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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Tue, 8 Feb 2000 18:30:11 GMT
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Reply-To:
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s.a.campbell@larc.nasa.gov^ihatespam^
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Viewed:
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4202 times
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Bruce Schlickbernd wrote:
>
> 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.
> >
> > 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.
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. They set ot loose several days ahead
and let it drift into the battle area. The "bad" guys ignored it until
it opened fire. Great fun was had by all.
SteveC
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Message is in Reply To:
 | | Re: John E. Doolittle
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| (...) 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 (...) (24 years ago, 31-Jan-00, to lugnet.pirates)
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