| HAT 8003 1/72 SCALE Napoleonic British Rocket Troop 24 figures, 4 launchers and 4 carriages per box unpainted figures ANY QUESTIONS PLEASE ASK OVERSEAS BUYERS PLEASE NOTE PAYMENT IS VIA PAYPAL ONLY HISTORICAL NOTE Wellington had little time for the rockets, as their main successes had been to bombard towns, causing fires and destroying the morale of the defenders. This was little use to Wellington in Spain, as he could not use such weapons on Spanish towns held by the French for the political fall out from extensive civilian casualties, which were sure to occur. In Southern France, Wellington had successfully fostered good relations with the civilian population and did not want to wreck this work by destroying their towns either. However, the Rocket troop had one opportunity to show it’s worth. The first battalions to cross the mouth of the Ardour on the bridge of boats were accompanied by rocket units. When the bridge was temporarily broken, stranding this small bridgehead without support, the French counter attacked in overwhelming force to drive the troops into the sea. If there was ever an occasion for the rockets to work, this was it. Witnesses to the action that followed, described the scene. ‘A column of five thousand infantry, with several pieces of cannon, was accordingly formed, and marched in firm array to the attack of only six hundred soldiers of the British Guards, supported by a small detachment of rockets……………the rocket men throwing in their diabolical engines with extraordinary precision………..the confusion in the ranks of the enemy beggars all description. I saw and conversed with a French sergeant who was taken in this affair. He assured me, that he had been personally engaged in twenty battles, and that he had never really known the sensation of fear till today. A rocket, it appeared, had passed through his knapsack without hurting him; but such was the violence with which it flew, that he fell upon his face, and the horrible hissing sound produced by it was one which he declared that he never could forget. It skips and starts about from place to place in so strange a manner, that the chances are, when you are running to the right or left to get out of the way, you run directly against it; and hence the absolute rout, which a fire of ten or twelve rockets can create, provided they take effect. But it is a very uncertain weapon. It may, indeed, spread havoc among the enemy, but it may also turn back upon the people who use it, causing, like the elephant of other days, the defeat of those whom it was designed to protect. On the present occasion, however, it proved materially serviceable, as every man can testify who witnessed the result of the fire. |
1/32 Scale Napoleonic
