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Irish
Coast Guard Historic |
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Setting the Scene |
THE BOXER ROCKET This was the original method of propulsion
by which the rocket line was transferred from the shore to the ship.
Attached to the rocket by way of the two lugs was a rocket stick,
to which the rocket line was attached. The rocket (in the shape of
a tube) was constructed from
“Bessemer” steel sheet, 25” long and 2.3/4”
in diameter (635mm x 70mm) weighing 14.1/2 lbs. (6.5 kg). It consisted
of two cylinders filled with a slow burning composition. The first
cylinder (at the rear end) gave the initial thrust, when this burned
out the second fired, carrying the rocket and line onwards to its
destination. The rocket was fired by igniting the fuze which had a
3 second delay with a “Portfire” (type of flare). This
rocket remained in service until 1950, a total of 85 years |