Is this the real reason why Mary Rose sank?

The truth was withheld to maintain the Navy's image, explains Dr Dominic Fontana a geographer with the University of Portsmouth.

By claiming the ship was toppled by wind and an incompetent crew, the Navy's supremacy was maintained, Henry VIII's pride remained intact and the French were unable to claim victory

"The Mary Rose was holed by French gunfire received from an advance party of fast, oar-powered galleys which were heavily armed," said Dr. Fontanta.

"She would have quickly taken quite a quantity of water into her hull before she manoeuvred to bring a broadside of guns to bear on the attacking French galleys." That fateful manoeuvre was her undoing because the sudden movement of water in the hold caused her to capsize.

"Mary Rose was hit by French gunfire and despite valiant efforts being made by her crew she capsized just one mile from Southsea Castle from where King Henry VIII was watching.

"Those onshore would not have known anything about flooding in the hull caused by a French hit on the ship and it would have appeared as though she had been caught by a freak gust of wind and blown over."

Mary Rose sank after 34 years of service, fighting in two wars against the French and one against the Spanish.

The Mary Rose was an English Tudor carrack warship and one of the first to be able to fire a full broadside of cannons. The Mary Rose was well equipped with 78 guns (91 after an upgrade in 1536.)