The Development of Weaponry Flashcards
1
Q
Before the development of the carronade what were some key reforms made to the navy?
A
- Rear Admiral Middleton had developed coppering (nailing copper sheets to the hull) of ships, this improved the performance of RN vessels and allowed them to stay at sea longer
- Major General Blomefield improved the quality of naval guns, each gun had to be fired 30 times before being installed onto a ship
- Firing mechanism of the guns on ships were switched to the flintlock mechanism which was more reliable
2
Q
Key Features of the Carronade?
A
- Developed at Carron ironworks in Falkirk during the 1770’s
- A short cannon which fired grapeshot at short range
- Easier to use than conventional naval guns and was fired from deck
- Shorter barrel but wider muzzle allowed for a broader angle of fire - doing more damage than a conventional cannon
- It was quick to reload, used little gunpowder and devastating on enemy decks
3
Q
What established tactic did the carronade support?
A
- ‘Crossing the T’
- A manoeuvre where the attacking vessel would cut across the front of the enemy so their broadside would rake down the length of the ship
- This would allow the Br to board the ships easily and clear out the sailors more easily, making boarding the ships a safer affair
4
Q
How was the carronade used at the Battle of Trafalgar?
A
- Two 68 pounder carronades were fitted to HMS Victory
- These fired through the stern windows of the French battleship ‘Bucentaure’ and cleared the top gun deck
5
Q
Decline of the Carronade
A
- Phased out of service by 1851 due to a shift in the RN’s tactics
- Long-barrelled guns were more accurate at longer distances and quicker to fire as the RN took more fights at a distance
- Due to Falkirk producing all the shit the windage was not a problem, but the carronade drew attention to the issue
6
Q
Features of Congreve’s Rockets?
A
- Used by the navy from 1806 onwards during the wars against Napoleons France
- Physical damage was minimal but the psychological effect was huge
- They were unpredictable in their path, noisy, produced lots of noise and dealt damage
- They were greater than conventional guns and easy to fix on board to carry large amounts
- They were effective in a mixed barrage
7
Q
Battles in which Congreve’s rockets were used?
A
- Used by the RN in Copenhagen (1907) and war against the USA (1912)
8
Q
Decline of Congreve’s Rockets?
A
- Used in Baltimore 1914, failed to get Fort McHenry to surrender despite a 24 hour bombardment - the rockets were loud and inaccurate so troops were not hit
- Flight path was erratic, too uncontrollable for both sides
- Did not deal the same amount of damage as a canister or cannonball
- Reacted badly to extreme temperatures and could not be used for colonial wars
9
Q
Use of Congreve’s Rockets by the army?
A
- Despite opposition due to inaccuracy from Duke of Wellington the rocket brigade was still formed due to George the Prince of Wales
- 1st Rocket Troop was fired with conventional cannons at the Battle of Waterloo
- The lack of expansion pointed to the idea they were limited in their success
10
Q
Features of Breech Loading
A
- Practical field gun ready by 1858
- Typically cannons had to be loaded from the muzzle but he had to load it from the rear breech of the gun, which was more efficient and did not deteriorate the weapon
- He put a screw thread on the breech in order to reseal the breach of the guns before being fired
- Armstrong used lead coated bullets to improve the problem of barrel wear and accuracy - gunpowder and bullet were now together
11
Q
Features of Armstrong’s Cannons
A
- Wanted to create a new cannon for the Royal Artillery, he wanted to create an 18 pounder as a 5 pounder was too small
- Wanted to overcome there traditional problems of artillery during the Crimea of slow loading time, barrel wear and poor accuracy
- Placed a projectile in the breech and the gun had a screw on the back that could be replaced and screwed back in position before fire
- Other designs used a sliding block to seal the breech when the gun was fired
12
Q
Features that supported Armstrong’s cannons?
A
- Projectiles were coated in lead that expanded slightly when the gun was fired
- This gripped the rifling inside the barrel and put more spin on the shell
- Coating of the shell was softer than the inside of the barrel and so the barrel would not wear down
- Reduced windage
- Less gunpowder was needed to shoot the shell out of the barrel
- Based on the principle of he Minie ball, problems of wear and accuracy were resolved
13
Q
Examples of Armstrong’s artillery being used in the armed forces
A
- Army adopted the 12 pounder breech loader in 1859 and a battery of these guns were used in the New Zealand wars of 1861
- Reverted back to muzzle loaders in 1871 due to it being more simple and cheaper
14
Q
Examples of Armstrong’s artillery being used in the Second Boer War and WW1?
A
- Breech-loading artillery became the norm of the 1880’s
- 12 pounders became the main field gun and was used in the Boer War and was augmented by the RN’s quick firing 12 pounder
- in WW1 larger guns were being used which were designed and manufactured by the Armstrong Company
15
Q
Example of Armstrongs artillery in the Navy?
A
- RN adopted Armstrongs 12 pounder with a slightly shorter barrel
- Quick fire version was adopted in 1894 and became the main armament for naval destroyers in both world wars
- Had a major impaction ship design as they needed to be mounted on revolving turrets, not just firing out of the side
- The development of large battleships would not have progressed in the same way or caused the naval race pre WW1
