British Naval Brigade Hale 24PR Questions

[Belgian]

Was wondering if somebody has some pictures or information about the Naval Brigade 24 Pounder Rocket Tubes which were used in the Anglo-Zulu War. Have two crews of sailors but no weaponry and was thinking of scratchbuilding either 9 or 24 pounder rocket tubes.

Would prefer the latter as they would be manned by Naval Brigade (blue painted fellows and have more punch) but can't find much  information about these. Would need the tube length and also the way they are used. Were they used in a mortar like setting or as tripod mounted weapon ( like modern AT guns on technicals)? Thanks for checking and looking forward in learning from your expertise.

[Plynkes]

They used what was originally a ship-mounted rocket tube, called the Fisher Launching Tube Mark II, and adapted them for land use by adding a tripod. The contraption looks a little like a modern recoilless rifle, and in the only depiction of one in action I have seen they have it pointing up in the air like a mortar.

Can't remember ever seeing a photo of one, but there is a painting in the Osprey book "British Forces in Zululand 1879":

https://ospreypublishing.com/british-forces-in-zululand-1879-pb

Would prefer the latter as they would be manned by Naval Brigade (blue painted fellows and have more punch)

The sailors from HMS Boadicea that operated them at Gingindlovu wore white, I'm afraid.   But the ones from HMS Active in Pearson's Column at the Nyezane at least wore blue jumpers.

[Plynkes]

Managed to find a photo, albeit a bit small...



This is a later photo, I believe in Rhodesia, and it may not be the exact same model, but it gives you an idea of what they looked like, at least.

[Plynkes]

In its natural shipboard habitat, without the tripod mount...

[Belgian]

Thanks Plynkes, had found the second picture but it was way smaller and couldn't read the dimensions. Shouldn't be too difficult to scratchbuild looking at the contraption. Regarding the crew, no worries about that just painted some British Miniatures blue and that will suffice already happy they are painted and can pass as a 'believable' crew when playing. When finished I will take some pictures of my efforts.

[Belgian]

Simplified version but almost ready, will add some 9pr rocket troughts too.

[Plynkes]

Cool. What figures are those? I don't recognise them.

[Belgian]

They're Wargames Foundry, not their finest miniatures as I think they are newer additions using dollies from older ranges. They were bought second hand and in the loose mini boxes from Dave Thomas at Crisis, couple of years ago.

[Plynkes]

Oh yeah, I remember those now. Some of the Zulus were really nice, as they were re-purposed Copplestone Darkest Africa sculpts Zulu-fied. But the newly sculpted stuff was, shall we say, ...patchy.

Doesn't seem like they are available any more (unless I am just getting lost trying to navigate their site), which is a bit of a shame, as the Zulus were lovely.



Edit: No wait, they are hidden away in the "Casting Room Miniatures" section.

[Belgian]

Oh yeah, I remember those now. Some of the Zulus were really nice, as they were re-purposed Copplestone Darkest Africa sculpts Zulu-fied. But the newly sculpted stuff was, shall we say, ...patchy.

Doesn't seem like they are available any more (unless I am just getting lost trying to navigate their site), which is a bit of a shame, as the Zulus were lovely.



Edit: No wait, they are hidden away in the "Casting Room Miniatures" section.

The zulus are excellent! Also saw that the 24pr is shown on a picture in the Osprey Zulu War Fortifications book but you can only see the barrel.

[sjwalker51]

Do you mean this picture?

Think I need one for both my Naval Brigade and BSAC forces!

[Belgian]

Thanks for the picture, was going to use my scratchbuild but doesn't look right and will buy some other artillery. So now I have eight painted crewmembers and a unique 24PR up for sale if somebody is interested.