The fireships in Calais Roads. Like the older torpedo boats and to a lesser degree the bomb-dropping aeroplane; the fireships principal value was the confusion she caused; for she could only drift down with wind and tide when she had been set on fire and abandoned by her crew. In 1588; the Spanish Armada had anchored in Calais Roads and a few of their boats; manned by cool crews; could have grappled the English fireships and made them drift harmlessly past; but panic caused hopeless confusion; ships were seriously damaged in collision; and anchors (which would have prevented many wrecks later) were cut away. Illustration for one of a set of 50 cigarette cards on the subject of Sea Adventure; issued by Hignett Brothers in 1939.