a ship's anchor to be carried or to be weighed (raised). A ship's boat would often be used to kedge a ship out of a harbour or away from a hazard such as a lee shore before steam tugs were available to move sailing vessels. The launches issued to naval ships varied in size depending on the size of the ship they equipped. An 1815 schedule of ship's boats showed the range of 15 different lengths for launches from 34 feet (for a ship of 100 guns) down to 16 feet for a 200 ton sloop. As steam power became common in the navy, the need to transport drinking water (which could be distilled in the engine room) and transport anchors and cables to move a sailing ship both disappeared. By the last quarter of the 19th century, launches were only issued in one length, 42 feet. Launches had double-banked oars The usual sailing rig for much of the 19th century was a two-masted ketch rig. A schooner rig was in use from 1878 and the de Horsey sloop rig was adopted from 1884. During the Demak Sultanate attack on Portuguese Malacca of 1513, lancaran were used as armed troop transports for landing alongside penjajap and kelulus, as the Javanese junks were too large to approach shore. In 1788 Captain William Bligh and 18 crewmen were set adrift by mutineers in Bounty’s 23-foot launch. Bligh navigated the open boat more than 4000 miles, losing only one manTonga to Timor, . Civilian use in the UK On the River Thames the term "launch" is used to mean any motorised pleasure boat. The usage arises from the legislation governing the management of the Thames and laying down the categories of boats and the tolls for which they were liable. Military use in the UK Motor Launch was the designation for a type of vessel used in World War II by the Royal Navy and some other navies for inshore work defending the coast from submarines. They were typically long and carried relatively light armament – a few depth charges, a gun and a few machine guns. Sports In competitive rowing the term "launch" is used to refer to any motorized boat used by the coach to follow practicing boats during workouts. See also RAF rescue launch Cabin cruiser Picket boat, a naval launch Notes References Boat types Ship's boats Motorboats