A 7x55mm rifle, bolt action, barrel length 110cm. Poor machining practices and a lack of machine tools means only paper cartridges are produced as dictated by the Army Chief, who was horribly burnt as a bystander in a jamming accident where brass cartridges were used. This restricts the gun to single shot only for the time being.
Uhm, what's the expense on them? Also, does it use smokeless powder?
Aside from that, very nice. From my understanding, this changes our main infantry weapon from a smoothbore musket (think Brown Bess; four shots per minute for the best soldiers, with an effective range of about 75 metres) to a Dreyse Zündnadelgewehr-equivalent (about ten rounds per minute at an effective range of more than 500 metres). This is a significant increase in firepower, probably by about an order of magnitude in effect. It also means that the mass line formations are now obsolete.
Now, however, the issue is what to improve. From my point of view, we have several options:
1. Further improvements to the rifle. Club the Army Chief to death, then add a magazine and metallic cartridges.
2. Revise our 6lb-er cannons. Inspired by the Royal Navy's rifled muzzle-loaders, enlarge the bore and add a tube with rifling cut in. This should significantly increase range and accuracy.
3. Revise our sloops in some way to reduce the fluttering.
Improving the rifle furthers the advantage we should have compared to them. Improving the cannons will improve our land and naval artillery, but risks being obsolete if we design another artillery piece next turn. Improving the sloops should improve our naval capabilities, but risks being obsolete once we design a steam-powered ship.
All in all, I'd probably favour improving the cannons for an immediate naval and land improvement. If we design a larger cannon (the 6-pounder is about 57mm), for example 100mm, we can keep it as a light artillery gun.
Thoughts?
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Topic: Blind Arms Race - Manonera republic thread - 1913 (Read 14673 times)