Cutter; Service vessel; Small craft

Scale: 1:24. A contemporary full hull model of a ship’s launch, mounted on a raised table base to illustrate the carrying of a cannon. The hull is inscribed with an 'armorial’ head of a cow on either bow and is an obvious reference to the name of the inventor of this modified launch for carrying cannon. A large cannon is slung underneath on ropes, which is rigged through vertical trunks fitted between two thwarts. If a ship needed to land or reduce its weight by removing the number of guns, or to lay out or retrieve the heavy anchors in a difficult mooring, these heavily built boats could be adapted to carry out such tasks away from the dockyard or harbour facilities.

Object Details

ID: SLR0710
Collection: Ship models
Type: Full hull model
Display location: Not on display
Creator: Cow
Date made: Circa 1824
Credit: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London, Caird Collection
Measurements: Overall model: 151 x 632 x 194 mm; Base: 193 x 663 x 264 mm