incorrectly balanced and top heavy with the weight of cannon and other guns and men.

It was two centuries later that naval ships became the ponderous floating gun platforms that won so many battles for Britain. The Mary Rose debacle was a disaster at the time and 73 men died as the ship rapidly sank. In 1982 the remai...

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