Surviving returns allow only a cautious reconstruction of Ark Royal in 1588. She was probably around 600 tons, while the clearest figures come from 1599 and from a later rebuild. The 1599 list records 55 weapons of several calibres across two gun decks, far from the uniform battery of a later rated warship. Her tall, narrow hull and substantial upper works also produced a heavy roll that made life difficult for soldiers and sailors. Gun count alone therefore says little about how effectively an early galleon could fight or how hard she was to handle.
Notable Point · 5:43-8:54
Ark Royal's mixed battery and difficult handling
Ark Royal's uncertain tonnage, mixed-calibre guns, two gun decks, and heavy roll show why a simple gun count cannot describe an early galleon's fighting qualities.