Why did Mary Rose carry many different gun types instead of a uniform battery?
Short answerBecause cannon were costly craft products with little standardization; the ship used the pieces available, each with a different range and purpose.
NotesEarly cannon were expensive, individually made weapons acquired as opportunities allowed. Even nominally similar pieces could differ by maker and casting, so a modern-style uniform broadside was impractical. Culverins, cannon, demi-cannon, port pieces, and lighter weapons offered different ranges and anti-ship or anti-personnel effects. The crew had to fight each piece according to its own performance instead of treating the battery as one synchronized weapon.