Used by the U.S. Lifesaving Service (merged with the U.S. Coast Guard in 1915) and the U.S. Coast Guard to send rescue lines from the shore to ships aground in distress that needed the crew rescued. The Lyle Gun used a 17 lb. Projectile that could send a messenger line up to 700 yards. It was replaced in the 1950’s with rockets or helicopters. However there are still rescue line throwers that use a rifle, shotgun or rocket to send a rescue line to a ship in distress. The Lyle Gun and Carriage weighed 185 lbs.