‘Rocket Practice in the Marshes’ (aquatint)

‘Rocket Practice in the Marshes’. Coloured aquatint from ‘The Army and Navy Register and Woolwich Gazette’. Published by J Grant, Woolwich, 1845. This print depicts a demonstration of the Hale rocket by members of the Royal Artillery and Royal Horse Artillery to a crowd, including cavalry officers and a staff officer. Invented by William Hale, the rotary Hale rocket was patented in 1844 and improved on the earlier designed Congreve rocket. Hale removed the guide stick from his rocket, instead designing it so that part of the thrust emerged through canted exhaust holes in the sides. This provided rotation to the rocket and improved its stability in flight.