Fig. 2 represents these Rocket Cars in action: the one on the left hand has its trough in the position for ground firing, the trough being merely lifted off the bed of the axle tree on which it travels, and laid on the ground, turning by two iron stays on a centre in the axle tree; the right hand car is elevated to a high angle, the trough being raised and supported by the iron stays behind, and in front by the perch of the carriage, connected to it by a joint, the whole kept steady by bolting the stays, and by tightening a chain from the perch to the axle tree. The limbers are always supposed to be in the rear. The Rockets are fired with a portfire and long stick; and two men will fight the light car, four men the heavy one.
The exercise is very simple; the men being told off, Nos. 1, 2, 3, and 4, to the heavy carriage. On the words, “Prepare for action, and unlimber,” the same process takes place as in the 6-pounder exercise. On the words, “Prepare for ground firing,” Nos. 2 and 3 take hold of the hand irons, provided on purpose, and, with the aid of No. 4, raise the trough from its travelling position, and lower it down to the ground under the carriage; or on the words “Prepare to elevate,” raise it to the higher angles, No. 4 bolting the stays, and fixing the chain. No. 1 having in the mean time prepared and lighted his portfire, and given the direction of firing to the trough, Nos. 2, 3, and 4, then run to the limber to fix the ammunition, which No. 2 brings up, two rounds at a time, or one, as ordered, and helping No. 1 to place them in the trough as far back as the stick will admit: this operation is facilitated by No. 1 stepping upon the lower end of either of the stick boxes, on which a cleat is fastened for this purpose; No. 1 then discharges the two Rockets separately, firing that to leeward first, while No. 2 returns for more ammunition: this being the hardest duly, the men will, of course, relieve No. 2 in their turns. In fighting the light frame, two men are sufficient to elevate or depress it, but they will want aid to fix and bring up the ammunition for quick firing.
Plate 4
Fig. 1
Fig. 2
ROCKET INFANTRY IN LINE OF MARCH, AND IN ACTION.
[Plate 5], Fig. 1, represents a sub-division of Rocket infantry in line of march—Fig. 2, the same in action. The system here shewn is the use of the Rockets by infantry—one man in ten, or any greater proportion, carrying a frame, of very simple construction, from which the Rockets may be discharged either for ground ranges, or at high angles, and the rest carrying each three rounds of ammunition, which, for this service, is proposed to be either the 12-pounder Shell Rockets, or the 12-pounder Rocket case shot, each round equal to the 6-pounder case, and ranging 2,500 yards. So that 100 men will bring into action, in any situation where musketry can be used, nearly 300 rounds of this description of artillery, with ranges at 45°, double those of light field ordnance.
The exercise and words of command are as follow: