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Irish
Coast Guard Historic |
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Setting the Scene |
THE 3” BREECHES BUOY COASTGUARD ROCKET. This rocket is one of many invented
by William Schermuly during his lifetime. Throughout his life he devoted
his time to improving the lifesaving equipment available. He seemed
to concentrate on line throwing equipment and invented and continually
improved many of his own creations. Indeed the modern line throwing
apparatus is based on his ideas and inventions. This rocket was specifically
designed to carry a line from the shore to a stranded ship quickly,
efficiently and accurately, which it did by achieving a 4% accuracy.
It was 22” long x 3.1/4” diameter (560mm x 85mm) with
a bridle 22”x ¾”x ¾” (635mm x 19mm
x 5mm). On the end of the bridle is a flame diverter and a fitting
for the wire trace which is attached to the rope rocket line, this
eliminates the need to ‘Soak’ the rocket line as in the
Boxer system. It was fired electrically by screwing in one fitting
attached to 25 yard electrical cable to an electrical connector on
the top of the rocket launcher, another from the same connector to
the end of the rocket, this in turn was attached to the detonating
box. The circuit was tested using a “Puffer”, the firer
walked the length of the cable away from the launcher and fired. Unlike
the Boxer rocket it usually fired and passed over the target first
time which of course was the aim of the exercise. It saved precious
time and a lot of effort. |