Captain Jerningham's Anchor-Firing Mortar, 1846

Experiment to test Captain Jerningham's idea to assist the launching of lifeboats. The launching of lifeboats from a beach into heavy breaking surf was often dangerous and sometimes impossible due to the strength of the waves. Captain Jerningham felt that if a mortar were used to fire one or two anchors out beyond the surf, a lifeboat could haul on these anchor lines to pull itself through the breakers and into the calmer water beyond

1846 Anchor Anchors Assist Breakers Felt Haul Idea Impossible Jerningham Launching Lifeboat Lifeboats Mortar Pull Sometimes Surf

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