launch

A launch is the largest and most important boat carried aboard a naval vessel, typically slung in davits on the ship's side or stern. It serves as the commanding officer's personal transport for official business ashore, moving between the ship and dock, or conducting inspections of other vessels. The launch differs from a ship's cutter or gig by its greater size, carrying capacity, and the formality of its use; it is crewed by trained oarsmen or motor crew and often displays naval colors and insignia.

Naval launches come in several configurations depending on the parent ship's size and era. Sailing warships of the 18th and 19th centuries carried wooden launches, typically 30 to 35 feet long, fitted with both oars and sails for independent operation. Steam and motor vessels adopted steam launches and later diesel-powered boats, which required less crew skill to operate but demanded regular maintenance of engines and boilers. The launch's design prioritizes seaworthiness in rough water and the dignity of its appearance, since it represents the ship's command ashore.

Davit handling and daily operation

Launching and recovering the boat at sea demanded considerable seamanship, especially in heavy weather. Davits (crane arms) lowered the launch to the water on rope tackles, and recovery required timing the lift with the ship's roll to avoid fouling the falls or swamping the boat. In modern naval service, hydraulic davits have replaced rope systems, though the principle remains: the launch must be kept ready to deploy with minimal delay, which means securing it properly against the ship's pitch and roll without damage.

The launch carried a coxswain, usually a senior petty officer, who commanded the crew and was responsible for the boat's safety and seamanship. Officers boarding the launch were expected to observe naval protocol: passing through the gangway in correct order, piping aboard (signaling with a boatswain's pipe), and sitting in designated positions that reflected rank. These formalities persisted even in the 20th century, marking the launch as a space where naval hierarchy and tradition held practical as well as ceremonial weight.

The term "launch" itself derives from the verb to launch, or set afloat, though in this context it has acquired a fixed meaning as a proper noun for a specific class of vessel. The word appears in naval records from the 17th century onward, and its definition has remained remarkably stable: the boat that commands respect and carries authority, not merely passengers.