Tudor Warships (1) Henry VIII’s Navy (Series - New Vanguard, 142)
In this book, maritime expert Angus Konstam
explores the fledging Tudor Navy, tracing its history from its origins
as a merchant fleet under Henry VII through to its emergence as a
powerful force under Henry VIII. Examining the operational use of Henry
VIII's warships the author analyses the battle of the Solent in 1545,
in which Henry's fleet took on a French fleet of 200 ships - much
larger than the Spanish Armada decades later. Despite the
well-documented loss of his flagship, the Mary Rose, Henry's smaller
force succeeded in preventing a French victory. Although many people
will have heard of the mighty Mary Rose, this book will tell the story
of more than just the tragic sinking of Henry's flagship, describing
how one of history's most dynamic kings grew the navy from the five
warships that were his father's legacy to 53 deadly gunships at the
forefront of his empire-building strategy. Through contemporary
illustrations and intricate artwork, the author traces the changing
face of warship design during the Renaissance as Henry paved the way
for English dominance of the sea.
