The Congreve rocket was used as a military weapon. Developed by British inventor William Congreve in the early 19th century, the Congreve rocket was a type of unguided, solid-propellant rocket that was used primarily as a bombardment weapon against enemy positions. It consisted of a cylindrical body made of iron or steel, filled with gunpowder or other propellants, and attached to a long stick that acted as a stabilizing tail. The rocket was ignited by a fuse, and once fired, it would propel itself through the air until the propellant was exhausted or the rocket impacted its target.
Congreve rockets were first used in combat during the Napoleonic Wars and proved to be a formidable weapon. They were particularly effective in sieges, where they could be used to bombard enemy fortifications from a distance. The rockets were also used in naval battles, where they were launched from ships to attack enemy vessels.
Congreve rockets were eventually replaced by more advanced rocket artillery, but they played a significant role in military history and helped pave the way for the development of modern rocketry.