Bomb ketches were difficult to sail, as there were two large mortars on the foredeck in place of the fore-mast. To withstand the recoil of the cannons with their heavy projectiles, the bomb ketches had to have a massive and firm hull. Bomb ketches were used by the French in the 17th and 18th century to bombard port towns on the Barbary coast more efficiently. The bomb ketch LA SALAMANDRE was launched in Toulon in 1752.
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