Chapter 290 Flying Dragon Cannon! Flying Dragon is in the sky!

Several key points that Zhang Zhun asked for were related to the navy. The Folang artillery that Zhang Zhun wanted to cast was mainly used for naval battles. This was different from the purpose of the Ming army's casting. The Ming army's cannons were mainly used for land wars. The cannons used for naval battles in the Ming Navy and the infantry cannons were cast in the same mold. However, Zhang Zhun was different. What Zhang Zhun needed was a special naval battle cannon, and there was no need to consider the use of land.

First of all, the range of the artillery should be long and can hit at least two miles. If it exceeds three miles, it would be even better. When fighting in naval wars, three miles away, you need to fire a cannon to shock the opponent. If the range is less than two miles, it would be better not to.

Secondly, the fire rate of the artillery should be fast, and at least two shells can be fired per minute. It would be even better if it could be fired three rounds. The hit rate of the naval war cannon is too low. At the same time, whoever can shoot more shells will have a greater chance of hitting the target.

Again, the cannon should be light and should not exceed 800 kilograms. Because the Cangshan ship has a small load capacity and its keel is not strong enough, too heavy cannons can easily cause the warship to lose flexibility and maneuver, and even lose balance, thus overturning.

Again, the recoil is required to be low. The hull of Cangshan boat is shallower and the recoil is too large, which can easily lead to the hull tilt. Even if the ship does not capsize, it will seriously affect the operation. Therefore, the recoil of the Flang machine cannon must be reduced, and a special specially manufactured gun stand is required.

For a long time in the future, Zhang Zhun's main naval force was the ultra-light Cangshan ship, with a displacement of only 70 tons and a load capacity of only 30 tons. It is an ultra-light combat ship. With such a small displacement, the cannons were originally a chicken pulling a big cart, which was beyond the reach of the effort. However, for the needs of combat, it had to be done so.

According to Xue Zhidie's design, there are only three gun positions on both sides of each Cangshan ship. In other words, the entire ship has only six guns. Compared with other warships of the Ming Dynasty Navy, the Cangshan ship actually has six guns, which is an amazing design. However, compared with the hundreds of cannons of Western warships, the six guns are completely inequality! Moreover, the caliber is too different. In general, the caliber is too small.

The Flang machine cannons commonly used by the Ming army were as large as small bowls. In summary, they were about 60 mm and 60 mm caliber, and they used black gunpowder, which was not powerful no matter how hard it was. Of course, the Flang machine also had a caliber of 120 mm, but the weight of such a Flang machine was nearly 2,000 kilograms.

The powerful red-clothed cannon has a caliber size (ranging from 110 to 130 mm). Such a heavy cannon is too dangerous to be mounted on the Cangshan boat. For the time being, Zhang Zhun does not need a red-clothed cannon. Of course, the technology of the red-clothed cannon cannot be ignored. After all, with the development of the times, red-clothed cannon has gradually become the mainstream. It is always beneficial to start research and development in advance and prepare for the future.

From the perspective of charging, the Flang machine is a breech gun, and the red-clothed cannon is a breech gun. The two types of artillery have their own advantages and disadvantages. It is impossible to say which one is absolutely better and which one is absolutely worse. It depends on the actual situation. Naval battles pursue long range, and the red-clothed cannon is obviously better. However, Zhang Zhun has no warships to set up the red-clothed cannon, so he can only focus on the Flang machine cannon.

Sun Qinkai was not dull at all when he mentioned his professional skills. Compared with the numbness and confusion just now, Sun Qinkai has a deep foundation in the field he is good at. After all, he is also a disciple of Xu Guangqi, and has learned the art of casting artillery with Xu Guangqi for 18 years. He has theoretical knowledge, practical experience, and even practical experience. He explained the key elements of casting artillery with great clarity and finally said: "We will cast the samples first, and then combine them with the Cangshan boat for experiments and improve them one by one."

Zhang Zhun nodded and said, "Very good! Now, let's determine the basic specifications of the artillery."

Zhou Shiwen and Sun Qinkai both listened intently.

What Zhang Zhun wants to promote is standardized production.

The Ming army had too many types of firearms and were too complex in calibers. The fire guns alone had dozens of different calibers. The calibers of cannons were quite large. From tiger squat cannons weighing dozens of kilograms to red-clothed cannons weighing tens of thousands of kilograms, there were all kinds of firearms. Too many cannons would naturally bring a lot of confusion to soldiers' operations. Cannons of different calibers had different charges. If they were less installed, they would not be far away. If they were installed, they would explode the chamber. In fact, accidents of Ming army cannons exploded often.

After research and decision, the caliber of the Bolang machine gun was set at 70 mm. Because the steel made of cast guns was better if the cast iron was better, it could withstand higher chamber pressure. The diameter was larger, the charge could be more, the range was naturally farther, and of course the power could be larger.

Of course, while studying the casting of the Florian cannon, you can also study the red-clothed cannon. After all, the real kingdom is the red-clothed cannon. All the conditions are met. Zhang Zhun has to build dozens of treasure ships, each of which is equipped with more than one hundred red-clothed cannons, and go to the oceans of the world to show off his power and implement cannon diplomacy.

With the strong support of Zhang Zhun, the research on the casting of the Folang machine cannon was fully launched. Zhang Zhun specially established an artillery research institute, led by Sun Qinkai, and cooperated with Zhou Shiwen and other craftsmen. Sun Qinkai did have relevant knowledge. Under their guidance, the craftsmen worked step by step. Soon, the first sample cannon was cast.

"laugh!"

At the artillery test site, Sun Qinkai personally lit the fire.

"Bang!"

The Folang machine cannon made a loud noise.

After the flames shone, the shells landed on the open space two miles away.

Such a range can only be considered as barely passing. Obviously, there is room for improvement. The reason for the inspection is that it is not done well in sealing. As mentioned earlier, the Florence cannon is a breech gun, which is loaded from the breech. Since it needs to be loaded from the breech, the barrel cannot be completely sealed. If this technical details are not done well, the power of the gunpowder will be lost a lot.

Based on the results of the actual test, Sun Qinkai quickly made corresponding improvements. Soon after, the second sample cannon was cast again. At the same time, he improved it with relevant gunpowder. According to Zhang Zhun's suggestion, he added some copper oxide powder to the gunpowder to enhance the power of the gunpowder.

"Bang!"

The second sample cannon was fired for the first time.

With a loud bang, the shell flew out from afar.

This time, the landing point of the shell was three and a half miles away.

Three and a half miles!

"Yeah, not bad!"

Zhang Zhun praised it on the spot.

Such a range can basically meet the needs of naval combat.

However, Sun Qinkai was not satisfied.

Based on the second sample gun, Sun Qinkai made several detailed improvements again. Soon, the third sample gun was manufactured and also pulled to the test site.

"Bang!"

The third sample cannon was fired.

With a loud bang, the shell flew out from afar.

This time, the shells actually landed four and a half miles away!

Four and a half miles!

"good!"

Zhang Zhun couldn't help but scream.

Four and a half miles, this range is enough for the Flang machine and cannon to be proud.

The shooting distance of 2,250 meters is nothing compared to the artillery of later generations. However, at that time, it was already a great achievement. It should be noted that the red-clothed cannon with a larger caliber and heavier weight had a range of about 5,000 meters (ten miles). In naval battles, the range of four and a half miles was enough to overwhelm an ordinary enemy ship.

Of course, having a long enough range does not mean sufficient combat effectiveness. The use of the Flang machine cannon is inseparable from the types of shells. Depending on different situations, the use of different shells was an important feature of artillery artillery in the late Ming Dynasty. Therefore, in addition to solid shells, the range of other types of shells must also be tested.

"laugh!"

"Bang!"

The Flor cannon was fired again.

This time, the grape bomb was fired.

The so-called grape bullets are actually somewhat similar to the shotguns in later generations. Use a small frame, or a few iron wires, or a bad net bag to put a bunch of small iron balls together, stuff them into the gun barrel, and then fire them out to form a rain of bullets, causing large-scale damage to the target. Compared with flowering bullets, the reliability and power of grape bullets are much greater. If the enemy team enters the range in a dense range, and one shot, the enemy will definitely fall down.

However, the fatality of the grape bomb is also very obvious: the range is very close. Ordinary Florida cannons can only drive grape bombs to a distance of 100 feet (about 330 meters). However, the cannons cast by Sun Qinkai can successfully drive grape bombs to a distance of 150 feet (about 500 meters), which has increased the range by 50%.

However, Sun Qinkai was not satisfied and continued to improve. In the end, he successfully fired the grape shells 180 meters (about 600 meters). This distance is basically the distance when the red-clothed cannon fires the grape shells. Compared with the Flang machine cannon, the red-clothed cannon is still rare. Unless it is a major battle, it is difficult to see the red-clothed cannon.

This range means that as long as the enemy enters this range in large quantities, they can directly bomb with grape bullets. Ordinary cavalry charges are at this distance. In other words, Zhang Zhun can directly cover them with grape bullets when the opponent's cavalry launches a charge. As long as there are enough shells, the enemy's cavalry will fall into a large area.

For naval battles, a distance of 600 meters is also a very suitable distance. At this distance, solid bullets are basically unable to hit, and the power of the grape bullet will be fully demonstrated. As long as the enemy ship enters a range of 600 meters, three cannons will bombard the opponent with grape bullets together, the effect will definitely be great. After equipping this kind of cannon, even if the Cangshan ship is small, the enemy ship will not dare to ignore it.

"laugh!"

"Bang!"

After testing the grape bomb, the Flang machine cannon was fired again.

This time, the chain bomb was fired.

The so-called chain blast is actually two small iron balls connected by iron chains. Of course, large iron balls are also OK. The greater the weight of the iron ball, the greater the lethality and the closer the range. The main killing principle of chain blasts is to directly cut off the target during high-speed movement. Whether the target is a human body, a mast, canvas or something, if it is hit by a chain blast, it will be torn to pieces.

Later generations once reported that someone was riding a motorcycle and was cut off his head on the spot by a wire crossing the road. The chain bullet was such a wire. Within the range, the chain bullet was the most brutal weapon, more brutal than the grape bullet. If it hits a person, it would directly cut the person into two sections. If it hits a war horse, it could also cut off the horse's head directly.

However, the disadvantages of chain bullets and grape bullets are the same, both of which are too close to the range. Moreover, chain bullets are not easy to control the correct head. The movement of two iron balls in mid-air is irregular, and no one knows where it will fly. In general, these two shells are used to arm the navy. If used on land, they must face dense enemies to exert their power.

After testing, the range of chain bombs is generally similar to that of grape bombs, and is about 600 meters. In naval battles, the main purpose of chain bombs is to tear the sails of the enemy ships, break the masts of the enemy ships, and then kill people. In terms of this effect, Cangshan boats can also do it. Zhang Zhun's favorite wolf pack tactics is that as long as a few Cangshan boats surround you, a piece of chain bombs will be smashed over, and the safe can tear the sails of the enemy ships into pieces.

In addition to chain bombs and grape bombs, the Flang machine cannons often fire so-called flowering bombs, which are explosive shells. However, in terms of the fuse technology at that time, the reliability of flowering bombs was not high. At the same time, due to the use of black gunpowder, the flowering bombs with a caliber of only 70 mm were not very lethal even if they successfully landed on the ground and bloomed. They were not as lethal as grape bombs. Therefore, in order to highlight the focus of the research, Zhang Zhun does not recommend studying flowering bombs for the time being. It is better to honestly do a solid bomb, grape bomb, and chain bomb.

After three consecutive tests, Sun Qinkai devoted more energy to the improvement of the Flang machine artillery. His eyes began to gradually improve under Ning Lingwei's treatment. All of this made Sun Qinkai work very hard. He often forgot to eat and sleep, and was busy all night, winning the nickname of "Architecture Madman".

Because the casting of cannons was mainly due to Sun Qinkai's contribution, Zhang Zhun asked Sun Qinkai to name the cannon. Sun Qinkai finally named the cannon "Flying Dragon Cannon" to take the meaning of the flying dragon in the sky. Soon, the first batch of flying dragon cannons began mass production and installed on the Cangshan ship.

Zhang Zhun often went to the Artillery Research Institute to put forward some constructive opinions. Although Zhang Zhun was not clear about the details of artillery manufacturing, there were many differences between the artillery in later generations and the artillery in Ming Dynasty, some of the experiences in later generations were useful after all. What is rare is that Sun Qinkai had relevant experience and relevant knowledge, which was faster to integrate than Zhou Shiwen and others. After absorbing Zhang Zhun's suggestions, Sun Qinkai's improvement, although little by little, was a real improvement.

While Zhang Zhun was busy producing cannons, a series of changes occurred in the surrounding areas.

First, Yang Wenyue, the governor of Denglai, officially stepped down and was transferred to the governor of Fujian.
Chapter completed!