2024 Author: Howard Calhoun | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:16
Nothing changed the way of warfare like the advent of firearms in the Middle Ages. Talented designers have created many wonderful designs, but this article focuses on the squeaker.
What is a squeaker, its creation
The development of firearms went in several directions. Manufacturers of those times sought to create more and more perfect samples. At the same time, the craftsmen tried to make them mobile and easy to use, not bulky and durable. As a result, a whole class of hand and siege weapons appeared, which in Russia was called squeakers.
What is a pischal, they knew mainly in Russia. This was the name of the early samples of weapons with a barrel of medium or large length. This parameter was determined both by the skill of the manufacturers and by the peculiarities of the order. It was customary to equip cavalry troops with long-barreled squeakers, and infantry with short-barreled squeakers.
The meaning of the word "squeaker" comes from the concept of "pipe" and was first mentioned in Old Slavonic sources from the eleventh century, and is applicable to weapons - approximately from 1400year.
It is also necessary to note the different sizes of the squeaker. There were hand and fortress guns that were much larger and heavier, which reduced their mobility and made them look more like classic guns.
Hand squeaker
What is a hand squeaker? This is a weapon for close combat, or rather, direct fire contact with enemy forces. It had a small caliber, which was due to the need for hand-held fire and a long transfer when the troops were on the march.
The squeaker could conduct effective fire at a distance of about three hundred meters, but the lack of sights made the accuracy of firing mediocre. The rate of fire was also low, and reloading took a long time, as it was a laborious process.
It took time and skill to prepare the arquebus for shooting, so there was a big difference between novice and experienced shooters in this regard. In the conduct of hostilities, salvo fire was the main method, and it should be made as dense and effective as possible. Combat tactics - linear formations of shooters, provided a larger number of barrels in a volley.
Siege weapons
What is a siege squeaker? This is the second type, represented by fortress and siege weapons. As the name implies, they were used to protect fortresses and forts or destroy them from a considerable distance. Having less mobility, they nevertheless possessed much greater destructive power and range.fire.
Multiple weapons
Also, history has preserved stories about multi-barreled squeakers, which in theory had a huge density of fire and considerable destructive power. They were designed to compensate for the low accuracy. The design of this type of weapon made it possible to fire from more barrels, which increased both the damage de alt and the chances of hitting the target.
The shells and bullets of the multi-barreled squeakers had different sizes, and the greatest effectiveness was achieved against the accumulation of masses of people. There are many opinions regarding their size, but not a single weapon has survived to our time.
Primitive chirping device
The design of the squeak was very simple and even artless. It was an iron tube or barrel, at that time still smooth, without rifling, fixed on a wooden base.
It was called a bed, and in the back it went into a butt. Some squeakers had a funnel-shaped bell on the trunk. The calibers were great. This was explained both by the complexity of manufacturing and the impossibility of performing work with small dimensions, since the technology did not allow this.
The most common caliber is 20-30 mm, the barrel is 80-110 cm long, the handle is 110-140 cm, the weight of the squeaker is 5-7 kg. Basically, the trunks were made of iron. In front of the pishchal had a persistent metal rod.
This was done because of the considerable weight of the weapon and the impossibility of keeping it on the weight for a long time. Shotcarried out by igniting a powder propellant charge. Not all shots had the same force, since the size of the powder charge was determined by eye.
In the future, the history of the development of this type of weapon followed the path of lightening weight and increasing accuracy. This led to the squeakers gradually becoming guns and muskets.
Recommended:
Treasury is Interpretation. Word meanings
State property, budget funds, state property. These phrases can be described in one word. This is the treasury. But is this belief always true? Is the interpretation of this word the only one?
What is a brooder: device, dimensions, application
Thought about what a brooder is and how to make such a device at home? A similar question is most often asked by novice breeders, since most professional poultry farmers have such equipment at their disposal. However, if you have only recently begun to be interested in agriculture, then the information from our article will be very relevant for you
Railway track is Definition, concept, characteristics and dimensions. Train dimensions and features of track facilities operation
Traveling by train through cities and towns, you can learn a lot of interesting and amusing things about the world of the railway. More than once, traveling people have asked themselves questions about where this or that railway track leads? And what does the engineer who manages the train feel when the train is just starting off or arriving at the station? How and from where do metal cars move and what are the ways of the rolling stock?
Dimensions of wooden railway sleepers. Reinforced concrete sleeper: dimensions
The production of railway sleepers in the Russian Federation is regulated by strict state standards. This applies to both wooden and reinforced concrete structures. What are the specifics of the standards governing the dimensions of both types of sleepers?
Workshop - what is it? Word meanings
Workshop - what is it? This word for linguistic research is interesting in that it has many interpretations, although they are closely related in meaning. The most famous of the meanings of the word workshop is “production premises”. But sometimes it means both people and their associations. Detailed information that this is a workshop will be presented in the review
