In the past, the Army of the Tang Dynasty was equipped with many light mortars, and even the 60mm light mortar, which was only 34 kilograms lighter, was also equipped. However, the reason why it is said that it has been equipped, rather than always equipped, is that this thing has
Being light doesn't have any advantages.
What really made the Army pay attention to the 80mm mortar project of Northern Arms Company was not the artillery itself, but the new artillery shell they developed to match this internally self-proclaimed light mortar!
This cannonball is a metal fixed-loading projectile with a warhead, propellant, and primer integrated into one, but this is not important. What is important is that the loading and firing of this thing is particularly simple.
It directly drops the shell from the muzzle, then uses gravity to ignite the propellant in the shell, and then launches it. And unlike traditional grenades, this thing does not leave a shell casing after being launched.
what does that mean?
This means that the rate of fire is extremely fast. You can pour the shells directly into the barrel and fire them out, and then do it again, and so on. You can shoot more than ten shells in one minute!
More than ten rounds of artillery shells!
This data directly alarmed the top brass of the Ordnance Department!
In the face of a rate of fire that can fire more than ten rounds per minute or more, the range and power are secondary.
At first, the military said that a range of two thousand meters was needed to effectively attack potential enemy front-loaded artillery. However, after seeing this thing, they directly lowered the standard. Two thousand meters is not enough.
In fact, 1,500 meters is enough.
Well, this small cannon from Northern Arms Company, which claims to be a ‘quick-fire light mortar’, has a maximum effective range of just 1,500 meters, no more, no less!
You can tell at a glance that the military even lowered the standards specifically for this purpose.
After Li Xuan received the report, he was not surprised. He had explained the indicators clearly. If the designers below could not figure it out, then there was obviously something wrong.
However, the performance of this thing is a bit poor, with an effective range of only 1,500 meters!
But considering that this artillery adopts a curved trajectory, it doesn't have to be silly like other artillery to fire on the flat ground, but can be fired in a hidden way, so I feel relieved.
The closer the range is, the closer it is. If this kind of artillery is thrown into an infantry camp, it will be a big killer!
If we build a 60mm small-caliber mortar later, the support firepower at the company and battalion levels will basically be enough.
As for the higher-level regiment-level firepower, that is a traditional artillery mission. Regardless of whether it is a light howitzer, an ordinary howitzer, or a field gun, it has nothing to do with mortars.
The light howitzers produced by Jiangnan Weapons Company and the rapid-fire light mortars produced by Northern Weapons Company were quickly purchased by the military for experimental equipment.
As the initiator of the entire plan, the Guards were the first to obtain these two types of artillery.
After about ten days of simple training, it was taken out for live-fire exercises.
When a group of officers of the Guards saw the 65mm light howitzer undergoing live-fire exercises, they didn't think it was anything. They just felt that it was heavier and lighter and could accompany the troops in mobile operations in the future.
But when they saw a battery of six rapid-firing light mortars, in just one minute, they fired nearly a hundred rounds, directly blowing up a hillside a kilometer away and sending dust flying.
Everyone's face was full of surprise.
They are also knowledgeable people. They have also seen the so-called rapid-fire cannons equipped in the Guards Navy. The kind of tube-retracting cannons that use springs have many faults and poor accuracy. But even so, a one-minute shot can
The speed is actually only a few shots.
It is simply impossible to shoot out all the shells in such a short time!
This is only six rapid-fire mortars, but the effect is more terrifying than an entire field artillery regiment!
If you have enough ammunition, you can completely explode the enemy's position from beginning to end!
"This kind of rapid-fire mortars must be equipped to cooperate with our organizational reform. A battalion does not need to be equipped with more than a dozen, and it is enough to equip a dozen of them!"
Immediately, a young Guards officer jumped out eagerly: "As long as an infantry battalion has a dozen of these rapid-fire mortars, it can independently launch a war to destroy the country without the support of any artillery regiment!"
His words sounded a bit strange, but all the Guards generals present nodded in unison!
With the combat effectiveness of the Guards of the Tang Dynasty, it would be extremely easy for an infantry battalion with more than a dozen such artillery to destroy an ordinary indigenous kingdom with sufficient ammunition.
The Guards Chief of Staff, General Zhou Guang, was much calmer. He had already known the performance of this rapid-fire mortar. After watching the live-fire exercise this time, he discussed with the deputy chiefs of staff nearby what to do.
The organization of the Guards has been reformed.
"Originally we planned to use it with a 60mm light howitzer, but it seems that it is no longer useful. This rapid-fire mortar is being improved and improved. The barrel is made thicker and heavier. It is estimated that it will not be used.
It can reach a range of two thousand meters, and can completely replace the 65mm light howitzer."
"Yes, this kind of rapid-fire mortar is even more powerful. The explosive power of a single shell is comparable to a 100mm grenade, but much more powerful than a 75mm grenade!"
"Even if the weight is increased and the range is increased, it will still be less than 200 kilograms!"
At this time, the representative of Northern Arms Company beside him was already overjoyed. When he heard this, he immediately patted his chest and said: "Sirs, don't worry, if the weight limit can be relaxed, we can definitely increase the range to two thousand meters."
Even two thousand five hundred meters, and even so, it will be lighter than the 60mm light howitzer, and it can still be carried by horses or even manned!"
The representative of Northern Arms Company did not expect that the so-called rapid-fire mortar they developed would be so valued by the military.
Their previous target has always been on various large-caliber light howitzers. Unfortunately, even artillery such as the 40-gun, which has been well received by the military, has not been able to obtain large orders for the time being.
And now it seems that this extremely simple rapid-fire mortar has great potential!
On the other side, the representative of Jiangnan Weapons Company looked a little unhappy.
When the 65mm light howitzer of its own was first put into live ammunition testing, the Guards were quite satisfied. But within a few minutes, the Guards changed their tune and said that they could use rapid-fire mortars to replace their own.
65mm light howitzer.
Naturally, he would not sit still and wait for death, and immediately said: "Sirs, although the rate of fire of this rapid-fire mortar is fast, its range is still a bit short, and it cannot be towed, and its accuracy is even worse. If it is fired, it will consume a lot of money."
So many cannonballs.”
"And our 65mm light howitzer also surpasses other traditional howitzers in terms of rapid fire, and has ultra-high shooting accuracy."
"During battle, our 65mm light howitzer only needs one shell to complete the task that the rapid-fire mortar's fifteen or even twenty shells can complete!"
However, the representative of Northern Arms Company was not convinced by this.
Are you kidding me? Although the accuracy of our rapid-fire mortars is a bit poor, it's not that bad!
He immediately opened his mouth and started squirting.
While representatives of the two companies were quarreling with each other, the generals of the Guards were not affected by them.
Naturally, the Guards have their own considerations regarding what weapons and equipment they equip, and they will not be affected by people from these weapons companies.
Moreover, the Guards did not care much about the high price of the 65mm light howitzer, and they did not care much about the waste of ammunition of the rapid-fire mortar.
The Guards have plenty of money!
Therefore, when selecting equipment for the Guards, they always want the best, and they don't care about price at all.
There are only a few thousand tons of shallow-water gunboats in the Guards fleet, but they dare to directly equip them with the most advanced 300mm breech-loading cannon of forty times the caliber!
The artillery in several fortress forts has always been equipped with the most advanced large-caliber artillery.
Even if it is the most common rifle, the Guards began to equip it with extremely expensive rifles such as the Li Fu rifle many years ago.
It's not something that the paupers in the army and navy can compare to.
Therefore, the main factor that affects the Guards' equipment of new weapons has never been factors such as price and cost-effectiveness, but whether they are good or not.
As long as the stuff is good, the Guards won't care so much.
After a live-fire exercise, the Guards also officially submitted a new organization plan.
The new organization plan of the Guards is still based on the three Guards divisions as the core, and it is planned to build these three Guards divisions into two brigades and four regiments.
At the same time, rapid-fire mortars and light howitzers will be directly assigned to infantry units, and in order to allow grass-roots units to have independent combat capabilities, it is planned to directly assign baggage units to each grass-roots unit.
Follow the plan.
An infantry squad of the Guards still consists of fourteen soldiers.
An infantry platoon has three squads.
The infantry company has three infantry platoons, and is equipped with an additional 60mm rapid-fire mortar.
The infantry battalion has four infantry companies, an additional baggage company, and a rapid-fire artillery company equipped with several 80-mm rapid-fire mortars.
The infantry regiment has three infantry battalions, plus a rapid-fire artillery company and a baggage company.
After integration, each infantry regiment will have about 2,500 troops.
Two infantry regiments form an infantry brigade.
Two infantry brigades were organized into one division.
The division directly administers the field artillery regiment, baggage regiment, cavalry regiment, engineering battalion, balloon battalion, telegraph battalion and other ancillary troops, with a total strength of approximately 15,000 people.
It is worth noting that the divisional artillery regiment of the Guards, in addition to being equipped with 75mm field guns and 75mm howitzers, is also equipped with eighteen 100mm howitzers, which have a range of