Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 2:54:32-2:55:50

Could Mary Rose serve in Victory's fleet?

Mary Rose was too small and slow for the fleet system of Victory's era, even as a storeship.

Fleet OperationsHMS VictoryMary RoseShip DesignShips of the Line
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Question

Would Mary Rose have been useful in HMS Victory's era, even as a storeship?

Short answer

No; her size, speed, and operating pattern no longer fit the fleet built around ships such as Victory.

Notes

The comparison turns on operational expectations as well as age. Mary Rose was built for shorter Channel operations, while Victory could deploy to the Mediterranean for months with the speed, endurance, and support expected of a mature battle fleet. A hull of Mary Rose's size and performance no longer fitted that system. Endurance and fleet integration matter more here than gun count alone.