San Salvador's explosion and Armada supply assumptions

The damaged San Salvador suffered a magazine explosion and was unsuccessfully scuttled before Golden Hind captured her. The accident raises questions about powder stowage and handling in ships intended to fire sparingly at sea before supporting an army ashore. England's most professional land force may have been the trained bands of London, which could join royal troops and county levies if the invasion approached the capital. Parma's veterans probably would have won such a battle, although Spanish supply problems and the hazards of getting ashore left genuine uncertainty. The Armada also considered the Isle of Wight and Solent as a temporary base but lacked timely information and coordination to exploit that option.