Launch is a name given to several different types of boat. The wide range of usage of the name extends from utilitarian craft through to pleasure boats built to a very high standard.
In naval use, the launch was introduced as a ship's boat towards the end of the 17th century. On each warship, the launch was usually the largest boat out of those carried aboard. It could be propelled by oar or sail, with this type remaining in service into the 20th century. Steam launches were introduced on a trial basis in 1867, but as steam-powered ship's boats became more common, the majority were steam pinnaces.
Other military examples were the various motor launches used in the 20th century, employed for harbour defence, anti-submarine patrols, escorting coastal convoys, minesweeping and recovering aircrew from crashed aircraft. Generally, these were decked boats, some of which were capable of fast speeds.
A powered boat operated by a regulatory or official organisation may be termed a launch – such as the police launch or a harbour-master's launch. The size range and capabilities vary according to the precise role.
In private use, a launch is invariably a powered boat, using a steam, electric, petrol or diesel engine. Some are built to a very high standard of finish, with large amounts of varnished hardwood and polished fittings.[1] Various local historic types are kept in use by enthusiasts and museums.
The word launch is derived from the Spanish lancha, which may be translated into English as "pinnace". It has been suggested that lancha is in turn derived from a Malay word. The first instance of "launch" being used as a boat type in English was in 1697.[2]: 168
The launch steadily replaced the long-boat in the Royal Navy over the latter half of the 18th century. Both were usually the biggest boat carried by a warship or a merchant vessel in the age of sail. The transition from longboat to launch was influenced by the East India Company successfully experimenting with this change.[3]: 41–43
Launches were preferred as having greater carrying capacity, though they could be considered less seaworthy. An important role was the carrying of drinking water. For example, a 33 foot launch of 1804 could carry 14 large "leaguers" (barrels containing 150 imperial gallons (680 L) each), making a load of just over nine and half tonnes of water. A warship's launch would also be fitted with a windlass that allowed a ship's anchor to be carried or to be weighed (raised). A ship's boat would often be used to kedge a ship out of a harbour or away from a hazard such as a lee shore before steam tugs were available to move sailing vessels.[3]: 41–43
The launches issued to naval ships varied in size depending on the size of the ship they equipped. An 1815 schedule of ship's boats showed the range of 15 different lengths for launches from 34 feet (for a ship of 100 guns) down to 16 feet for a 200 ton sloop. As steam power became common in the navy, the need to transport drinking water (which could be distilled in the engine room) and transport anchors and cables to move a sailing ship both disappeared. By the last quarter of the 19th century, launches were only issued in one length, 42 feet.[3]: 62, 71
Launches had double-banked oars[a] The usual sailing rig for much of the 19th century was a two-masted ketch rig. A schooner rig was in use from 1878 and the de Horsey sloop rig was adopted from 1884.[3]: 91–97
In 1788 Captain William Bligh and 18 crewmen were set adrift by mutineers in Bounty’s 23-foot launch. Bligh navigated the open boat more than 4000 miles, losing only one man – Tonga to Timor, 3,618 nmi (6,701 km; 4,164 mi).[5]
Civilian use in the UK
On the River Thames the term "launch" is used to mean any motorised pleasure boat. The usage arises from the legislation[6] governing the management of the Thames and laying down the categories of boats and the tolls for which they were liable.
Motor Launch was the designation for a type of vessel used in World War II by the Royal Navy and some other navies[citation needed] for inshore work defending the coast from submarines. They were typically 60-to-115-foot or 18-to-35-metre long and carried relatively light armament – a few depth charges, a gun and a few machine guns.
Sports
In competitive rowing the term "launch" is used to refer to any motorized boat used by the coach to follow practicing boats during workouts.[7]
^A double-banked boat has two oarsmen seated on each thwart, each operating their own oar on their side of the boat. This contrasts with a single-banked boat, with just one oarsman on each thwart operating a single oar, with the side on which the oars are worked alternating along the length of the boat.
References
^Owner, Practical Boat (11 November 2014). "Glossary of Nautical Terms: L". Practical Boat Owner.
^Mayne, Richard (2000). The language of sailing. Chicago, Ill.: Fitzroy Dearborn. ISBN978-1-579-58278-4.
^ abcdMay, W E; Stephens, Simon (1999). The Boats of Men of War (2003 publ Caxton Editions ed.). London: Chatham Publishing. ISBN1-84067-4318.
^Winstedt, Sir Richard (1962). A History of Malaya. Marican.
^Frost, Alan (2004). "Bligh, William (1754–1817), naval officer and colonial governor". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/2650. ISBN978-0-19-861412-8. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
^"Electric coaching launches benefit athletes and air quality". www.torqeedo.com. Retrieved 2022-09-23.
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April 06, 2023
launch, boat, launch, name, given, several, different, types, boat, wide, range, usage, name, extends, from, utilitarian, craft, through, pleasure, boats, built, very, high, standard, 1910, mathis, launch, horsepower, universal, engine, saranac, lake, york, po. Launch is a name given to several different types of boat The wide range of usage of the name extends from utilitarian craft through to pleasure boats built to a very high standard 1910 Mathis launch 15 horsepower universal engine at Saranac Lake New York A police launch operating on the Thames The steam launch Branksome at the Windermere Jetty museum In naval use the launch was introduced as a ship s boat towards the end of the 17th century On each warship the launch was usually the largest boat out of those carried aboard It could be propelled by oar or sail with this type remaining in service into the 20th century Steam launches were introduced on a trial basis in 1867 but as steam powered ship s boats became more common the majority were steam pinnaces Other military examples were the various motor launches used in the 20th century employed for harbour defence anti submarine patrols escorting coastal convoys minesweeping and recovering aircrew from crashed aircraft Generally these were decked boats some of which were capable of fast speeds A powered boat operated by a regulatory or official organisation may be termed a launch such as the police launch or a harbour master s launch The size range and capabilities vary according to the precise role In private use a launch is invariably a powered boat using a steam electric petrol or diesel engine Some are built to a very high standard of finish with large amounts of varnished hardwood and polished fittings 1 Various local historic types are kept in use by enthusiasts and museums A US Navy launch of the 1940s Contents 1 Etymology 2 History 3 Civilian use in the UK 4 Military use in the UK 5 Sports 6 See also 7 Notes 8 ReferencesEtymology EditThe word launch is derived from the Spanish lancha which may be translated into English as pinnace It has been suggested that lancha is in turn derived from a Malay word The first instance of launch being used as a boat type in English was in 1697 2 168 History EditMain article Ship s boat The launch steadily replaced the long boat in the Royal Navy over the latter half of the 18th century Both were usually the biggest boat carried by a warship or a merchant vessel in the age of sail The transition from longboat to launch was influenced by the East India Company successfully experimenting with this change 3 41 43 Launches were preferred as having greater carrying capacity though they could be considered less seaworthy An important role was the carrying of drinking water For example a 33 foot launch of 1804 could carry 14 large leaguers barrels containing 150 imperial gallons 680 L each making a load of just over nine and half tonnes of water A warship s launch would also be fitted with a windlass that allowed a ship s anchor to be carried or to be weighed raised A ship s boat would often be used to kedge a ship out of a harbour or away from a hazard such as a lee shore before steam tugs were available to move sailing vessels 3 41 43 The launches issued to naval ships varied in size depending on the size of the ship they equipped An 1815 schedule of ship s boats showed the range of 15 different lengths for launches from 34 feet for a ship of 100 guns down to 16 feet for a 200 ton sloop As steam power became common in the navy the need to transport drinking water which could be distilled in the engine room and transport anchors and cables to move a sailing ship both disappeared By the last quarter of the 19th century launches were only issued in one length 42 feet 3 62 71 Launches had double banked oars a The usual sailing rig for much of the 19th century was a two masted ketch rig A schooner rig was in use from 1878 and the de Horsey sloop rig was adopted from 1884 3 91 97 During the Demak Sultanate attack on Portuguese Malacca of 1513 lancaran were used as armed troop transports for landing alongside penjajap and kelulus as the Javanese junks were too large to approach shore 4 In 1788 Captain William Bligh and 18 crewmen were set adrift by mutineers in Bounty s 23 foot launch Bligh navigated the open boat more than 4000 miles losing only one man Tonga to Timor 3 618 nmi 6 701 km 4 164 mi 5 Civilian use in the UK EditOn the River Thames the term launch is used to mean any motorised pleasure boat The usage arises from the legislation 6 governing the management of the Thames and laying down the categories of boats and the tolls for which they were liable Military use in the UK EditMain article Motor Launch Motor Launch was the designation for a type of vessel used in World War II by the Royal Navy and some other navies citation needed for inshore work defending the coast from submarines They were typically 60 to 115 foot or 18 to 35 metre long and carried relatively light armament a few depth charges a gun and a few machine guns Sports EditIn competitive rowing the term launch is used to refer to any motorized boat used by the coach to follow practicing boats during workouts 7 See also EditRAF rescue launch Cabin cruiser Slipper launch Naphtha launch Small motorboat used in the late 19th century United States Picket boat a naval launchNotes Edit A double banked boat has two oarsmen seated on each thwart each operating their own oar on their side of the boat This contrasts with a single banked boat with just one oarsman on each thwart operating a single oar with the side on which the oars are worked alternating along the length of the boat References Edit Owner Practical Boat 11 November 2014 Glossary of Nautical Terms L Practical Boat Owner Mayne Richard 2000 The language of sailing Chicago Ill Fitzroy Dearborn ISBN 978 1 579 58278 4 a b c d May W E Stephens Simon 1999 The Boats of Men of War 2003 publ Caxton Editions ed London Chatham Publishing ISBN 1 84067 4318 Winstedt Sir Richard 1962 A History of Malaya Marican Frost Alan 2004 Bligh William 1754 1817 naval officer and colonial governor Oxford Dictionary of National Biography online ed Oxford University Press doi 10 1093 ref odnb 2650 ISBN 978 0 19 861412 8 Subscription or UK public library membership required Thames Conservancy Act 1932 Electric coaching launches benefit athletes and air quality www torqeedo com Retrieved 2022 09 23 Wikimedia Commons has media related to Barkassen Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Launch boat amp oldid 1148425622, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
