Sir William Congreve - The Details of the Rocket System

Transcribers Note:
Cover created by Transcriber, using an illustration from the original book, and placed in the Public Domain.

DRAWN UP BY
COLONEL CONGREVE

1814.

Reproduced from an original edition made available by the Library of the Royal Artillery Institute, Woolwich, to whom British Aircraft Corporation wish to express their appreciation.

BRITISH AIRCRAFT CORPORATION GUIDED WEAPONS DIVISION

THE DETAILS
OF
THE ROCKET SYSTEM:

SHEWING

THE VARIOUS APPLICATIONS OF THIS WEAPON, BOTH FOR SEA AND LAND SERVICE, AND ITS DIFFERENT USES IN THE FIELD AND IN SIEGES;

ILLUSTRATED BY
PLATES OF THE PRINCIPAL EQUIPMENTS, EXERCISES, AND CASES OF ACTUAL SERVICE,

WITH
GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS
FOR ITS APPLICATION,

AND A DEMONSTRATION OF THE COMPARATIVE ECONOMY OF THE SYSTEM.

DRAWN UP BY
COLONEL CONGREVE,
FOR THE
INFORMATION OF THE OFFICERS OF THE ROCKET CORPS, AND OTHERS WHOM IT MAY CONCERN.

London:
PRINTED BY J. WHITING, FINSBURY PLACE.
1814.

His Royal Highness the Prince Regent , to whose gracious patronage the Rocket System owes its existence, having been pleased to command the formation of a Rocket Corps, on the 1st of January, 1814, by augmentation to the Regiment of Artillery, as proposed by his Lordship, the Earl of Mulgrave , Master General of the Ordnance; I have thought it my duty to draw up the following details of the System, for the Instruction of the Officers of the Corps, for the information of the General Officers of the British Army, and that of such departments as it is important for the good of the service, to make acquainted with the principles of this new branch of our naval and military means of offence and defence.

I have, indeed, conceived it the more incumbent upon me to prepare such a document for the use of the Rocket Corps, with as much expedition as possible, that nothing might be wanting on my part towards its completion, having been induced to decline the offer graciously made me of commanding it, with rank in the Regiment of Artillery; a decision, in which I trust I have sufficiently proved myself to have been actuated by the most sincere desire of manifesting my attachment to that Regiment; as, however flattering the offer, it was sufficient gratification to me to have brought my labours to a consummation, which enabled me to leave the undivided benefit of this new Corps in their possession: and to have succeeded in putting into their hands a weapon, which it is my greatest pride to have already seen adding to their laurels, in the Plains of Leipsic, and on the Banks of the Adour; a weapon, which has so early given them pledges of future and greater successes, and which I hope the following pages will evince to have already been brought to a state of organization and perfection, at least commensurate with its age. I will hope, also, that the further progress and extension of the powers of the Rocket System will be such as not to discredit the discernment of the enlightened Prince, who first patronized it, or that of his Lordship, the Master General, by whose protection it is now placed on a permanent establishment. It is almost needless to add, that this volume is intended only for the use and instruction of such as it may concern, and not in any way for publication.

WILLIAM CONGREVE.

It must be laid down as a maxim, that the very essence and spirit of the Rocket System is the facility of firing a great number of rounds in a short time, or even instantaneously, with small means, arising from this circumstance, that the Rocket is a species of fixed ammunition which does not require ordnance to project it; and which, where apparatus is required, admits of that apparatus being of the most simple and portable kind.

An officer, therefore, having the use of this weapon under his direction, must ever bear this maxim in mindand his first consideration must beto make his discharges against the enemy in as powerful vollies as he possibly can.

Thusif the defence of a post be entrusted to him, and the ground be at all favourable, he will, independent of the regular apparatus he may have at his disposal, prepare what may be called Rocket Batteries, consisting of as many embrasures as his ground will admit; these embrasures being formed by turning up the sod, so as to give channels of direction four or five feet long, and three feet apart: by which a great number of Rockets in a volley may evidently be arranged to defend any assailable point. In these embrasures, if liable to surprise, the Rockets may be placed in readiness the vents not uncovered; though generally speaking, this is not necessary, as so short a time is required to place themhere and there one, only being in its embrasure.

In battle also, where there is not, of course, time to prepare the ground as above stated, but where it is tolerably level, he may, in addition to the apparatus he possesses, add to his fire by discharging, from the intervals of his frames or cars, Rockets merely laid on the ground in the direction required: and, if an enemy be advancing upon him, there is, in fact, no limit to the volley he may be prepared thus to give, when at a proper distance, but the quantity of ammunition he possesses, the extension of his own ground, and the importance of the object to be fired at. Under these limits, he may chuse his volley from 50 to 500a fire which, if judiciously laid in, must nearly annihilate his enemy: for this purpose trains are provided. This practice also requires the exposure of only one or two men, who are to fire the volley, as the remainder, with the ammunition, may be under cover. And here it should be remarked, that the length of ranges, and the height of the curve of the recocht, in this mode of firing, depend on the length of the stickthe stick of the full length giving the longest range, but rising the highest from the ground; the reduced stick giving a shorter range, but keeping closer to the ground. From this application, therefore, where practicable, by carrying a certain number of the 12-pounder pouches in the ammunition waggon, an officer, even with a dismounted brigade, may always manuvre and detach parties to get upon the flanks of any approaching or fixed column, square, or battalion, while he himself remains with the heavier ammunition and cars in front.