The Boats of a Man of War and their use

New Zealand Illustrated Magazine, Volume VIII, Issue 1, 1 April 1903, Page 6

The Boats of a Man of War and their use

by hitgh boscawot LATE ROYAU WAVY.

Illustrated ty the Author,

W^ AND S MEN seeing boats going* So to and from a Man-of-War, itfff fancy that the only use those boats have is for communi- "^ cation with the shore — but this is not so. Since a man-of-war existed her boats have played an important part in conjunction with her, in time of war. In the old days, before steam, in the event of a calm, the boats towed a ship into action. If the enemy were in a harbour where it was unwise for the blockading ships to enter, the boats were " manned and armed," and a cutting out expedition organized, which generally succeeded in capturing the ships of the enemy from under the shore batteries, cutting their cables and taking them off as prizes. It was on an expedition of this sort at Santa Cruz that Nelson lost his arm.

The old pulling launches and pinnaces are now things of the past, they have been superseded by steam launches, pinnaces, and cutters.

Between the years 1860 and 1870, the Gold Coast of Africa was blockaded by our ships to prevent the slaves being exported to Brazil and

elsewhere, the actual work was practically done by the ships' boats. A ten-oared cutter was dropped, manned by an officer (a midshipman), cox wain, and ben men, fully armed and provisioned for a month, with instructions to cruise up and down the coast within certain specified points. In about three weeks the ship would return and relieve the crews, meanwhile the boat might or might not have captured a slaver, but the effect was to stop slaving on that coast. On the East Coast of Africa, to a small extent, this nefarious traffic is still carried on by slave dhows in spite of ships' boats.

Some of the most heroic deeds recorded in naval history have been done in boat actions. In the Crimean war the boats took an active part.

It is not only in war that the boats' crews risk their lives. On a dark night with a gale of wind blowing, that dread cry, " Man overboard \" may be heard. In about two minutes a cutter, with her crew in her is lowered from the davits, and they pull away with heavy seas breaking over them, the

officer (a midshipman) doing his best to see a small blue light burning on a life-buoy which indicates somewhere about the spot where the unfortunate man ought to be. As this life-buoy is dropped immediately the cry " Man overboard I" is heard, the man is generally pick•ed up. Sometimes, however, only after an hour's search. It is only those who have seen such an occur--ence that realize the dangers with which that tiny boat and its crew have to contend, yet nothing is thought of it on board the ship. Why ? Because all are accustomed

steam launches puffing busily to and fro, are a most welcome innovation. One of the photos depicts one of these useful little craft towing a boat whose crew, becoming exhausted from some cause or other, are not equal to the necessary exertion of pulling a heavilyladen boat. With what a hearty sigh of relief they would ship their oars !

Every one who lives in a seaport has witnessed scenes like these. Occasionally one reads in the newspapers of some smart boat engagement with Chinese Pirates or slave

to risk their lives. It is their duty. The accompanying snapshots, taken during the recent visit of the Squadron to Auckland, illustrate the use made of the boats in port. This, as before stated, is not unnaturally the only use with which landsmen associate ship's boats, viz. : to convey the happy sailor lads to and from their ships. What memories of what one has read and •seen of the humorous vagaries of Jack ashore, these little scenes cail up ! His welcome by the crowd en the wharf shows the appreciation in which he is held by those whose •experience of the dangers of the deep is exceedingly limited. The

dhows, but the general public know little and think less of all that is implied, of the peril and hardships of this engagement.

The seas all over the world have been surveyed by men-of-war, the boats do the work — and wet, arduous work it is. Admiralty Charts are used by ships of all nations, both war and mercantile. On our New Zealand coast at the preserft time,,, a, man-of-war is engaged surveying a portion, of the coast. Lines and lines of soundings have to be taken in addition to the fixing of all islands, points, &c. This is wet, monotonous, and cold work in winter. How little we on.

shore know of the hardships endured for weeks and months ! Bui this work is one of the many duties of our Navy in times of peace. When war comes, as it assuredly will some day, we shall see what our sailors can do. They are the same now as they were in Nelson's time, better educated, but just as

resourceful, and as plucky as those who fought for King and Country a century ago. There is so much to be said on the subject, but space is limited. There is a true saying — " That those that go down to the sea in ships see the wonders of the deep. Those that go down in littleboats see Hell."