Chapter 21： Cohorn Mortar

Because you want to attack Jever, then there is a great possibility of a tough battle. Therefore, it is very important to prepare a special large-caliber siege artillery.

In fact, in this era, in addition to the mainstream bronze gun (Fran machine gun) is the mainstream, there is also a very ugly artillery with a large caliber and a short barrel, the mortar, which is also an important component.

The mortar gun is a short, thick, and unsightly artillery. Its initial velocity is very low because of its short barrel. However, its caliber is often large. The large caliber means that the shells are heavy and they are very powerful when they are hit ...

Generally speaking, the mortar is the main force in the siege. Because the caliber of Fran ’s cannon was too small, and the small iron ball hit the city wall, and it could not be turned over. But the mortar is different. A dozen dozen pounds of iron **** hit it, even if the initial velocity is not high, but the weight is placed there, and the sound is a huge muffled sound.

Moreover, because it was shot at a high angle, the trajectory of the mortar was very tortuous, similar to the mortars of later generations. In fact, mortars from later generations were developed from mortars.

Jaffre ’s castle was inspected by Sauer ’s spies, and it was very strong. Of course, there is no bastion structure against shelling. The bastion structure, which appeared in Italy in the early 16th century, was mainly given by the Italian war. Because France is a big artillery country, and it can dispatch hundreds of artillery pieces at a time. In order to resist bombardment, the Italians invented the bastion structure. Then, the bastion spread slowly to other parts of Europe.

But Yevre ’s castle obviously has no bastion structure, just a normal castle. But even for ordinary castles, the main gun under Marin's head-a three-pound gun mounted in the front, is difficult to blast, even if it is replaced by a six-pound gun. Because, whether it is a three-pound gun or a six-pound gun, or even a 12-pound gun, they are all field guns and are suitable for battle against the bombardment. If it is used to bombard the city walls, it seems insufficient. Because the weight of the shells is too small, and it collides with the large stones that build the walls, and the kinetic energy is not enough.

To put it simply, at the same speed, a small stone hits a person's head, and it hurts at most, and it swells up to make a bag; but if it is hit with a shot of the same speed on the head, the head may bloom immediately, people Also killed on the spot ...

Therefore, whether it is a siege or a naval artillery bombardment of an enemy ship, the larger the caliber of the artillery, the greater the destructive power ...

Marin had watched a btv military program in his previous life, which was translated from the old and beautiful, and talked about field artillery. In fact, Marin's three-pound gun data also came from this old American Lee Elmi program that introduced the history of field artillery. Even, the barrel length was 0.65 meters, which was also introduced by the old beautiful host.

Marin was very impressed with the program of hitting watermelons with cannonballs, so I remember a lot. The show also mentioned a special kind of gun-Cohorn mortar ...

The Cohorn mortar is actually a mortar. It's just that its shape is more beautiful. According to the introduction of the American uncle host, the 24-pound Cohorn mortar had a caliber of 14.7 centimeters and a range of 1,000 meters. It was invented by the Dutch Barron Cohorn in the 17th century (1673).

Because it can launch a large iron ball weighing 24 pounds, the destructive power is amazing. Even if the initial velocity is not high, such a big iron ball hits the city wall, and it shakes the ground. Moreover, it is a projectile, which is smashed from above, and can also cross the city wall and smash people in the city.

The most important thing is that this mortar, with a total weight of only 82 kg, is made of copper and is very light. Two soldiers can easily carry it around. When marching, the carriage is also easy to carry around.

Speaking of it, it is shorter and lighter than the Karen gun that Marlin ordered to develop. However, it was precisely because the gun body was too short to shoot flat. Because the shorter the gun body, the lower the muzzle velocity. The muzzle velocity is low, and the shell will fall not far away from the muzzle.

Therefore, it is not suitable for boarding into a naval gun, only for land combat. Because, when launching on land, relying on a large elevation angle, the Cohorn mortar can transmit recoil to the square base and then to the ground. And how stable is the earth? Therefore, after the Cohorn mortar was launched, the displacement caused by recoil was very small. Even if there is a displacement, as long as a line is drawn on the side of the square base, after the displacement, the gunner can easily move it back to the original position. After all, it's light, and its total weight is only 82 kg ...

But it's different when you get on the boat. The hull is swaying left and right on the sea. The naval gun fired close to within 500 meters, and the hit rate was only 10% or 20%. If the mortar fired like a mortar at a high angle, the ghost knew if there was a possibility of hit. Moreover, the hull can't shake. Shaking has a great impact on flat shots, and curved shots have a greater impact.

Therefore, the Cohorn mortar is only suitable as an infantry gun, not a naval gun. However, because its shells are too heavy, it is very lethal. Therefore, from the time it was invented in 1673 until the time of the American Civil War, it was the main force used by the warring parties to tackle the problem. Although the Northern Army also has a more powerful super mortar that General Grant likes to use. However, the heavy mortar gun, weighing 7 tons, is very difficult to maneuver on land and is often transported by rail. Unlike Cohorn mortars, any wagon can be pulled around. Therefore, during the Civil War, when attacking the city walls and fortifications, the Cohorn mortar was a very important artillery.

It's only 1501, and the bombardment-proof bastion has not yet appeared. If Marin can make this kind of artillery that can fire a 24-pound iron ball, he can easily pull it away.

By the time, dozens of 24-pound Cohorn mortars lined up, which fortress could withstand the volley? It might take some effort to bombard Vienna. But is it a matter of bombarding the small castle of Jever?

The firmness of the castle is also related to the strength of the family. Vienna was the fortress of the Habsburg family of Europe ’s top royal family for hundreds of years. Naturally, it was a strong anomaly. Later, hundreds of thousands of Turkish Ottoman troops and many artillery were unable to overcome it.

But what about Jever ’s castle? But it is run by a small local family-the Wilmken family. Although the area of ​​Jaffre is not small, it is hundreds of square kilometers, and it can keep up with many counts. However, it is not fertile here, and like other parts of East Frisia Lambert, there are also many swamps. So ~ www.novelhall.com ~ The Wilmken family doesn't have much income, they can only rely on a small amount of arable land and the fishermen's supply. Therefore, they naturally did not have much money to build Jever Castle. The structure of the castle, according to the investigation of Sauer's spies, is very general. Marin estimated that if dozens of 24-pound Cohorn mortars fired at a point, it would not take long for the city walls to blast through ...

So, Marin ordered the foundry factory to start researching Cohen mortars according to the indicators he gave. According to the data of the show watched by Marin's previous life, the Cohorn mortar had a caliber of 14.7 cm and used a 24-pound iron ball. In addition, the amount of its charge, the program said that 14.2 grams to 255 grams.

However, this charge is aimed at the granulated black powder with high purity in the 19th century. Marin estimated that the black gunpowder purification process is inadequate and may have errors. But that's not a problem. After the gunpowder is prepared, you can test the range and record it after the measurement. After that, the charge is fixed. Even the method of setting gunpowder can be used to facilitate artillery aiming and adjustment.

For its total weight of 82 kg, Marin did not force it. As long as the caliber remains unchanged, even if the total weight rises to 100 kg, it is acceptable. Because it is not difficult to lift 100 kilograms, and it can still maintain high mobility.

It just happened that the copper that Columbus and Draka bought from India last time was not used up, and the tin that was bought from Cornwall, England, last time for counterfeit silver coins. It's just right to use it as a bronze gun.

Once the Cohen mortar was successfully developed, Marin planned to get a batch of them. When the Danes had no time to care for him, the Cohorn mortars lined up under the Jever Castle and used the 24 A pound of "iron ball rain" smashed the walls of Jever Castle in the shortest time, and quickly got rid of the Wilmken family here ...