The Mary Rose was a 24-gun ship built at Deptford Dockyard, launched in 1624, and serving in the English Navy Royal. Designed by Master Shipwright William Burrell, she was the smallest of ten ships constructed under the 1618 Jacobbean Commission, measuring approximately 83 feet in keel length, with a breadth of 26 feet 9 inches, and a hold depth of 13 feet. Her tonnage was recorded at 288.6 tons, which would be calculated as 315.86 tons under the 1652 burthen rules. Her armament in 1624 consisted of 24 guns, including eight demi-culverins, ten sakers, four minions, and two falcons, complemented by two fowlers that were not counted among her guns. The crew complement was about 120 officers and men. Initially, Mary Rose served primarily in home waters, participating in various naval operations, including a voyage to Spain in 1624 to collect jewels and subsequent anti-piracy patrols along the English coast. She was also involved in notable expeditions such as Sir Edward Cecil’s 1625 Cádiz campaign and La Rochelle in 1628. Over the following years, her commanders changed frequently, with notable figures including Captain George Carteret and Captain Jeremy Brett, and she served alongside the Dutch fleet in 1636. With the outbreak of the English Civil War in 1642, Mary Rose came under Parliamentary control, serving under various captains, including Captain Henry Bethell and Captain Richard Blythe. She participated in fleet actions and convoy duties during this turbulent period. Her service ended when she was wrecked off the coast of Flanders in March 1650, likely run ashore during an attack by two hostile ships. The Mary Rose’s career reflects her role as a versatile vessel engaged in both diplomatic missions and military conflicts during the early 17th century, marking her as a significant, if ultimately tragic, participant in England’s maritime history of the period.

This description has been generated using GPT-4.1-NANO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.