Handbook for Light Artillery

by A. B. Dyer

LASHINGS.

Square Lashing ([Fig. 127]).—Make fast one end (the fixed if there be one) of the lashing-rope to one of the objects to be lashed by a timber-or clove-hitch, or by passing the eye-end of the rope under it, bringing it up and passing the other end through the eye; then, after hauling taut, pass it round the second object, round the first, up again round the second, and down round the first, continuing this until a sufficient number of returns are made, when the whole of the returns are tightened by bringing the end round the returns between the objects two or three times, and making fast with two half-hitches on either of the first returns or one of the objects.

If the returns on one of the spars lie in succession outside the returns first applied, they must lie in succession inside those first applied on the other spar.

Diagonal Lashing ([Fig. 128]).—Begin with a timber-hitch or running-bowline round both spars and draw them together; then take three or four turns across each fork and finish with frapping-turns. Wedges with well-rounded points are often useful for tightening lashings.

Fig. 128.

Fig. 129.

Sheer Lashing.—The lashing is made fast to the lower spar, above where they cross, with a timber-hitch; as many turns are taken around both spars towards the feet as may be necessary to cover the cross, and the end is then led around this lashing and both spars where they cross and four or five frapping-turns taken so as to bring them together, and the ends made fast around the upper spar above the cross.

Gin Lashing ([Fig. 129]).—The three legs of the gin are placed so that the centre one is pointing in the opposite direction to that of the others, all being parallel, the upper ends resting on a skid and two inches apart. The lashing is commenced with a clove-hitch on an outside spar and carried over and under loosely and without riding six times. Two frapping-turns are taken in each interval and the whole finished off with two half-hitches round one of the spars. Iron chain is much better than rope for these fastenings.

Fishing Spars.—This consists in strengthening spars by lashing others parallel to them. The fishing spars should be placed against the spar to be fished so that they may take off as much strain and be in as close contact as possible. Lashing-ropes should then be applied round all of the spars until they are all firmly bound together.

Frapping.—The drawing together the several returns of a lashing so as to tauten it. The rope used for frapping is generally the running-end of the lashing itself; after having frapped, the end of the rope is made fast by two half-hitches, one around all the returns, the other on half only.