Changing Weaponry - Artillery Flashcards
What was the Congreve Rocket?
Britain had experimented with rockets in wars in India and a variant of said rockets was developed by Sir William Congreve who believed that it would be profitable if they were used en - masse.
What advantages did Congreve Rockets have?
They were very easy and cheap to make meaning that the army could mass produce them. They also made a loud whistling noise which was psychologically harmful for nearby soldiers and they could also start fires.
What disadvantages did Congreve Rockets have?
They were highly inaccurate and very unreliable. Dangerous to use on ships as they could start fires. They could also lead to friendly fire and in turn Wellington despised them and often kept them away from the battlefield.
When were Congreve Rockets Used?
They first used them in 1806 when 2000 rockets were fired at Boulogne and although little damage was done it’s psychological damage on civilians was immense, it was used to the same effect in Copenhagen in 1807. It was then used in colonial wars such as the First Burma War of 1824-1826.
What improvements were made to naval guns after the American War of Independence?
Flintlock firing mechanisms were added to make firing more reliable and the 1770s also saw the introduction of the carronade.
What advantages did carronades have?
They could change the elevation of the gun to hit specific enemy targets. It could also be fitted with chain-shot which would destroy enemy masts and grape shot which was devastating at close range.
Why was the use of carronades incredibly brief?
They were not effective at long range so during the war of 1812 American ships would simply bombard from a distance. They were then slowly phased out.
How were cannons in the Napoleonic Wars?
They fired iron balls and were prone to malfunctioning for example some would become soiled by gunpowder and then subsequently explode, they were also muzzle loaded.
Who was Sir William Armstrong?
He was an industrialist and an inventor who established his own engineering works in Newcastle in 1847. He invented the breech loading cannon and in 1858 the newly-formed war office made a contract for him to start supplying the army.
What impact did Armstrong have on artillery?
His breech loading system significantly sped up the loading process meaning that the rate of fire was greatly improved, the gunpowder was also contained within shells which prevented soiling.
What impact did the Armstrong gun have on Shells?
New shells were introduced which were explosive and in turn caused significant damage for example at the battle of Sinope. Shells were also designed to expand when fired and in turn create more spin.
What was the long term impact of the Armstrong gun?
Ships were now built with turret mounted breach loading cannons which gave a 360 degree radius of fire furthermore, in the First World War guns had reached an immense size.
When was the First Machine Gun developed?
It was developed in 1884 by Maxim and could fire around 600 rounds per minute making cavalry entirely obsolete.
What machine guns did the British Army use in the First world war?
Originally the Vickers and the Hotchkiss required a crew of 6 but eventually they were phased out by the American Lewis gun which had a crew of just 2.
