172 ROC 
Rocket ammunition is divided into three classes, heavy, 
medium, and light; the former including all those of above 
421bs., which are denominated according to their calibre, as, 
eight-inch, seven-inch, Six-inch, &c. rockets; the medium 
include all those from the 42lb. to the 24lb. rocket; and the 
light, from the 18-pounder to the 6-pounder inclusive. 
The carcass-rockets are armed with strong iron conical 
heads, containing a composition as hard and solid as iron 
itself, and which, when once inflamed, bids defiance to any 
human effort to extinguish it: and consequently involves, in 
an inextinguishable flame, every combustible material with 
which it comes in contact. The 42-pounder and 32-pounder 
carcass-rockets, are those which have hitherto been chiefly 
employed in bombardments; the penetration of the 321b. 
carcass-rocket in common ground is nine feet; and in some 
instances where they have been employed, they have been 
known to pierce through several floors, and through the sides 
of houses: this is the smallest rocket used in bombardment, 
and the largest employed in the field; the more usual size for 
the latter service being the 24,18, 12, and 6-pounders. 
The ranges of the eight-inch, seven-inch, and six-inch 
rockets, are from 2000 to 2500 yards; and the quantity of 
combustible matter, or bursting powder, from 251bs. to 
501bs.; and from their weight combined with less diameter, 
they possess a greater power of penetration than the heaviest 
shells, and are therefore equally efficient for the destruction 
of bomb-proofs, or the demolition of strong buildings; so 
that the facility of application^ on which the inventor has 
hitherto rested the merit of the rocket-system, is not its only 
excellence ; for it thus appears, that it actually will propel 
heavier masses than can be done by any other means, that is 
to say, masses, to project which, it would scarcely be pos¬ 
sible to cast, much less to transport, mortars of sufficient mag¬ 
nitude. The largest rocket that has yet been constructed, has 
not, we believe, exceeded three hundred weight; but Sir 
William Congreve seems to have in contemplation others of 
K E T. 
mu»h superior magnitude, weighing from half a ton to a ton 
weight, which being driven in very strong cast-iron cases, 
may possess such force, that, when fired along trenches cut 
to the foot of the glacis, from the nearest point of the third 
parallel, against the revetement of any fortress, even unim¬ 
paired by a canonnade, it shall, by its mass and form, pierce 
the same; and, having pierced it, shall with one explosion of 
several barrels of powder, with which it is loaded, blow such 
portion of the masonry into the ditch, as may, with very few 
rounds, complete a practicable breach. 
The 42 and 32-pounders are those, as we have before 
stated, which have hitherto been principally used in bom¬ 
bardment, and which, for the general purposes of that service, 
are found quite sufficient, as they will convey from 7lbs. to 
lOlbs. of combustible matter each, and have a range of up¬ 
wards of 3000 yards. 
The 32-pounder rocket may be considered as the medium 
rocket, being the smallest used in bombardment as a carcass 
or explosion rockect, and the largest used with shot or shell 
in the field ; but as the 24-pounder is very nearly equal to 
it in all its applications in the latter service, being quite equal 
to the propelling of the Cohorn shell, or 12-pounder shot, it 
is, from the saving in weight, generally preferred to the 32- 
pounder. 
The 18-pounder, which is the first of the light nature of 
rockets, is armed with a 9lb. shot or shell; the 12-pounder 
with a 61b. ditto; the 9-pounder with a grenade; and the 
6-pounder with a 31b. shot or shell. From the 24-poutider 
to the 9-pounder rocket inclusive, a description of case-shot 
rocket is formed of each nature, anned with a quantity of 
musket or carbine balls, put into the top of the cylinder of 
the rocket. 
The following table presents a general view of the ranges, 
elevations, and other particulars of several of the most usual 
descriptions of Congreve rockets. 
Nature of Ammunition. 
Armed with. 
Extreme Range. 
Elevation for extreme Range. 
42-Pounder carcass-"! 
rockets./ 
42-Pounder shell-\ 
rockets./ 
32-Pounder carcass-1 
rockets.J 
32-Pounder shell-1 
rockets. J 
32-Pounder case-shot 1 
rockets. J 
32-Pounder explosion-1 
rockets.J 
1 2-Pounder case-shot 1 
rockets. J 
/large. 181bs. of combustible matter! 
carcasses / Pmal]j 12 ib s . ditt0 .1 
“ • • {tEpoundVrVpheriVai:::::::::: J 
Tlarge, 18lbs. of combustible matter 
Carcasses-! medium, 121b. = 13-inch carcass 
l__small, 81bs. = 10-inch ditto.... 
Shells, 9-pounder spherical . 
C hot -T lar S e > conta ‘ n ' n D 200 carbine balls 
as ' /small, 100 ditto. 
/ Strong iron cones, containing from 51bs. to! 
\ 121bs. of powder, to burst by fuzees .... J 
n , . f large, 72 carbine balls. 
Case-shot | sm ^ 48diUo . 
Yards. ! 
.... 3500 L 
... 2000 
.... 2500 
.... 3000 
.... 3000 
.... 2500 
... 3000 
from 2500! 
to 3000 J 
.... 2000 
.... 2500 
Elevation for extreme range 
not less than 60° 
60° 
60° to 5 0 
55° 
50° 
55° 
50° 
55° 
45° 
45° 
Note. —The mean velocity of any rocket is to that of its 
equivalent shell in about the ratio of 8 to 9, the ranges being 
the same. 
From the preceding table it will be seen, that the 32- 
pounder carcass-rocket will range 3000 yards, with the same 
quantity of combustible matter as that contained in the 10- 
inch spherical carcass; and 2500 yards, with the same quantity 
as that of the 13-inch sperical carcass. It will be seen also, 
that the 12-pounder case-shot rocket, which is so portable that 
it may be used with the facility of musquetry, has a range 
nearly double that of field artillery, carrying as many bullets 
as the 6-pounder spherical case; add to which, that from the 
nature of the construction of the rocket, these bullets are 
projected from it in any part of its track, with an increase of 
velocity, whereby its operation becomes frequently most 
destructive at that point where any different species of am¬ 
munition .ceases to be effective. 
Of this description of case-shot rocket, 100 infantry soldiers 
will carry into action, in any situation where musquetry can 
act, 300 rounds, and 10 frames for discharging them ; from 
each of which, four rounds may be fired in a minute. And 
of the same description of case-shot for the use of cavalry, 
four horses will carry seventy-two rounds, and four frames; 
from which may be fired sixteen rounds in a minute; each 
horse not having more than the ordinary burden of a dra¬ 
goon’s horse. 
The 
