Represents the stern of a row-boat; a platform about four feet long,
three feet wide, is made on her stern on a level with the gunwale,
and projecting over the stern fifteen or eighteen inches, so that
the Torpedo, in falling into the water, may clear the rudder. On the
platform, the Torpedo and its suspending line of cork are to be laid,
and the harpoon-line carefully coiled as at F, so that when the harpoon
is fired, the line may develope with ease: very pliable well greased,
or white line would be best for this purpose. The harpoon and gun are
so well engraved as require no explanation. B is the copper case to
hold one hundred or one hundred and fifty pounds of powder. C, the box
of cork to diminish its tendency to sink and bring it to a specific
gravity of only two or three pounds more than sea-water. Its suspending
box of cork explained in Plate III is not seen in this figure, lest the
drawing should be confused; it can be imagined in its proper place. A,
is the brass box with the clockwork lock; D, the pin which prevents the
clockwork moving; the line from the pin is tied to a bolt, or otherwise
fixed to the boat as at E. Thus fastened, when the Torpedo is pulled into
the water, the pin D will remain in the boat, and the clockwork will
begin to act. The man who shall be stationed at the gun, and who may be
called the harpooner, is to steer the boat and fire when sufficiently
near. If he fixes his harpoon in the bow of the enemy, it will then
only be necessary to row away; the harpoon and line being fixed to the
ship, will pull the Torpedo out of the boat, and at the same instant
set the clockwork in motion. This reduces the attack of each boat to
one simple operation, that only of firing with reasonable attention.
Should the harpooner miss the ship, he can save his Torpedo and return
to the attack. While I was with the British blockading fleet off the
coast of Boulogne in 1804 and 1805, I acquired some experience on the
kind of row-boat best calculated for active movements, and which I now
believe well adapted to a harpooning and Torpedo attack; hence I propose
clinker-built boats, each twenty-seven feet long, six feet extreme
breadth of beam, single banked, and six long oars; one blunderbuss, on
a swivel, on the larboard and one on the starboard bow; one ditto on
the larboard and one on the starboard quarter, total four, for which
cartridges should be prepared, each containing twelve half-ounce balls.
To work the blunderbusses, in case of need, two mariners should be placed
in the bow, two in the stern; each of those men to be provided with a
horse-pistol and cutlass, and each oarsman a cutlass, in case of coming
to close quarters with a boat of the enemy.
_Total of boat's crew_
1 Harpooner.
1 Bowman.
4 Marines.
6 Oarsmen.
Total 12 Men.
Such boats would be active well armed, and, if good men, may be said to
be strong handed, and well prepared to make good a retreat, or act on the
defensive, in case of encountering the enemy's boats.