Plate 13 represents all the different natures of Rocket Ammunition which have hitherto been made, from the eight-inch carcass or explosion Rocket, weighing nearly three hundred weight, to the six-pounder shell Rocket, and shews the comparative dimensions of the whole.

This Ammunition may be divided into three parts—the heavy, medium, and light natures. The heavy natures are those denominated by the number of inches in their diameter; the medium from the 42-pounder to the 24-pounder inclusive; and the light natures from the 18-pounder to the 6-pounder inclusive.

The ranges of the eight-inch, seven-inch, and six-inch Rockets, are from 2,000 to 2,500 yards; and the quantities of combustible matter, or bursting powder, from 25lbs. and upwards to 50lbs. Their sticks are divided into four parts, secured with ferules, and carried in the angles of the packing case, containing the Rocket, one Rocket in each case, so that notwithstanding the length of the stick, the whole of this heavy part of the system possesses, in proportion, the same facility as the medium and light parts. These Rockets are fired from bombarding frames, similar to those of the 42 and 32-pounder carcasses; or they may be fired from a slope of earth in the same way. They may also be fired along the ground, as explained in Plate 9, for the purposes of explosion.

These large Rockets have from their weight, combined with less diameter, even more penetration than the heaviest shells, and are therefore equally efficient for the destruction of bomb proofs, or the demolition of strong buildings; and their construction having now been realized, it is proved that the facilities of the Rocket system are not its only excellence, but that it actually will propel heavier masses than can be done by any other means; that is to say, masses, to project which, it would be scarcely possible to cast, much less to transport, mortars of sufficient magnitude. Various modifications of the powers of these large Rockets may be made, which it is not necessary here to specify.

The 42 and 32-pounders are those which have hitherto been principally used in bombardment, and which, for the general purposes of bombardment, will be found sufficient, while their portability renders them in that respect more easily applied. I have therefore classed them as medium Rockets. These Rockets will convey from ten to seven pounds of combustible matter each; have a range of upwards of 3,000 yards; and may, where the fall of greater mass in any particular spot is required, either for penetration or increased fire, be discharged in combinations of three, four, or six Rockets, well lashed together, with the sticks in the centre also strongly bound together. The great art of firing these fasces of Rockets is to arrange them, so that they may be sure to take fire contemporaneously, which must be done either by priming the bottoms of all thoroughly, or by firing them by a flash of powder, which is sure to ignite the whole combination at once. The 42 and 32-pounder Rockets may also be used as explosion Rockets, and the 32-pounder armed with shot or shells: thus, a 32-pounder will range at least 1,000 yards, laid on the ground, and armed with a 5½-inch howitzer shell, or an 18 and even a 24-pounder solid shot.

The 32-pounder is, as it were, the mean point of the system: it is the least Rocket used as a carcass in bombardment, and the largest armed either with shot or shell, for field service. The 24-pounder Rocket is very nearly equal to it in all its applications in the field; from the saving of weight, therefore, I consider it preferable. It is perfectly equal to propel the cohorn shell or 12-pounder shot.

The 18-pounder, which is the first of the light natures of Rockets, is armed with a 9-pounder shot or shell; the 12-pounder with a 6-pounder ditto; the 9-pounder with a grenade; and the 6-pounder with a 3-pounder shot or shell. These shells, however, are now cast expressly for the Rocket service, and are elliptical instead of spherical, thereby increasing the power of the shell, and decreasing the resistance of the air.

From the 24-pounder to the 9-pounder Rocket, inclusive, a description of case shot Rocket is formed of each nature, armed with a quantity of musket or carbine balls, put into the top of the cylinder of the Rocket, and from thence discharged by a quantity of powder contained in a chamber, by which the velocity of these balls, when in flight, is increased beyond that of the Rocket’s motion, an effect which cannot be given in the spherical case, where the bursting powder only liberates the balls.

All Rockets intended for explosion, whether the powder be contained in a wrought iron head or cone, as used in bombardment: or whether in the shell above mentioned, for field service, or in the case shot, are fitted with an external fuse of paper, which is ignited from the vent at the moment when the Rocket is fired. These fuses may be instantaneously cut to any desired length, from 25 seconds downwards, by a pair of common scissars or nippers, and communicate to the bursting charge, by a quickmatch, in a small tube on the outside of the Rocket; in the shell Rocket the paper fuse communicates with a wooden fuse in the shell, which, being cut to the shortest length that can be necessary, is never required to be taken out of the shell, but is regulated either by taking away the paper fuse altogether, or leaving any part of it, which, in addition to the fixed and permanent wooden fuse in the shell, may make up the whole time of flight required. By this system, the arrangement of the fuse in action is attended with a facility, security, and an expedition, not known in any other similar operations.

All the Rocket sticks for land service are made in parts of convenient length for carriage, and jointed by iron ferules. For sea service they are made in the whole length.

The 24-pounder shell and case shot Rockets are those which I propose issuing in future for the heavy field carriages; the 18-pounder shell and case shot for the light field carriages; the 12-pounder for the mounted ammunition of cavalry; the 9 and 6-pounders for infantry, according to the different cases already explained.

Fig.1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9, represent the different implements used for jointing the sticks, or fixing them to the Rocket, being of different sizes, in proportion to the different natures to which they belong. They consist of hammers, pincers, vices, and wrenches, all to accomplish the same object, namely, that of compressing the ferule into the stick, by means of strong steel points in the tool, so as to fix it immoveably. The varieties are here all shewn, because I have not hitherto decided which is the preferable instrument.

Fig.10, 11, 12, and 13, represent another mode of arranging the different natures of ammunition, which is hitherto merely a matter of speculation, but which may in certain parts of the system be hereafter found a considerable improvement. It is the carrying the Rocket, or projectile force, distinct from the ammunition itself, instead of combining them in their first construction, as hitherto supposed. Thus, Fig.10 is the Rocket, and Fig.11, 12, and 13, are respectively a shell, case shot, or carcass, which may be immediately fixed to the Rocket by a screw, according as either the one or the other nature is required at the time. A greater variety of ammunition might thus be carried for particular services, with a less burthen altogether.

Fig.14 and 15 represent the light ball or floating carcass Rocket. This is supposed to be a 42-pounder Rocket, containing in its head, as in Fig.12, a parachute with a light ball or carcass attached to it by a slight chain. This Rocket being fired nearly perpendicularly into the air, the head is burst off at its greatest altitude, by a very small explosion, which, though it ignites the light ball, does not injure the parachute; but by liberating it from the Rocket, leaves it suspended in the air, as Fig.13, in which situation, as a light ball, it will continue to give a very brilliant light, illuminating the atmosphere for nearly ten minutes; or as a carcass, in a tolerable breeze, will float in the air, and convey the fire for several miles, unperceived and unconsumed, if only the match of the carcass be ignited at the disengagement of the parachute.

It should be observed that, with due care, the Rocket ammunition is not only the most secure, but the most durable that can be: every Rocket is, in fact, a charge of powder hermetically sealed in a metal case, impervious either to the ordinary accidents by fire, or damage from humidity. I have used Rockets that had been three years on board of ship, without any apparent loss of power; and when after a certain period, which, from my present experience, I cannot estimate at less than eight or ten years, their force shall have so far suffered as to render them unserviceable, they may again be regenerated, at the mere expense of boring out the composition and re-driving it: the stick, case, &c. that is to say, all the principal parts, being as serviceable as ever.

The Ranges of these different Natures of Rocket Ammunition are as follow: