Nanming: I can build wonders

Chapter 98 Test Firing Short Heavy Cannons

The next day, in the barren hills on the northeast outskirts of Dongning Prefecture.

On the gravel ground in the valley, Su Laocheng and Zhu Tiangui had been waiting here for a long time.

Early this morning, the brand-new short-heavy artillery was packed and sent to the bullock cart and transported here.

Su Laocheng and other craftsmen had already set up the artillery positions before Zheng Kezang's arrival.

Everything is ready, just waiting for Zheng Kezang to come!
In order to prepare for the artillery test, the artisans in the Bingzhan Bureau who are responsible for the production of artillery shells have cast fifteen 32-pound artillery shells in advance in accordance with Su Laocheng's request for the preliminary artillery test.

If the test firing of the short-heavy artillery goes well, then Bingzhanju will start to mass-produce shells suitable for the short-heavy artillery.

Today's test firing is very important to determine whether the short heavy gun can be used as the main naval gun.

First of all, a pressure test must be conducted to check the recoil of the short and heavy guns, and to see whether the deck of the Zheng Navy ship can withstand it.

Therefore, Zheng Kezang did not adopt the old method to test the short heavy artillery directly on the ground.

He specially ordered that the people of the navy go to the barren mountain first, and build a mock fort according to the structural strength of the deck of the boat.

Short heavy guns will be installed on this mock battery for test firing, to see if the smallest chasing boat can withstand its recoil.

Knowing that Zheng Kezang was going to test the navy's new cannon, Chen Yonghua also rushed to the barren hills in the outskirts to observe the cannon test.

Zheng Kezang came late today, he got off his horse, exchanged greetings with everyone, and the group went straight to the simulated fort.

Zheng Kezang stepped forward and took off the white cotton cloth covering the gun barrel, and a shiny black gun barrel appeared in front of everyone.

The gun barrel in front of me presents a beautiful arc with a thick back and a thin front. The gun body is polished smooth and flat, without any burrs or blemishes.

Under the sun, the smooth gun body reflects a dark halo, which seems to give people an inexplicable sense of deterrence and awe.

"Is everything ready?" Zheng Kezang asked in a deep voice.

"Report to the king, everything is ready, please give instructions." Zhu Tiangui saluted with a sense of ceremony.

Zheng Kezang nodded and said, "Proceed as planned."

Zhu Tiangui saluted again with a snap, turned around and said loudly, "Come on, prepare the shells."

Zhu Tiangui also personally stepped forward and pulled out the silk-wrapped cork plug on the muzzle.

He wrapped the long silk rod with a special long handle, inserted it into the gun bore and checked the gun bore again.

At the same time, more than a dozen craftsmen have stepped forward quickly.They carried a basket of big black round iron balls, and a big wooden barrel filled with sweet gunpowder.

"The inspection is complete, ready to test fire!" Zhu Tiangui shouted.

Under Zhu Tiangui's order, the craftsmen hurriedly weighed the gunpowder of the first shell.

Although the shells of the short heavy artillery are heavy, the charge is not large. The actual charge of the 32-pound shell only needs more than three catties of gunpowder.

Soon, someone weighed out three catties of gunpowder and loaded it into the barrel, and then the two gunners worked together to pick up a shell with a special clip and loaded it into the barrel, and then operated as usual Cannon mode, the shells are sent to the bottom of the barrel.

Hearing a roar, the cannonball rose into the air amidst the flames and smoke, and flew out of the gun bore. The hot cannonball made a shocking sound and smashed towards the distance.

It is very appropriate to describe this kind of shell with smashing. The shell of the short heavy gun is heavy, the barrel is short, and the charge is small. Naturally, the trajectory will not be straight, which is a bit like the trajectory of a mortar.

But it is a bit straighter than the trajectory of the mortar, at least he still has a flat shooting distance of tens of meters, while the mortar or the mortar can only shoot in a curved line.

Immediately, there was rumbling artillery fire on the barren mountain. Fortunately, there was no one around here, otherwise they would all be scared to death. It was really deafening.

Zheng Kezang and others wore tampons for the safety of their eardrums.

The build quality of this short heavy gun is unquestionable.

After a few test shots, the gun barrel was intact, a perfect naval gun.

Originally, Zheng Kezang was worried that the skills of the newly built artillery factory were not up to standard, but Zheng Kezang was overthinking. The craftsmen of the artillery factory were basically transferred from the Military Bureau.

After such a long period of exploration, the craftsmen of the Zheng Bingzhan Bureau in the Ming Dynasty have become quite mature in the technology of casting cannons. Coupled with the use of horizontal bore machines, they are even more powerful.

After firing a few rounds, Zheng Kezang and others came from a distance to check the situation of the simulated fort.

The thickness of this piece of deck is average, and there is a little shattering. It can be seen that it cannot be used on a rushing ship without modification and reinforcement.

The problem is not too big, just strengthen the gun mount more.

However, during the actual launch, Zheng Kezang and others discovered that there was a problem with the accuracy of the short heavy gun.

"Qinshe, I feel that the gunners of the navy are not shooting very accurately." Chen Yonghua said.

"The general system, or the gunners are not used to the new guns and don't know how to aim, just try more." Zhu Tiangui was worried that Zheng Kezang, Chen Yonghua and others thought his subordinates were not good enough, so he quickly explained.

"Father-in-law, it's a small matter, let the gunner try more, anyway, the shells prepared today are enough!" Zheng Kezang expressed his understanding.

After more than a dozen test-fired shells, the gunner knew how to shoot more accurately, and everyone basically understood the performance of the short-heavy artillery.

The direct aiming distance of the 32-pound short-heavy gun is about 100 meters.

Slightly increase the muzzle elevation angle, and the shooting distance can reach 120 meters to 150 meters.

But more than 150 meters, the accuracy is very poor.

"Qinshe, this cannon is powerful, but the range is a bit short." Chen Yonghua concluded.

"Father-in-law, this is the characteristic of the short-heavy cannon. It is suitable for a small and fast ship to fire a volley when it approaches a large ship. It has extraordinary power. I believe the lord's subordinates will like this cannon."

"Melee combat at close quarters is the romance of sailors. Your Majesty, with this sharp weapon, sailors are invincible!" Zhu Tiangui said excitedly. He just wanted to quickly install new naval guns.

Because the power is too strong, the firepower of the 32-pound shell is daunting.

A simulated masonry fortress built up as a shelling target was lucky enough to be hit by a navy gunner.

Although it was only a solid ammunition that was tested, the fortress was hit with gray stones flying around on the spot, and it was forcibly demolished on the spot.

If the ships of the Taqing Dynasty were to be hit by such a 32-pounder shell, don't think too much about it, even the most sturdy Canton ships made of iron and wood would not be able to withstand four or five hits, and would definitely be smashed down.

Ordinary bird boats are estimated to be able to withstand three or four at most, and even if they do not sink into the sea, they will lose their combat effectiveness.

The big guy was dumbfounded by such power.

If this cannon is used to attack the city, as long as it gets close to the city, it is estimated that dozens of cannons can knock down the city wall.

However, the range of more than 100 meters really cannot be used for land battles, and it is easy to be taken away by the opponent.

But at sea, it doesn't matter.

This kind of gun was born for naval battles. With its heavy shells, it can accurately bombard enemy ships at close range, ensuring hits and effectively destroying them!

"My lord, try to fully refit the navy before the end of July!" Zheng Kezang said with a picture.

"No hurry, Your Majesty!" Zhu Tiangui was not in a hurry, he worked slowly and meticulously, and the quality of the cannon was more important.

"Hurry up, Shi Lang will be here in July!" Zheng Kezang smiled mysteriously.

(End of this chapter)