Hazardous nearshore conditions often exacerbated by dangerous currents and unforgiving weather, have always complicated efforts to rescue sailors stranded on grounded or foundering ships. It is often important to send a rescue vessel out to another vessel in distress, for a variety of reasons. Unfortunately, many sailors have lost their lives stranded within sight of shore but without hope of help. Luckily, many so-called “life-saving guns” have been developed over the years, some of them by the United States Life-Saving Service. These guns were designed as “line throwing guns” to shoot a line out over a vessel in distress with the intent of offering relief to the sailors stranded on board the vessel.
Life-saving guns typically fired a special bronze or wrought iron projectile connected to a special waterproof linen line. Their purpose was to shoot over the stranded vessel so that the linen line would fall aboard it; a heavier line could then be hauled aboard the stranded vessel and a life-saving device, such as a breeches-buoy, could be used to transport the stranded sailors safely to shore.
The Lyle Model C was a development of the Lyle gun, a unique lifesaving device that was developed in the late 1800s and named after First Lieutenant David A. Lyle to oversee the project. Check here first for parts associated with this invaluable historical lifesaving device, and if you have any questions about parts, accessories, or the history of the platform, get in touch with us at 610-250-3960.