When she sank in 1545, Mary Rose was a floating fortress. Her 91 guns (excluding handguns) distributed over four decks provided an integrated layered weapons system capable of powerful stand-off warfare. Guns like our cast bronze muzzle loaders on four-wheeled carriages remained the dominant weapons of naval warfare for the next two centuries, defining the nature of combat at sea. Hand-held weapons included matchlock handguns, large incendiary darts, traditional yew longbows, anti-boarding weapons such as pikes and bills, and for close combat, the sword and dagger.
