Grapnel

A grapnel comprising a substantially rod-shaped body, a plurality of grapnel arms and means for attaching a rope, said body comprising at least first and second body parts in longitudinally movable relationship with each other, said grapnel arms being pivotably mounted on said first body part and adapted for pivoting between a retracted position close to the body and a position in which they are outwardly extending from said body, each arm comprising a cam-shaped portion adapted to co-operate with an actuating piston coupled to said second body part so as to urge said arms into the outwardly extending position when said second body part is longitudinally moved with respect to said first body part by a traction on the rope, and

• wherein said second body part comprises a guiding rod for launching the grapnel along a ballistic trajectory by means of a launching tube, said guiding rod forming the tail portion of said body, said means for attaching a rope comprising means for retaining a first end of at least one loop of said rope on said second body part near the forward end of said guiding rod and comprising a movable attaching member slidably mounted on said guiding rod and retaining a second end of said loop of the rope, so as to retain the rope in the stretched condition thereof near the free end of said guiding rod.