Henry Grace a Dieu

The Henry Grace à Dieu as depicted in the Anthony Roll.
History
EnglandEngland
Name:	Henry Grace à Dieu (from 1547 Edward)
Builder:	Woolwich Dockyard
Launched:	1514
Commissioned:	1514
Refit:	rebuilt circa 1536
Honours and awards:	Battle of the Solent
Fate:	Unknown, last mentioned in 1553
General characteristics
Tons burthen:	1000
Length:	165 ft (50 m)
Complement:	700 - 1,000
Armament:	43 cannons, 141 swivel guns

Henry Grace à Dieu ("Henry Grace of God"), also known as Great Harry, was an English carrack or "great ship" of the King's Fleet in the 16th century. Contemporary with the Mary Rose, Henry Grace à Dieu was even larger. The Great Harry was Henry VIII's flagship. She had a large forecastle four decks high, and a stern castle two decks high. She was 165 feet (50 m) long, weighing 1,000–1,500 tons and having a complement of 700–1,000 men. It is said that she was ordered by Henry VIII in response to construction of the Scottish ship Michael, launched in 1511.

Built at Woolwich Dockyard from 1512 to 1514, she was one of the first vessels to feature gunports and had twenty of the new heavy bronze cannon, allowing for a broadside. She was fitted out later in the Naval Dockyard in Erith. In all she mounted 43 heavy guns and 141 light guns. She was the first English two-decker and when launched she was, at 1500 tons burthen, the largest and most powerful warship in Europe.

Very early on it became apparent that the ship was top heavy. She was plagued with heavy rolling in rough seas and her poor stability adversely affected gun accuracy and general performance as a fighting platform. To correct this, she underwent a substantial remodeling in Erith in 1536 (the same year as Mary Rose), during which the height of the hull was reduced. In this new form she was 1000 tons burthen and carried 151 guns of varying size, including 21 of bronze; her full crew was reduced to between 700 and 800. She was given an improved and innovative sailing arrangement with four masts, each divided into three sections; the forward two square rigged with mainsail, topsail and topgallants; and the aft two carrying five lateen sails between them. This allowed for easier handling of the sails and spread wind forces more evenly on the ship, resulting in better speed and maneuverability, and allowing better use of the heavy broadside. The only surviving contemporary depiction of the craft is from the Anthony Roll.