Service vessel(1824); Ship's launch

Scale: 1:16. A contemporary full hull model of a proposed ship's launch for the transport of guns and laying out of anchors, designed by John Cow in 1824. Model is decked, equipped and mounted on its original raised baseboard. It shows how a heavy gun can be slung underneath the launch, the hull of which is marked with several waterlines showing how it would float while carrying different loads. Plaque inscribed ‘Launch, fitted with trunks through the bottom for laying out anchors and landing guns by Mr Cow, Woolwich Yard, 1824’.

The port side hull is inscribed ‘Water Line When Twenty Tons are hove up by the Windlass’/ ‘Water Line when a bower anchor is suspended flukes in midships stock aft a bower cable coiled in the boat and 20 men.’ / ‘Water Line when a bower anchor is suspended in midships’ / ‘Water Line when light’ / ‘Water Line when a bower anchor is suspended over the stern’.

The starboard hull is inscribed ‘20’/ ‘Water Line When Twenty Tons are hove up by the Windlass’ / ‘Water Line with 32 Pounder Guns, (Two) their Carriages, Ammunition and Twenty Men.’ / ‘Water Line when Light’.