diskusbooks Chapter 34 Fixed-load bullets and Hotchkiss machine guns
Chapter 34 Fixed-load bullets and Hotchkiss machine guns
What's the best weapon against a group of infantry? Alice would tell everyone: "Rapid-fire weapons."
The Gatling gun was the earliest type of automatic weapon. This powerful fire support weapon has the ability to fire bullets in rapid succession, and its design has remained relevant and has continued to evolve to the present day.
Alice stood at the headquarters of the Amerlane Ordnance Department—the Trian Ordnance Factory—where she and her ordnance team were about to produce a groundbreaking piece of equipment.
The Gatling gun was undoubtedly a powerful weapon, but its caliber was too small. Alice thought she should first make things difficult for the army and build up the navy and fortress weapons. She came up with a similar weapon - the Hotchkiss machine gun.
It wasn't the chain gun of later generations. The Hotchkiss cannon was a six-barreled machine gun invented by the French in the previous life. Its caliber was 37 mm, similar to the Gatling gun, but it only had one firing mechanism.
However, the original version had quite a few problems. First of all, its 37mm and 400g bullet resulted in terrible ballistic performance. The bullet was too heavy and the range was too short. After some thought, Alice changed the 37mm to 30mm.
But the key point is that the Hotchkiss cannon is a so-called "breech-loading automatic weapon with fixed cartridge cases." The key is the bullet, and Alice knows that the bullet is a difficult point.
Fortunately, there was no requirement to manufacture tapered bullets. The 30mm fixed ammunition was much larger than the Minié rifle's caliber, making it easier to manufacture. The rolled cartridge cases and lead bullets were completed in just one week and placed in front of Alice.
"Good, consistent quality."
"Your Highness, these are, after all, products from a factory..."
Alice carried the cannon all the way to the edge of the Trembling Mountains. The Trian Armory No. 2 manufactured the gun mount for the cannon, one was a wheeled motorized gun mount, and the other was a fixed gun mount for the navy.
As for the finished product, since it was a "cannon," the size of the finished product was sufficient to live up to the name of a cannon. The Hotchkiss 30mm automatic cannon, which used a 12-round magazine and gravity feeding, quickly passed the acceptance test. The Trian Ordnance Factory No. 2, which was a new factory that was separated from the increasingly expanded Trian Ordnance Factory, took on the production of this new weapon and ammunition.
As it turned out, this weapon was indeed a terrifying weapon. The officers watched as the gunner turned the handle on the machine gun, and then the machine gun roared, firing ten 30mm grenades at the target in a very short time. This firepower density was quite good for dealing with groups of enemies. Alice, who had her hair in pigtails and was wearing a Lolita dress, nodded in satisfaction.
"From now on, those who fight on horseback will probably all have to be good at singing and dancing!"
“Your Highness, I can guarantee that with just three of these machine guns and enough ammunition, Grant will be unable to cross the Trembling Mountains, no matter how many soldiers he has.”
Orpheus, one of the campaign commanders, was deeply impressed by this new weapon. After learning that it was all designed by the petite girl in front of him, he couldn't help but sigh at the whole thing.
The girl was only thinking about the further improvements to this cannon; the gun carriage needed to be fitted with bulletproof steel plates to protect against various projectiles or arrows.
However, once the caliber of this cannon is reduced, it becomes similar to a Gatling gun. But Alice probably doesn't need to manufacture Gatling guns anymore, since this is a much larger caliber weapon!
"There are not many of these machine guns in production. The first batch will take three days to equip. They will be prioritized for the Type 037 tanks as mobile firing positions along the Rhine River."
"The second batch on the Trembling Mountain front will receive reinforcements of 12-pound mountain howitzers. Trust me, you won't need such weapons yet."
The Rhine front mainly relies on a few Type 037 destroyers. The second batch of Type 90 escort ships in Hilla Port will take some time to enter service, but Alice estimates that these few Type 037 destroyers are enough. After all, they are equipped with several 75mm Dahlgren guns. It should be noted that they are facing an army from the pre-gunpowder era, and the enemy is unlikely to have artillery!
With the advent of machine guns and cannons, the role of cavalry will be greatly reduced. Moreover, this type of automatic weapon will be equipped on capital ships to destroy smaller boats.
The era of fire attacks is over from this moment on.
The Hotchkiss machine gun was too large to accompany the troops on marches. Considering its primary role, Alice and the Ordnance Department designated it as the "M653 Naval Rotary Cannon" and put it into service.
This type of artillery is designed for close-range engagement with small boats by naval vessels and for anti-infantry operations from fortified positions. Alice estimates that, in most cases, the army will not have the opportunity to use it, but it is not impossible; this is the purpose of the wheeled gun mount.
"Your Highness, are you going to the battlefield in person?"
"You're wrong. What's the use of being on the battlefield? I will lead the troops to victory."
Although she was dressed in a gorgeous dress, the officers knew that she was a veteran of the battlefield, and they couldn't help but feel nervous.
"As the saying goes, offense is the best defense. We certainly have confidence in facing Grant's large army, but we cannot be passive and take a beating!"
"The Trembling Mountains rise high into the clouds, but they are not insurmountable... It depends on the will of the soldiers."
At the front-line staff meeting, Alice pointed out the key to the battlefield: Grant claims his army is powerful, doesn't he? Let him see what true power is.
"The mountain hunters have observed an increasing number of enemy deployments. Several regiments of a thousand men have been deployed in Saxony, Dras, Kuta, and Grant. In particular, an elven mercenary regiment has been deployed along the Rhine River line. The elven longbowmen are very skilled."
"Our forces can be deployed as follows: six divisions, two militia divisions, one Jäger regiment, one naval infantry regiment, and the Rhine Fleet."
"But that's irrelevant, Smedley! I now make the following deployment: the Second and Fourth Divisions plus a mountain javelin battalion will reinforce the Trembling Mountains defense line; the Sixth Cavalry Division plus the Rhine Fleet will advance to encircle the Saxony region; the Third and Fifth Divisions plus a naval infantry regiment will defend the Rhine River positions; the First Infantry Division will cross the Trembling Mountains and join forces with the Trembling Mountains defense line to encircle the enemy; and the Trian Militia Division and the Hilla Militia Division will serve as the general reserve!"
Alice tried her best to project the demeanor of a general, but no matter how much a little girl tries to act high and mighty, she is still incredibly cute in the eyes of the officers. Lolita dress, black stockings, little leather shoes—if it weren't for the leather holster of a revolver at her waist, no one would associate her with the commander-in-chief of the campaign.
“Repeat it for me.”
Alice looked up until Smedley finished repeating her orders, then lowered her head to look at the map.
"Ok, deal."
The battle is about to begin. Alice wants to change the world, while Grant wants to expand his power. Neither side will give way, and only one side can win.