Chapter 63 New Weapons
Jiang Muzhi and Li Chiqi improved the new gun mount, solved the locking device, and replaced it with better quality ball bearings. Finally passed the shooting range and 5o kilometers march test. The achievements of this major improvement led the General Staff to decide that during the First Five-Year Plan period, the mounts of all new artillery guns will be replaced with metal mounts, and the original old wooden mounts will also be gradually transformed. The Machinery Department urgently fabricated new gun mounts for three field artillery batteries. Then, even the frame of the artillery front car was improved.
Although there are not enough horses and the method of "replacement of animals and soldiers" is used, the front carriage of the artillery is still indispensable - not only for loading ammunition, but the main reason is that the center of gravity of the artillery is high and it is not easy to drag it Master the balance. If you are not careful, you will end up falling upside down. The front car can support the rear of the gun carriage when towing, balance the center of gravity, and disperse the pressure of the heavy gun body. The horses or people towing the gun carriage only need to provide forward pulling force.
"After the improvement, the artillery will be much more flexible in movement." Ying Yu inspected the new artillery arrayed on the shooting range. The artillerymen were running forward and backward in response to the officer's command, simulating the firing procedure of the artillery. According to the requirements of the artillery training syllabus, the eight gunners of each gun must conduct guard changing training with each other to prepare for continuous firing in the event of casualties. According to the outline requirements: a group of well-trained gunners should be able to continue firing even if only two people are left. According to Lin Shenhe, there were examples during the Civil War where only one gunner could keep the artillery functioning - of course this was enough to win a medal.
"It would be great if there were horses." Lin Shenhe looked regretfully at the gunners who were training according to the artillery outline he had written. A company of 110 horses was simply a dream.
"You said you wanted to get new artillery shells, has there been any result? The gunners still need to be familiar with the loading and firing of the new artillery shells." Zhang Bolin hurried over wearing a sweat vest.
"Come on, new cannonballs are only more effective than old cannonballs." Lin Shenhe said and yawned - red lanterns will be hung up in the laboratory again in the afternoon.
Originally, in order to simplify the process, the artillery of the Sixth Army was only equipped in batches with the two simplest types of artillery shells-solid shells and shotgun shells. Grenades are also produced in small quantities, but they are only used for training and are not reserved.
The principle of grenades fired by smoothbore cannons is similar. They use the gas from the cannon to ignite the delay fuse on the cannonball to detonate the cannonball. Therefore, special care must be taken when loading, and the fuze hole must be directed towards the muzzle of the gun. Otherwise, once the gas rushes directly into the fuze hole, the shell will explode directly in the chamber. In order to withstand the high chamber pressure, the cartridge case must be made very thick. A 12-pound spherical artillery shell can only be loaded with 900 grams of black powder. The fragments produced by the explosion are not even as effective as solid bullets in killing people. The main purpose of artillery equipment grenades is to deal with buildings and ships, and also to scare people - after all, explosive bombs are not common in this time and space.
He was going to fire shrapnel. The structure of shrapnel is more complex than other spherical projectiles: a number of iron or lead projectiles and detonating powder are loaded into the projectile, and a delay fuse controls it to detonate at a suitable height and distance. After the projectile is exploded by the detonating charge, the projectile inside the projectile will maintain its previous speed and fly towards the enemy in front. Its power is equivalent to a close-range shot of a shotgun.
The killing effect of shrapnel grenades at medium and long distances is very good compared with solid grenades, especially when attacking dense formations of enemies. If the timing of the fuze detonation is mastered well, a large number of enemies can be knocked down in an instant. However, early shrapnel shells were not very safe to shoot even if they were not accurate - the pellets inside the shrapnel shells rubbed against each other and could easily detonate the gunpowder in the shell in advance.
Lin Shenhe chose the shrapnel shell that was improved by Captain Ber of the British 6th Army in 184o. It is greatly improved in structure and certainly more complex. The projectile is loaded at the front of the projectile, separated by an iron dividing plate and the detonating charge at the rear. The tail is equipped with a cup-shaped tail pad that not only prevents the projectile from rolling in the barrel, but also expands under the gas pressure during firing to act as a gas seal. This structure makes the entire projectile lighter at the rear and heavier at the front. Combined with the unique shape behind the tail pad, the shell is quite stable during flight and the accuracy is much higher than that of shrapnel shells of the same era. When the delayed fuze detonates the explosive charge, the iron partition will push the projectiles forward when the projectile is exploded, causing them to shoot forward at a cone angle, instead of scattering randomly like other shrapnel shells. This further increases its lethality.
When a 12-pound cannon is used to fire shrapnel, it can work at a distance of 1100 meters, and its power is far better than a grenade that can only explode twenty large fragments.
With this gadget, the Fubo Army can effectively kill fast-moving cavalry groups at medium and long distances without having to wait 200 meters away before shooting with shotguns.
Originally, there was no need to mass-produce shrapnel to deal with the Guangdong Ming Army, which was mainly composed of dismounted troops. However, fighting for hegemony in the mainland is a matter of time, so it is better to take advantage of the opportunity of the Ming army's invasion to test it in advance.
Finally, he wanted to modify the delay fuze used by artillery. With the introduction of shrapnel, it is very important to use safe and reliable fuzes.
In the past, Chamberlin's smoothbore artillery used the simplest time fuse when training to fire grenades. It’s so simple that everyone thinks it’s too easy. A hollow wooden tube with openings at both ends - the time traveler simply skipped the process of processing the hollow wooden tube and directly used a thin bamboo tube - the tube was filled with slow-burning gunpowder that burned very stably. The letter tube is marked with a scale. When using it, the gunner first estimates the shooting distance, finds out the distance and the flight time corresponding to the type of shell from the artillery manual, then cuts off the corresponding length according to the scale on the fuze, and inserts it into the fuze hole of the shell, with one end exposed outside the shell, and the other One end is in contact with the explosive inside the missile. Finally, just insert the shell into the barrel and make sure the fuze is facing forward. Later, I simply installed a wooden holder directly on the spherical shell using the time fuze. Ensure the accuracy of the direction when loading.
This kind of fuze is intuitive and convenient to operate, but because the tube is inserted manually, the depth of insertion will affect the detonation result. Moreover, the fuze hole into which the fuze is inserted cannot be completely sealed with the signal tube, making it sometimes unsafe to use. Lin Shenhe decided to directly imitate the brmnn fuze. This is the best and most reliable time fuze that can be found on a smoothbore gun. It is a flat metal cylinder with threads on the outside. It can be screwed into the fuze hole and the time is engraved on the upper surface. When using it, you only need to drill a hole in the required time scale and then screw it into the fuze port of the shell. The maximum time of the brmnn fuze is only 5.5 seconds. Not suitable for use with projectiles such as mortars that are very slow at first.
After drawing the three-dimensional view of the fuze, he handed the drawings to the mechanical department.
"This thing needs to be made with a certain degree of precision. I have to find a veteran to make it." Zhan Wuya looked at it and said, "Brass?"
"right."
"It's quite small, and the brass ones won't consume much." Zhan Wuya looked at the size, "How about making a thousand of them first?"
"No problem. I don't think Zhang Bolin's gunners have the chance to shoot a thousand grenades and shrapnel."
"One more thing, since we are now mass-producing grenades and shrapnel, we can manufacture complete artillery shells of these two types of ammunition." Lin Shenhe said, "After all, the firing rate of complete artillery shells is much faster."
The so-called complete artillery shell is to fix a cloth bag under the wooden holder using grenades and shrapnel. In this way, the original steps of loading gunpowder and ammunition are combined into one.
The gunfire was rumbling on the shooting range, and while the Army was stepping up preparations for war, the Navy was also busy trial-producing new equipment. The navy's combat mission is to blockade, and it is also responsible for protecting the Lingao coastline. Especially the two key ports of Bopu and Ma Niao.
The navy will send most of its ships to undertake the task of maritime blockade, and at the same time continue to be responsible for transporting supplies to Sanya. The number of ships that can directly defend the port will be greatly reduced. Bopu's defense system is dominated by heavy artillery, with strong long-range firepower, but its ability to directly defend the port is a bit weak. Ma Niao only had one gun tower and one marine platoon, making its defense even weaker.
"Our defense force in Ma Niao is too thin." Chen Haiyang said at the combat meeting. "Ma Niao is our supply base for salt chemical raw materials and a modern salt production plant. The defense force only has one platoon and one gun tower - It is also equipped with a 12-pound mountain gun. If the enemy breaks through the sea blockade, there are steam salt plants, windmills, and boilers in Majiaodeng 6. As long as it is set on fire, it will cause heavy losses. ”
There is a shallow water port in Majiao, which is very suitable for small-tonnage ships used by the Ming army to conduct penetrating boarding operations.
"It's a little late to talk about building forts now."
"No, one month is enough." Mei Wan, who came to attend the meeting, said, "Give me enough resources. In one month I can build a large-scale military tower that can accommodate an infantry company and be equipped with heavy artillery during wartime." Bastion."
"Is that okay?" The participants whispered to each other for a while. He Ming nodded: "I'll fight for it. But you have to make sure it's completed within a month."
"I promise to finish it," Mei Wan said.
"Instead of building a bastion, it is better to build some mines to block the port. To prevent the penetration of enemy ships." As the port director and fortress commander, Li Di never forgot the matter of mines.
"Mine? I'm afraid it will blow up our own ship." Chen Haiyang was very clear about the effectiveness of mines, so he was even more hesitant about using mines.
The technique of touching anchor mines is very simple, but the navy does not have minesweeping equipment available, which makes it very inconvenient when minesweeping is needed. In the event that the anchor breaks off and the mine floats, the width of the Qiongzhou Strait is simply a weapon that can blow up ships indiscriminately.
In the past, navies and weapons designers have considered the creation of electro-visual mines for use in harbor defenses. However, the problems of anti-corrosion and leakage of wires in seawater and the problem of mines unanchoring could not be solved well. In the end, the plan of electric mines was also abandoned.
Another option is the rod mineboat proposed by Wen Desi. The originally proposed design of the rod minecraft was a rowing boat with an armored deck, driven by human oars. The medicine bag was fixed on the side of the ship and then a wire was released to connect to the rod minecraft. The rod minecraft then quickly reversed its oars to a safe distance, and then used electric fire to detonate the explosive package.
Although this design fully takes into account the safety of the rod mine boat, it is currently inconvenient to use the rowing boat for simulation tests. It is difficult for sailors to maintain a calm paddling rhythm under enemy fire. Human-powered rod mine boats The maneuverability is not as good as imagined. And electric fires bring old problems: waterproof wires can't solve them. Therefore, the rod mine boat project has been shelved. Currently, several traffic boats equipped with typewriters and guns are responsible for guarding the inner harbor. They have strong firepower but are not powerful enough when facing large ships.
"We are now able to mass-produce steam-powered three-boats, which can be completely modified using off-the-shelf equipment." Wen Desi was very enthusiastic about this matter and began to promote his rod mine boats again.
The so-called three-boat is a standardized motor boat manufactured by the shipyard to unify the small transport boats used in offshore and inland waterways. Divided into large, medium and small according to volume.
Wen Desi's proposal was to use a wooden hull mid-ship as the base boat. This kind of boat has a full load displacement, a total length of 13 meters, a depth of 1.5 meters, and an average draft of 0.78 meters. Install a nest-type small steam engine. 4.5 knots when fully loaded. Although the speed is slightly slower, it is more than enough to maneuver in ports and coastal harbor branches.
With mobility, the electric ignition used in the past for safety is no longer necessary.
This new type of torpedo speedboat uses a steam medium-sized boat as the prototype boat, and a layer of iron plate is laid on it as a slope as armor - the iron plate does not need to be thick, as long as it can withstand the fire of a matchlock gun. The bow is a long metal pole that retracts into the hull. The front end of the metal rod has a detachable fastener that is connected to the mine body of the rod. The rod mine itself is a flat cylindrical wooden box containing 3og of black powder. Its front end is flat, with many barbed nails on it, trying to fix it to the ship's plank. The tail is a release device, which is connected to the fastener at the front end of the lightning rod. Once the fixation is completed, the personnel in the cabin immediately pull the device to separate the mine and the boat. The release device on the lightning rod is connected to the fuse of the firearm. Once it is released, the fuse is pulled open by the pulling force, and the fuse is ignited by the fuse and begins to burn. Detonate the rod mine until the delay ends.
The detonating device of the rod mine uses a wooden handle grenade fire device, which is simple and reliable. It is not difficult for the industry of the Cross-Trading Group to manufacture it.
After the mine and the boat are separated, the boat with the rod mine can return to a safe area, retract the mine rod into the boat, reinstall the mine, and then attack again.
Because of the use of steam engine power, the maneuverability of the rod mine boat is guaranteed. Although the tonnage is small and the speed is not very useful on the outer sea, it is still very useful in the chaos of the narrow inner harbor.
Its mobility and armor can ensure that it will not be attacked or jumped in close-range melee, and the rod mine can also be loaded multiple times. The cost of this kind of boat is not high, it can be manufactured in batches quickly, and it is perfect for protecting ports.
"Is the connection between the mine body and the ship guaranteed? I'm afraid it will take a lot of impact force to fix the mine body to the ship's hull."
"It may not be possible to use a paddle, but steam power is still enough. We can add a little sticky stuff - such as gum to increase adhesion."
"How can the boat operator observe such a fully enclosed armor?"
"Use armored shutters." Wen Desi said, "Have you seen this circular armored tower protruding from the hull? There are six armored observation windows arranged in a ring on the tower."
The driving tower is a two-person one, with a helmsman steering in front, and the captain sitting in a slightly higher position behind the helmsman. His seat can be rotated, and the situation outside can be observed through the blinds. The helmsman steers according to his command, and the captain can still Command the entire boat through the intercom.
"Two engineers are responsible for the steam engine, and two sailors are responsible for operating the rod mine. Plus one alternate - he can be used to help add coal, and the whole boat is enough for seven people. The whole boat is pre-installed except for one , prepare four more mines." Wen Desi pointed at his design.
According to Wen Desi's idea, this kind of rod mine boat had no problem in defending the port before the time traveler built the flywheel torpedo. It was at least more destructive than the machine gun boat. One rod mine was enough to blow up or severely damage a ship with hundreds of ships. tons of ships.
"Ma Niao has deployed four ships, and Bo Pu has deployed ten ships. Half of them are on fire and the other half are resting. As long as they can destroy two or three enemy ships, the enemy will be scared and run for their lives."
It was immediately decided to submit an emergency shipbuilding project to the Planning Institute for the urgent construction of sixteen rod mine boats and eight machine gun boats.
Wu De immediately approved the shipbuilding project. As for whether the mine boat was that useful, it was not a big problem in his opinion - if it was useless, the armor would be removed and used as a transportation boat. It would not be a waste anyway.
Zhan Wuya received clear instructions from He Ming to organize militias in all factories. Set aside an hour every day for military training.
"Military training with spears?"
"First use spear assassination and queue techniques. For gun handling, you can use the training gun to hold it first. And bomb dropping - Hailin has handed over hundreds of training bombs. You can use a hundred to train the workers. ." He Ming said, "I have submitted an application to the Planning Institute, requesting an urgent expansion of rifle production. By then everyone will have rifles - you have to select the most politically reliable and resolute elements from the workers' militia as the core militia. Ready to call at a moment’s notice.”
"What? We want to drag workers to fight." Zhan Wuya was shocked. Even if one of the industrial workers he had finally trained died, he would suffer a big loss.
"Let them serve as reserves and garrisons. They will not be mobilized to fight." He Ming explained, "In addition to factories, communes and local villages will also need to be mobilized. However, the Workers' Self-Defense Force will be the main force. "x! ~!
