|
|
Irish
Coast Guard Historic |
|
|
Setting the Scene |
THE ROCKET LINE. This established the initial and
vital link between the shore party and the ship in distress. It had
to be light enough to be carried out by the rocket, but heavy enough
to pull out the whip and block through the water. It also had to be
coiled in such a way that it ran out freely without kinking or snagging.
Without this link the rescue could not be carried out with any success.
To ensure that the line would run out freely it was ‘Flaked
or Faked down’ (laid out) in a box in a specific way ready for
use. There were two different methods used, one was used with the
Boxer rocket, the other with the Schermuly rockets. Although different,
both achieved the same result. It is interesting that both methods
were, and are still used even though different types of rockets are
used. The Boxer method required a wooden frame 51”x 15 ½”
(1300 x 390 mm) with 40 tapered faking pins 12”x 1.1/4”x
5/8” (300x40x15mm) attached at intervals of 1.1/4” (40.mm)
around the outside facing up, 17 pins long and 5 pins wide. The box
had the same number of holes in the bottom and the frame was fitted
into the bottom of the box and secured to the box with a ‘Hasp
& Eye’. The rocket line was passed around the pins (which
are now in the box) in a diagonal way starting in the corner. On reaching
the other end the line was passed around the pins in the opposite
direction and fed back to the start. The process continued until all
the rocket line was ‘Faked’ down in layers. When ready
for use the hasps were released, the frame and pins dropped out from
the bottom, one end of the box was lifted on to the ‘Canting
leg’ (wooden frame) to the leeward side (down wind) of the rocket,
at an angle of 45°. The line was then attached to the rocket stick.
The Schermuly method was slightly different, as frame with pins was
used, but not in the box, the rocket line was ‘flaked’
down around the pins from side to side rather than from corner to
corner. When all the line was flaked down, the box 20”x 20”
x 12” (500 x 500 x 300 mm) was placed over the rocket line,
the box turned over and the frame lifted off, leaving the flaked line
in the box ready for use. The advantage of this method was that only
one frame was required for all the boxes and there was no need for
the box to be tilted at an angle to help the line to run out. The
box of line was placed in front of the rocket machine, not to one
side. This method was and is still used for all line throwing equipment.
Today however it comes in ‘ready to use’ cardboard boxes
containing 350 metres of light rocket line. It should be noted that
a frame of steel with stainless steel pins and wooden boxes are still
available for use when the rocket line can be recovered, re-flaked
down and re-used for exercises.
|