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Posted: 7/4/2014 6:28:53 PM EDT
"And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air,"
Most people will recognize this as a part of the US National Anthem. Yet, some may not realize the origin of this line. The reference to rockets comes from the use of the Congreve Rocket by British forces bombarding Ft McHenry, Maryland, during the War of 1812. 
"It was the use of ship-launched Congreve rockets by the British in the bombardment of Fort McHenry in the US in 1814 that inspired the fifth line of the first verse of the United States National Anthem, "The Star-Spangled Banner": "And the rockets’ red glare, the bombs bursting in air". HMS Erebus fired the rockets from a 32-pound rocket battery installed below the main deck, which fired through portholes or scuttles pierced in the ship's side." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Congreve_rocket Firing Congreve rockets: 
"The 32-pound rocket, which was customarily used by the British Navy, consisted of a cylindrical body 42 inches long and 4 inches in diameter. Attached securely to the body was a 15-foot-long stabilizing shaft which had been carefully inspected for signs of warping. Congreve designed three types of interchangeable warheads for the rocket— incendiary, case shot, and explosive. "Since the rocket can project itself without reaction upon the point whence it departs," Congreve was able to design very light and mobile devices to launch the missile. If necessary, the rocket could be placed on the ground and launched in the direction of the target. For an elevated trajectory, the rocket was placed on a slope or its shaft was inserted in a hole. The smaller missiles were usually launched from a hollow copper tube supported by a tripod, from a troughlike chamber set on the ground, or from a simple launcher mounted on the cart in which the rockets were carried. Congreve also designed a ladderlike frame to fire the larger rockets." http://www.nps.gov/history/history/online_books/hh/5/hh5l.htm Congreve rockets: 
Rocket launcher: 
The Details of the Rocket System, Sir William Congreve A Treatise on the General Principles, Powers, and Facility of Application of the Congreve Rocket System |
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Posted: 7/4/2014 6:41:14 PM EDT
[#1]
That's pretty cool.
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Posted: 7/9/2014 10:41:16 AM EDT
[#2]
Did you know that BAESYSTEMS the defense company that makes all sorts of cool gear for the US Armed forces, Can trace it's history all the way back and actually made the Rockets used that day.
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Posted: 7/10/2014 9:45:57 PM EDT
[#3]
pretty cool
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Posted: 7/10/2014 10:38:38 PM EDT
[#4]
Not terribly accurate though. Best book I have on the subject is The First Golden Age of Rocketry.
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