The Details of the Rocket SystemCongreve, William, Sir
History
The Details of the Rocket System
Congreve, William, Sir
Rockets (Ordnance)
Rocket, it is distinctly seen; whereas, in ordinary projectiles it is
scarcely to be traced--and hence has arisen a very exaggerated notion
of the inaccuracy of the former.
But to recur to the economy of the Rocket carcass; how much is not the
saving of this system of bombardment enhanced, when considered with
reference to naval bombardment, when the expensive construction of the
large mortar vessel is viewed, together with the charge of their whole
establishment, compared with the few occasions of their use, and their
unfitness for general service? Whereas, by means of the Rocket, every
vessel, nay, every boat, has the power of throwing carcasses without
any alteration in her construction, or any impediment whatever to her
general services.
So much for the comparison required as to the application of the Rocket
in bombardment; I shall now proceed to the calculation of the expense
of this ammunition for field service, compared with that of common
artillery ammunition. In the first place, it should be stated that the
Rocket will project every species of shot or shell which can be fired
from field guns, and indeed, even heavier ammunition than is ordinarily
used by artillery in the field. But it will be a fair criterion to make
the calculation, with reference to the six and nine-pounder common
ammunition; these two natures of shot or shell are projected by a small
Rocket, which I have denominated the 12-pounder, and which will give
horizontally, and _without apparatus_, the same range as that of the
gun, and _with apparatus_, considerably more. The calculation may be
stated as follows:--
£. _s._ _d._
{Case and stick 0 5 6
12-pounder Rocket {Rocket composition 0 1 10½
{Labour, &c. 0 2 0
--------------
£0 9 4½
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But this sum is capable of the following reduction, by substituting
elementary force for manual labour, and by employing bamboo in lieu of
the stick.
£. _s._ _d._
{Case and stick 0 4 0
[B]Reduced Price {Composition 0 1 10½
{Driving 0 0 6
-------------
£0 6 4½
-------------
[B] And this is the sum that, ought to be taken in a general
calculation of the advantages of which the system is
_capable_, because to this it _may_ be brought.
Now the cost of the shot or spherical case is the same whether
projected from a gun or thrown by the Rocket; and the fixing it to the
Rocket costs about the same as strapping the shot to the wooden bottom.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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