Chapter 694 Such a ferocious artillery

4）

In the afternoon, Zhang Zhun left Caidiexuan and went to the cannon casting workshop.

Because of the huge needs of the 6th Army and the Navy, the current artillery casting workshop has a lot of personnel, and the originally deserted workshops have become very lively. Craftsmen in different uniforms, in different workshops, are busy and methodically processing all kinds of artillery parts. Because of the tight time and heavy tasks, they didn't even have time to take a look at Zhang Zhun's arrival.

Of course, these excitements are relative to insiders. In the eyes of ordinary people, the place where the artillery factory is located is still a barren mountain range, and there are no people from the outside, only occasionally rumbling cannons come out. In the distance, there are sentries and warning signs that prohibit unrelated people from approaching. In the core area, the security is also quite strict, and even if Zhang Zhun arrives, he has to verify his identity.

Sun Qinkai was busy, and when he heard Zhang Zhun coming, he hurriedly came out to greet him and took Zhang Zhun to the test plant. The test plant is the busiest place in the entire foundry, and it is also the most confidential core of the entire foundry. To enter here, you need to go through a new and detailed inspection.

When Zhang Zhun arrived, not only Sun Qinkai and others were there, but also several technical backbones of the ironmaking plant. Together with Sun Qinkai, they worked together to solve the problem of the material of the barrel. For the redcoat cannon, the biggest difficulty lies in the barrel. Until the material of the barrel is difficult to solve effectively, it is useless to say anything else.

The huge test plant was full of all kinds of raw materials, as well as several prototype guns. The color and shape of each sample cannon are a little different, and there is a very eye-catching number on it. This is made using different raw materials, which vary in quality and performance. Continuous research, continuous manufacturing, and repeated trials until the performance is satisfactory is the work that Sun Qinkai and they have to do every day.

Modern research basically starts from theory, first proves that it is feasible in theory, and then begins to make physical objects. But at that time, there was not a single person who knew how to calculate theoretically. Therefore, they can only take the most clumsy way, that is, to cross the river by feeling the stones, continue to explore, and continue to improve, until they come up with a product that they are satisfied with. Because they do not know how to conduct theoretical research, the cost of experiments is naturally very large.

"How's it going?"

After Zhang Zhun greeted everyone, he asked with concern.

"It's not very good."

Sun Qinkai said a little embarrassed.

Regarding the replication of the red-clothed cannon, Sun Qinkai was indeed a little careless at the beginning. He thinks that in the case of physical comparison, there should not be much of a problem. As a result, he later found that he had indeed a red-coated cannon. It's not very difficult to fix it, and it's not easy to recast it.

In fact, his father, with the help of Portuguese technicians, spent several years finally copying the Hongyi cannon. It can be seen that the work of casting cannons is definitely not a simple matter. Now, in the hands of the Tiger Army, there is no relevant information at all, and it is indeed very difficult. For this reason, Sun Qinkai and the people around him almost turned white.

Sun Qinkai and the others have made several prototypes, which have been repeatedly used to test and find ways and methods to improve. However, the performance of these sample guns is not very satisfactory. Yes, the barrel is not strong enough, and it is easy to explode. Yes, the range of the cannon is not enough, only six or seven miles away. Yes, the reliability is not high, and technical failures are prone to occur. There are also barrels that have too short a lifespan, and a dozen shells are finished.

Obviously, such a cannon cannot meet the needs of the Tiger Ben Navy. Fortunately, the Tiger Warrior Navy is not equipped with redcoat cannons on top of the Sword Tooth Ship, but on the larger Dragon God Ship. The time for the Dragon God Ship to be launched should be about two years away. In this way, Sun Qinkai and they still have more time to continue to improve.

"Don't be discouraged"

"Keep trying"

"There will always be results"

After Zhang Zhun figured out the situation, he said encouragingly.

After all, the red-coated cannon was the most powerful artillery in the world at that time, and it was not easy for the Tiger Benjun Army to master all the relevant technologies at once without any relevant information. However, no matter how difficult it is, the study of artillery must be carried out.

For modern warfare, it is simply inconceivable that there is no high-power artillery. The artilleryman claims to be the god of war, and this is definitely not an exaggeration. The power of artillery will become more and more serious about the outcome of the battle. The key is not to be discouraged. As long as you keep working hard, even if the redcoat cannon can't be developed, you can find another way.

After thinking about it, Zhang Zhun said slowly: "Everyone has also worked hard, so they all rest and rest." If you're interested, I'll tell you something else about it. ”

All the backbone craftsmen immediately surrounded them.

They all know that what Zhang Zhun is going to say must be related to the study of artillery. Every time Zhang Zhun tells the story, he is actually prepared, mainly to broaden everyone's thinking, broaden everyone's horizons, and help everyone find more ways. In this era, due to the backwardness of communication tools, what people lack most is the exchange of information and experience, and the popularization of relevant technology is even more difficult.

Zhang Zhun from later generations obviously has too much common sense than people of this era. The 21st century is an era of knowledge explosion, and with the help of the Internet, you can master a lot of knowledge without leaving home. When Zhang Zhun was a coach in school, he would go online when he had nothing to do, flip around and look around. Since he was born in the army, he naturally has the most knowledge of military affairs. Therefore, his mastery of military scientific and technological knowledge is also superficial.

Among these military scientific and technological knowledge, there are a large number of artillery-related memories. Artillery exhibitions throughout the ages, Zhang Zhun is basically familiar with them. Even if you don't fully understand the truth, a lot of insight can make others feel very fresh and interesting, so that they can deeply remember it in their own minds.

This point is very crucial for the craftsmen present. Because, Zhang Zhun's words are equivalent to holding up a guiding light in front of them, and they only need to follow the light to grope around, and they can successfully find the exit. Without this light, they wouldn't even know where to go.

In fact, what Zhang Zhun wants to say is indeed what he has seen and heard about artillery. After feeling that the research of the red-coated cannon was blocked, Zhang Zhun had the necessary need to help the craftsmen present find more ways out and guide them to jump to other tracks. All roads lead to Rome, and there is no need to drill into dead ends.

In fact, the exhibition of artillery should not be limited to red-coated cannons. The red-coated cannon is just a type of cannon, because it happened to reach China, so it will be familiar to the Chinese. In fact, there are many more types of cannons besides the cardinal cannon and the Francophone cannon. It's just that these cannons did not reach China and were not known to the current Chinese.

After the spread of gunpowder and firearms in China, artillery began to develop rapidly in Europe. In the first half of the XIV century, artillery for firing stone shells began to be created in Europe. In the early sixteenth century, the Italian Tartaglia now had the maximum range of artillery shells fired at an angle of 45 in a vacuum, which laid the foundation for the theoretical study of artillery.

By the middle of the 16th century, bronze long-barreled cannons and long-barreled cannons forged from wrought iron appeared in Europe, replacing the previous mortar cannon (a large-caliber short-barreled cannon, similar to later mortars). The front car is also used to facilitate quick movement and through undulating terrain. By the end of the sixteenth century, shotguns, made of bullets or metal fragments in iron cylinders, appeared and were used to kill and injure people. The so-called shotgun, in naval battles, is called grapeshot.

Around the Common Era, some European countries began to shoot with medicated kits, which improved the ejaculation and shooting semen. By the seventeenth century, Galileo's ballistic parabolic theory and Newton's study of air resistance promoted the development of artillery. During the reign of King Gustav II of Sweden (1632 AD), the mobility of artillery was increased by reducing the weight and standardizing the artillery.

In 7 AD, Europe replaced the bulk gunpowder inside the ignition hole with a tube filled with gunpowder, simplifying the process of aiming and loading. By the end of the XVII century, howitzers were used in most countries of Europe. The appearance of Napoleon pushed the exhibition of artillery to a new **.

The redcoat cannon is actually a type of cannon, and there are some differences from the howitzers commonly used later. The barrel of the cannon is relatively long, and the trajectory is straight and low, which is conducive to direct aiming. Howitzers have a shorter barrel and a more curved trajectory, which must be aimed indirectly. From the angle of the target, the cannon is more suitable for hitting a fixed point target, while the howitzer is more suitable for hitting surface targets.

Of course, the difference between the two can sometimes be ignored. By the time of the 21st century, artillery technology had reached its peak, and the distinction between cannons and howitzers had basically disappeared. Most of the national armies are equipped with howitzers.

Zhang Zhun mentioned the difference between these two types of cannons, just to tell the craftsmen of the cannon foundry that in this world, there is not only one kind of red-coated cannon, but also various other kinds of artillery. This path does not work, it can be changed to another one, there is no need to hang yourself from a tree. The purpose of this was not only to reduce the pressure on the craftsmen, but also to hope that the craftsmen could use their ingenuity to design a more advanced artillery than the redcoat cannon.

In fact, if it hadn't appeared on the battlefield in China and killed Nurhachi unintentionally, the red-coated cannon would indeed be nothing special. The design of the redcoat cannon is decades old. Until now, the British themselves no longer use such designs. The British had more advanced artillery. Therefore, if the Tiger Warrior Navy wants to dominate the world in the future, it must have more advanced artillery than the redcoat cannon.

Zhang Zhun has always believed in the ingenuity of the Chinese and is definitely not below foreigners. The ingenuity of the craftsmen present was definitely not below the technicians of the Western powers. It's just that because the Chinese are too smart, sometimes smart is mistaken by smart. The most prominent manifestation is that these cleverness are not used in the right place.

For example, the officials of the Ming Dynasty, which one was a fool? They are smarter than anyone else, but their cleverness is not used in the right place, it is used for internal intrigue and power struggle. If the Eunuch Party and the Donglin Party were not pinching each other, but united to the outside world, where would it be the turn of Huang Taiji? I don't know to which plane I was exterminated to.

Because of the influence of Confucianism, China's mathematical, physical and chemical foundation is indeed very weak. This is indeed very unfavorable to the study of artillery. In the absence of theoretical support, relying solely on the research method of crossing the river by feeling the stones is too costly and too long, and it is indeed much weaker than that of the Western powers.

Any input requires output, and the same is true for cannon research. That is to say, Zhang Zhun is a traverser, knows a lot of performance data of cannons, and has a clear understanding of the role of cannons, so he will invest a lot of money in this area and actively conduct research. If you were someone else, you might not have such confidence and perseverance.

For example, the imperial court, because it could not see the power of artillery, would certainly not invest heavily in this. At the beginning, Xu Guangqi and Sun Yuanhua raised funds for the research of the red-coated cannon. Moreover, their research was carried out with the physical objects and the guidance of Portuguese craftsmen. It's pure imitation, and it's completely different from research.

"The so-called parabolic research is actually not very complicated......"

Zhang Zhun said slowly.

The study of Galileo is indeed difficult to explain in technical terms. It is impossible for the craftsmen present to master the relevant mathematical knowledge. However, Zhang Zhun can use some simple methods, such as fixed angles, fixed angles, parabolic shapes, etc., to deepen their understanding.

For all the craftsmen here, the parabolic theory is absolutely new, and it is a theoretical knowledge that they have never been exposed to. If they want to have a deep understanding, of course, they need to study it themselves. Zhang Zhun's explanation only made them understand that it is not enough to bury their heads in continuous experiments, and they also need to conduct certain research theoretically. If theory can be combined with practice, it is possible to achieve twice the result with half the effort in the study of artillery.

The same is true for the study of air resistance. If you list the relevant equations, Zhang Zhun will be dizzy. But it doesn't matter, these can be told with simple examples. The key is to let everyone know that artillery shooting is closely related to these theories. As long as the craftsmen have the heart, I believe that they can solve the mysteries. Isn't Zu Chongzhi's pi also deduced under very rudimentary conditions?

"Why is our Tiger Ben so powerful? The point is that rifling is used"

"So, our cannons, can they also use rifling?"

"If curved rifling doesn't work, then what about straight rifling?"

Zhang Zhun said seductively.

If the red-clothed cannon can't be copied, Zhang Zhun is ready to copy the manufacturing experience of the Tiger Ben Gun to the Flying Dragon Cannon. The enlarged Tiger Ben Gun is a new type of rifled gun. The enlarged Mini shell is a new type of shell. Of course, there are still many difficulties to overcome. But isn't this also a path that can be tested?

In real history, the reason why there was no Mini gun was because when the Mini gun appeared, breech guns had already begun to appear, and there was no need to engage in front-loading breech guns. In fact, the scenery of the Mini gun, that is, for more than ten years, was quickly replaced by a breech-loading rifled gun. The Mini gun, as a model of a front-loading rifled gun, is indeed a bit out of time.

However, the current situation, and the real history, are obviously somewhat different. Because of the early appearance of the Miney gun, because the rear-loading gun is far away, this makes the appearance of the breech gun also far away. In the foreseeable future, it should still be the world of mini guns. Therefore, at this time, it is not at all surprising that the Mini cannon appeared.

From the advent of artillery until the middle of the nineteenth century, cannons were generally smoothbore front-loading guns, firing solid ball shells, and some guns fired spherical explosive shells, shotguns, and slipped shotguns. The original rifled guns were rifled, and the main purpose was to facilitate the frontloading of the projectile. This artillery fires slowly, has a low firing accuracy and a short range. In order to increase the range of artillery, rifled guns were tested in European countries at the beginning of the nineteenth century.

In 1846, Major G. Cavalli of Italy made a spiral rifled cannon that fired a cone-headed cylindrical long explosive bomb. The spiral rifling rotates the projectile, stabilizes the flight, increases the power and accuracy of the gun, and increases the range of the gun. At the same time as the appearance of rifled guns, the bolt was improved, the gun was rear-loaded, and the fire was significantly increased.

In the case that breech guns and large-caliber guns could not solve technical difficulties, Zhang Zhun had to think about the experience of introducing rifled guns and mini shells in the manufacture of artillery. Since it is possible to draw rifling inside the Tiger Gun, it is not completely impossible to draw rifling on the inside of the barrel. As for the large Mini bullet, it should be possible to make it.

"My lord, this can indeed be considered."

Sun Qinkai thought for a moment and said with a little excitement.

Whether it is a redcoat cannon or a Franc machine gun, it is actually a smoothbore gun, and there is indeed a lot of room for improvement in terms of range and accuracy. If a rifled gun is manufactured, it must greatly outperform the rifled gun in terms of range and accuracy, just as a rifled gun outperforms all smoothbore guns.

As the main artillery of naval warfare, if the Minnie cannon can appear, the Tiger Army Navy can have more powerful artillery than the enemy, can shoot beyond the range of the enemy's shells, and can hit the target more accurately, rather than relying on basic luck. The power of the Mini cannon will definitely be stronger than the red-coated cannon.

"The development of rifled guns is not easy."

"If the development of rifled guns cannot be carried out, it is still necessary to try large-caliber guns."

Zhang Zhun pondered for a moment, and then said slowly.

In fact, Zhang Zhun himself did not have a clear concept of the artillery exhibition of the Tiger Army. Zhang Zhun didn't have much understanding of what kind of artillery the cannon casting workshop could develop. He's prepared for both. If a rifled gun could be developed, it would be the best. If it is not possible to develop rifled guns, then it is also feasible to increase the caliber of artillery and create large-caliber artillery.

At that time, the cannon of the British Navy, the largest shell weight reached 68 pounds, which is the origin of the so-called 68-pound gun. However, the 68-pounder cannon was indeed too heavy for even a battleship with a displacement of 2 tons to bear, so it later had to be reduced to about 46 pounder. In fact, the caliber of a 46-pound shell is already almost 2oo millimeters. This caliber is quite amazing, you must know that the caliber of the Napoleonic gun is about 12o millimeters, and the weight of the shell is only 12 pounds.

In other words, when the Tiger Navy wanted to compete with the British Navy for supremacy, it was indispensable to have a huge cannon with a caliber of about 2oo mm. Such a large-caliber gun, of course, is not mounted on a gun carriage, but on a large warship. Since Xue Zhidie has already started to design giant ships, Sun Qinkai here will naturally start designing giant cannons.

Sun Qinkai said in surprise: "Such a large-caliber artillery? Too scary? ”

Zhang Zhun smiled and said lightly: "What is this? There's a bigger caliber."

Sun Qinkai was stunned and said, "Is there a bigger one? ”

Zhang Zhun nodded, smiled slightly, picked up the triangular ruler, measured the corresponding cannon caliber on the table in front of him, and said quietly: "This is 46o mm caliber, this is 8oo mm caliber, this is 12oo mm caliber." ”

The main gun of the battleship Yamato is 46o mm, which is the most powerful maritime artillery in the history of mankind. As for the more outrageous railguns, mortars and the like, there are also more than 8oo mm calibers, and even more than 12oo mm. As long as the war requires, no one can think of it.

"Adult ......"

Sun Qinkai involuntarily gasped.

The other technical backbones around him also gasped. Zhang Zhun's description really shocked them. Over 12oo mm caliber artillery, what is the concept? The muzzle of the cannon may be slightly lower than the commonly used water tank, what method did such a huge cannon use to throw such a heavy cannonball?

In other words, such shells weigh at least a few hundred pounds. A solid iron ball weighing hundreds of pounds, smashing into the enemy's ship, even the strongest deck, can't withstand it, what kind of person can come up with such a murderous cannon design? Could it be that Zhang Zhun meant to ask everyone to design a more ferocious cannon?

"I'm talking about the exhibition of real artillery, which was originally a hundred flowers blooming and a hundred schools of thought contending. In this world, there is no perfect cannon, only the most suitable cannon. Perhaps, our Tiger Army itself must also have our own artillery. If you succeed in designing it, I'm sure you'll be remembered by the whole world."

Zhang Zhun said with affirmative anticipation.

The ambitions of the craftsmen were gradually stirred up. There is no one who does not want to leave their name in history. Who wouldn't want to leave a name in history. Even if it can't be remembered for a hundred years, it will be stinking for 10,000 years. If you can design such a ferocious artillery, it will definitely be remembered by history.

Of course, it is not enough to develop the cannon itself, it is necessary to continue to improve the performance of gunpowder. The power of the cannon, in addition to the cannon itself, is also closely related to the quality of gunpowder. Ignoring any one aspect will make the cannon less powerful. Artillery artillery, without gunpowder, can it still be called artillery?

"I'll tell you about other explosives."

Zhang Zhun began to explain in detail the composition of black gunpowder, yellow explosives and TnT explosives.

For this kind of explosives, Zhang Zhun is of course very familiar with them. In his previous life, when he was fine, he often played with such things. A lot of explosives, he made them himself. However, familiarity does not mean that it can be produced now. The study and manufacture of explosives is a systematic chemical engineering. At present, there is no systematic chemical research at all.

The main purpose of Zhang Zhun mentioning these advanced explosives is also to broaden the minds of craftsmen and make them realize that there is a sky outside the sky and there are talents. The study of artillery is not a road to the end. In the same way, the research on gunpowder is also diverse. In this world, there are so many options. If someone suddenly opens up the road and understands these advanced explosives, the combat effectiveness of the Tiger Ben Army will immediately be a qualitative leap.

"Your Excellency, you say that just such a cannonball can destroy everyone in a large field? Is the power of the fireworks bomb really that strong? ”

Sun Qinkai said in disbelief.

"Of course"

Zhang Zhun replied without hesitation.

In the Ming Dynasty, there were flowering bombs, also known as ceremonial bombs, which were primitive blasting bombs. For ancient blasting bombs, Zhang Zhun has a little bit of research. However, the power of the ancient blasting projectile is indeed not good, and the performance is not reliable. Before there was no TnT explosive, it was simply a cup. When it explodes, it's more like a firework than killing an enemy, so it's called a fireworks. It seems that Sun Qinkai and others scoffed at this salute bomb and were quite contemptuous.

In fact, the main purpose of Zhang Zhun to develop explosive bombs was not for the 6th war, but for the naval battle. Therefore, the caliber of the fireworks bomb can be large. In previous naval battles, the types of ammunition that were commonly used were solid bullets, shotguns, and chain bullets. In fact, these three shells could not completely destroy the enemy ship. The final battle still needs hand-to-hand combat to complete.

However, the blasting bomb in the early stage is simply a cup. There are two fundamental reasons. The first one is a fireworks bomb with too much power of black explosives, and the black explosives contained in it may be a little more than a pound. Such a little black powder, even if it is successfully detonated, will not be able to cause effective damage to the enemy. The standard explosives bags of the Tiger Ben Army are all five catties.

The second is that the reliability of the fuse is too low. At that time, the fuse was actually made of a reed pipe, with a fuse in it, and when it was necessary to shoot, the reed pipe was cut according to the distance of the shot, and then ignited, and then the shell was stuffed into the barrel of the cannon, and then shot out. From any angle, this is definitely a dangerous job. One is not good, and the firework shell explodes in the barrel of the cannon. In terms of practicality, it is better to use a trebuchet to throw explosives packets

The reliability is very low, the technology is immature, and the danger is very high, this is the full description of the fireworks bomb by Sun Qinkai and others. Moreover, this thing is not easy to shoot with a redcoat cannon. Because the inside of the fireworks bomb is hollow, it cannot withstand too much pressure. If the chamber pressure is too large, the fireworks shell will shatter in the barrel of the gun itself, which will also cause an accident. Therefore, even in Napoleon's time, solid bullets were still used for most battles.

However, the blaster is indeed a historical progress. Compared with solid bullets, the power of blasting bullets is incomparable. With the continuous improvement of gunpowder, with the continuous improvement of fuzes, and with the continuous development of artillery technology, it will eventually replace solid bullets and become the hegemon of the battlefield.

At the end of the 10th century, Russia and Turkey fought naval battles in the Black Sea, and the Russian Navy, using new explosive shells, directly bombarded the warships of the Turkish Navy to slag. Since then, solid shells have disappeared from naval battles at once, and all kinds of explosive shells have instantly become the darlings of the battlefield.

"In terms of recoil, we need everyone's continued efforts......

Zhang Zhun continued.

The newest dragon god ship of the Tiger Ben Navy, with a displacement of about tons. Such a displacement, in front of a redcoat cannon or other heavy artillery, is indeed not huge. The greater the power of the artillery, the greater the recoil, this is inevitable. Therefore, how to solve the recoil of high-power artillery should also be specially studied.

To be honest, the recoil of the redcoat cannon is indeed very large due to its design, and the average battleship simply cannot afford it. According to Xue Zhidie's design, the Dragon God Ship can only be equipped with 16 red-coated cannons, and it must also be installed on the lowest deck, otherwise, the huge recoil may directly overturn the entire ship. If you want the entire battleship to be equipped with redcoat cannons, the recoil of the redcoat cannons must be reduced by at least 30%.

Zhang Zhun stayed in the artillery casting workshop for two days, describing all the relevant knowledge about artillery, explosives, shells and other relevant knowledge in later generations. As for how much the audience can accept, how much they understand, and how much can be effectively used, Zhang Zhun doesn't know. Even he felt that his own narration was indeed too abstract and too advanced, as if a later university professor was discussing calculus with kindergarten children.

At this time, news came from Ji Yuqing's side, saying that after staying in Tianjin Wei for more than two months, Zhang Yan, the queen of Yi'an, finally couldn't bear the pressure from all sides, and obediently left Tianjin Wei and went to Dengzhou City by boat.

[Today's fourth update is sent to the thousand-word chapter, I hope you have a happy look at today's 24, ask for a few monthly passes......]