THE USE OF ROCKETS IN FIRE SHIPS, AND THE MODE OF FITTING ANY OTHER SHIP FOR THE DISCHARGE OF ROCKETS.
[Plate 12], Fig. 1, represents the application of Rockets in fire-ships; by which, a great power of distant conflagration is given to these ships, in addition to the limited powers they now possess, as depending entirely on contact with the vessels they may be intended to destroy.
The application is made as follows:—Frames or racks are to be provided in the tops of all fire-ships, to contain as many hundred carcass and shell Rockets, as can be stowed in them, tier above tier, and nearly close together. These racks may also be applied in the topmast and top-gallant shrouds, to increase the number: and when the time arrives for sending her against the enemy, the Rockets are placed in these racks, at different angles, and in all directions, having the vents uncovered, but requiring no leaders, or any nicety of operation, which can be frustrated either by wind or rain; as the Rockets are discharged merely by the progress of the flame ascending the rigging, at a considerable lapse of time after the ship is set on fire, and abandoned.
It is evident, therefore, in the first place that no injury can happen to the persons charged with carrying in the vessel, as they will have returned into safety before any discharge takes place. It is evident, also, that the most extensive destruction to the enemy may be calculated on, as the discharge will commence about the time that the fire-ship has drifted in amongst the enemies’ ships: when issuing in the most tremendous vollies, the smallest ship being supposed not to have less than 1,000 Rockets, distributed in different directions, it is impossible but that every ship of the enemy must, with fire-ships enough, and no stint of Rockets, be covered sooner or later with clouds of this destructive fire; whereas, without this distant power of destruction, it is ten to one if every fire-ship does not pass harmlessly through the fleet, by the exertions of the enemies’ boats in towing them clear—exertions, it must be remarked, entirely precluded in this system of fire-ships, as it is impossible that any boat could venture to approach a vessel so equipped, and pouring forth shell and carcass Rockets, in all directions, and at all angles. I had an opportunity of trying this experiment in the attack of the French Fleet in Basque Roads, and though on a very small scale indeed, it was ascertained, that the greatest confusion and terror was created by it in the enemy.
Figs. 2, 3, and 4, represent the mode of fitting any ship to fire Rockets, from scuttles in her broadside; giving, thereby, to every vessel having a between-deck, a Rocket battery, in addition to the gun batteries on her spar deck, without the one interfering in the smallest degree with the other, or without the least risk to the ship; the sparks of the Rocket in going off being completely excluded, either by iron shutters closing the scuttle from within, as practised in the Galgo defence ship, fitted with 21 Rocket scuttles in her broadside, as shewn in Fig. 3; or by a particular construction of scuttle and frame which I have since devised, and applied to the Erebus sloop of war: so that the whole of the scuttle is completely filled, in all positions of traverse, and at all angles, by the frame; and thereby any possibility of the entrance of fire completely prevented. In both these ships, the Rockets may be either discharged at the highest angles, for bombardment, or used at low angles, as an additional means of offence or defence against other shipping in action; as the Rockets, thus used, are capable of projecting 18-pounder shot, or 4½-inch shells, or even 24-pounder solid shot. This arrangement literally gives the description of small vessels here mentioned, a second and most powerful deck, for general service as well as for bombardment.
Smaller vessels, such as gun brigs, schooners, and cutters, may be fitted to fire Rockets by frames, similar to the boat frames, described in [Plate 11], from their spar deck, and either over the broadside or the stern; their frames being arranged to travel up and down, on a small upright spar or boat’s mast, fixed perpendicularly to the outside of the bulwark of the vessel. As a temporary expedient, or in small vessels, this mode answers very well; but it has the objection of not carrying the sparks so far from the rigging, as when fired from below: it interferes also with the fighting the guns at the same time, and can therefore only be applied exclusively in the case of bombardment. All the gun brigs, however, on the Boulogne station, during Commodore Owen’s command there, were fitted in this manner, some with two and some with three frames on a broadside.
Plate 12
Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4