What is a musket? The appearance of the first musket

What is a musket, most people know very roughly. First of all, this word is associated with the heroes of A. Dumas's novels - the famous French musketeers. Many will be surprised to learn that the first musket did not appear at all in France, and the French have nothing to do with its invention. And about what a musket is, they first found out in completely unpleasant circumstances.

History of the appearance of the musket

By the beginning of the 16th century, the equipment of soldiers had reached such a level that the "light" firearm available at that time simply lost its effectiveness. The bullets fired from the arquebus (the predecessor of the musket), because of their small weight (18-20 grams) and small caliber, could not penetrate the armor and chain mail of the enemy soldiers. A new weapon was required, with increased damaging properties. And the invention of granular powder became a fundamental factor for the modernization of weapons and the creation of a musket.

Who invented the musket

The first musket (a rifle with a long trunk and a wick lock) appeared in Spain, and it was invented by some historians, the Spanish armourer Mokketo from the city of Veletra. His invention had a barrel, the length of which reached 140 cm. It is the increase in the length of the trunk that allowed to increase the caliber of the gun and the mass of the charge of the gunpowder, and, accordingly, its range of fire and penetrating capabilities.

But to increase the length of the trunk just allowed granular powder. It was not necessary to push it to the breech of the gun with a ramrod, as it was required to do with the powder pulp that adhered to the walls of the barrel bore. Now the granules of gunpowder were poured into the breech-end without help, and the top was clogged with a ramrod. In addition, this powder burned densely and evenly, which also increased the initial speed and range of the bullet.

Characteristics of the first musket

The total length of the musket was 180 cm, and weighed about 8 kg, so when shooting, we needed a support. There was a stand-up table (stand), which was stuck into the ground at one end, and the support barrel fell on the second.

With an increase in the caliber to 23 mm (in the arquebus it was 15-17 mm), the weight of the bullet increased. At the musket she began to weigh 50-60 grams. The range of fire at the same time was 200-240 meters, and at this distance the bullet was easily punched by the most durable armor. However, to get into the enemy from the musket, it was necessary to try very hard. The probability that a target measuring two by two meters, installed at a distance of 70 meters, will be hit, was only 60%.

In addition, only a person with good physical training could withstand a powerful kickback in the shot. To somehow soften the blow, a padded pillow was put on his shoulder, playing the role of a shock absorber.

In order to load a musket, it was required to conduct a whole ritual.

How to load muskets

The musket was loaded up through the muzzle hole. In it, from the special wooden case (the charge), the powder, necessary for the production of one shot, poured out. Gunpowder in the chargeers, which were suspended on the sword arrow, was measured in advance. A small gunpowder was poured into the seeding shelf of the musket from the natruska (small powder flask). The bullet was pushed through the barrel with a ramrod. The charge was ignited with a smoldering wick, which was pressed with a lever to the seeding shelf. Gunpowder ignited and pushed the bullet.

Thus, the preparation for the shot was spent about 2 minutes, at that time it was considered a good rate of fire.

Initially, musketry was armed only infantry, and the calculation for the maintenance of the musket consisted of two people: the second number followed the burning wick, and also carried ammunition and a buffet table.

The tactics of fighting for the Musketeers

Because of the low rate of fire for the use of muskets special tactics were used. Soldiers armed with muskets were built in rectangular square, the depth of which could reach 12 ranks. After the first line produced a volley, it gave way to the next, while itself retreating to the end of the system for reloading muskets. Thus, the shooting was conducted almost continuously. All the musketeers performed their actions on command, including the process of loading.

Arming with muskets of Europe

In 1515, the French first learned what a musket is, in battle with the Spanish soldiers. Musket bullets easily pierced the strongest armor. The Spaniards, with the help of their long-barreled novelties, won an unconditional victory over the French.

In 1521 the muskets were already massively adopted by the Spanish army. And in 1525, again in battle with the French, which was given the historic name "Battle of Pavia", the Spaniards showed in all its glory the superiority of muskets in front of another weapon. The Musketeers proved an insurmountable wall for the French cavalry.

It was after this battle about what a musket was, decided to learn more closely in Europe. They began to arm units of infantry in France and Germany, and later - and other European states.

Later, the musket began to undergo improvements. Weaponsmiths from Germany have replaced the wick lock with silicon. The trigger trigger, which replaced the lever, released a spring with flint, which, when struck against a rattle, carved sparks that ignited gunpowder. The need for a wick fell away.

The Dutch improved the barrel. They replaced the metal from which it was made, to a softer one. This excluded the cases of his rupture when shot.

The Spaniards, having borrowed the experience of the Dutch and eased the musket to 4.5 kg, created a weapon for the cavalry. Such a musket became universal, it could be used in any kind of army, which was done in all European armies.