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Post by capney on Jul 23, 2010 16:11:40 GMT
Less chance of catching fire?
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Post by DAG on Jul 23, 2010 17:07:25 GMT
You are correct Robert! One of the most important things was not to catch fire of course and if the bottom sails caught light the whole suite of sails would burn down in minutes and most of the rigging and spars with it! Then the ship would not handle too well! ;D Do you have one ready Robert, I don't have any more handy at the moment?
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Post by DAG on Jul 26, 2010 21:34:09 GMT
OK then here is another:
Same time period.
They usually kept livestock on board for long sea trips, so why did they normally throw them overboard before engaging the enemy?
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Post by kedigato on Jul 27, 2010 18:58:51 GMT
To clear the decks for combat - or is that too obvious?
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Post by DAG on Jul 27, 2010 19:06:45 GMT
To clear the decks for combat - or is that too obvious? Would certainly help, but not the main reason.
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Post by kedigato on Jul 27, 2010 19:54:23 GMT
Would they stand more chance of surviving?
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Post by DAG on Jul 27, 2010 20:19:17 GMT
Yes kedi, believe it or not, most livestock would be pulled into the lifeboats towed behind, unless they were too large to handle, in which case just pushed over the side and hope for the best. Also it was common practice for the Officers personal gear to be placed into these boats as well. Normally down at that level and well back from the mother ship they would be below normal cannon fire and stand a better chance of survival even if captured by the enemy. Safe that is until the survivors needed to eat, which was why they were there in the first place! Well done kedi, do you have another one to post up?
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Post by kedigato on Jul 27, 2010 20:25:11 GMT
Sorry, I don't. Anyone else?
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Post by DAG on Jul 28, 2010 16:07:24 GMT
Looks as if nobody has one ready, so I will put my thinking cap on:
Moving on to a different period, the steam age, and there is a real pea souper fog, you can't see a yard in front of you, and standing next to the railway line you hear an express train coming and it is your job to stop the train as there is danger ahead.
As a signalman, you know that the driver cannot see the old style semaphore signals reliably in this weather, what do you do?
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Post by nazimundo on Jul 28, 2010 22:12:12 GMT
I thinkyou would fix a detonator cap to the line to give an audio signal
Alfie
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Post by DAG on Jul 29, 2010 5:36:57 GMT
Yes that is correct Alfie! I thought you would know the answer, and how did they fix the detonator to the railway line then?
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Post by nazimundo on Aug 1, 2010 12:41:59 GMT
Sorry for not answering this sooner Dag, As far as know the detonator caps had two metal straps which could be bent to secure them to the line.
Alfie
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Post by DAG on Aug 1, 2010 12:47:29 GMT
Spot on Alfie, 2 lead straps I have been told that can just be pushed around the railway line to keep it in place, just using the fingers for speed.
Do you have another Alfie?
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Post by nazimundo on Aug 3, 2010 9:30:32 GMT
While visiting friends in ancient Greece would you have stroked their cat?
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Post by DAG on Aug 3, 2010 9:36:33 GMT
Nice one Alfie!
Arney thinks that cats were considered sacred so probably not a good idea?
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