Subject:
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Re: John E. Doolittle
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Newsgroups:
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lugnet.pirates
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Date:
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Mon, 31 Jan 2000 17:32:42 GMT
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Viewed:
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5022 times
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In lugnet.pirates, Richard Parsons writes:
> Tony Priestman and Bruce Schlickbernd wrote about the relspective meruts of
> rockets as an offensive weapon aboard late 17th and early 18th century
> warships.
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> Ok ok ok.
>
> How about a barge-like monitor?
>
> No sails or rigging to set afire while arguing with the bad guys. You could
> tow it (a considerable distance) behind your ship, or anchor it in position
> and leave it. Ideal for leaving in harbour mouths.
>
> You could tow it into battle, and leave it among the bad guys. I'm
> thinking fireship, only better.
Hmmm, well, that would seem to work. Don't quite know why it wasn't tried (or
maybe it has been, but I haven't run across it yet). Too slow to aim,
especially when the target is moving?
I think it would work best as a surprise weapon under limited conditions.
Surprise, point-blank range, that kind of thing. Harbor defense possibly.
Towing would work best in the same kind of condition fire-ships worked best:
when the other fleet is in port.
Ship's captain probably didn't like them for the same reason they didn't bother
with heated shot (to cause fires): just too dangerous to the firing ship.
But then again, this is fictional, so we can throw caution to the wind! :-)
Bruce
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Message has 3 Replies:
 | | Re: John E. Doolittle
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| On Mon, 31 Jan 2000, Bruce Schlickbernd (<Fp7nEI.50G@lugnet.com>) wrote at 17:32:42 (...) Arr! And throw lubbers to the sharks! (25 years ago, 31-Jan-00, to lugnet.pirates)
| | | Re: John E. Doolittle
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| (...) It was tried--in 1862. That was part of the theory behind the Confederate ram Virginia (formerly the Federal frigate USS Merrimack). It just sort of sailed in and among the blockade force at Hampton Roads, and caused mayhem. However, ships (...) (25 years ago, 1-Feb-00, to lugnet.pirates)
| | | Re: John E. Doolittle
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| (...) There's a book by David Drake called Surface Action. It's sci-fi about a mostly water world and the conflicts that arise on it. During the climactic naval battle the "good" guys took one of their monitors and disguised it as a floating wreck. (...) (25 years ago, 8-Feb-00, to lugnet.pirates)
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Message is in Reply To:
| | Re: John E. Doolittle
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| Tony Priestman and Bruce Schlickbernd wrote about the relspective meruts of rockets as an offensive weapon aboard late 17th and early 18th century warships. Ok ok ok. How about a barge-like monitor? No sails or rigging to set afire while arguing (...) (25 years ago, 30-Jan-00, to lugnet.pirates)
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