Artillery Drill Manual
In the blink of an eye, a crisp "crack" was heard from afar, and the withered tree, as thick as a bowl, snapped in two, its upper half crashing to the ground!
"Good! Well done!" A burst of enthusiastic cheers and exclamations erupted behind him! Elmont also let out a long sigh of relief, his face flushed with excitement, and he pumped his fist. The Eagle Cannon's rate of fire and accuracy were perfectly demonstrated at this moment.
The Eagle Cannon was quickly moved away from its firing position by the assistants for cleaning and cooling. Next, it was the turn of the Minin Cannon built by Hector.
Compared to the relatively complex Eagle Cannon, the Minin Cannon is exceptionally simple and lightweight. Two gunners can push it to the designated position. The gun carriage also has a simple fork-shaped support with adjustable elevation angle.
The cannon was dark in color, much shorter and sturdier than the Eagle Cannon, and it did not have a spade to offset the recoil. After firing, the gunner would push it back to its original position.
Then, Hector personally stepped forward to demonstrate the loading process.
He first inserted a fixed Gunpowder pack into the bottom of the cannon and compacted it, then poured in a large number of iron pellets about the size of a fingernail, followed by a thin layer of soil to insulate and compact it, then poured in a layer of finer iron sand, and finally inserted a solid iron pellet weighing about one pound into the muzzle and gently tapped it down with a wooden mallet.
This layered loading method is designed to create a deadly barrage that is first concentrated and then dispersed upon firing.
Hector was clearly very confident in his work. Standing fearlessly beside the cannon, he picked up the flint and shouted in a booming voice, "Sir, I'll shoot the tree trunk behind that bush nearby!"
Having said that, he thrust the ignition rod into the fire door without hesitation!
"Bang!!!"
A deeper, yet more violent, explosion erupted!
Accompanied by a huge flash of fire and thick smoke, countless shotgun shells were sprayed out like a storm, instantly covering a large area near the aiming point!
After the smoke cleared, the group went forward to inspect the area and saw that the bushes had been riddled with holes, and the tree trunks behind them were covered with dense dents and embedded iron balls. Several places had even been pierced directly by larger bullets, with wood chips flying everywhere!
The terrifying area-effect damage once again drew gasps from the crowd.
The test firing was a complete success! Both new guns demonstrated the performance expected in their design.
Karl was very satisfied. He walked to the center of the field and looked at the artisans and assistants who were excited about their success.
He first looked at Elmont and Hector, praising them, "Good! Very good! Elmont, Hector, you have lived up to my expectations, you have done an excellent job! And everyone here, thank you for your hard work!"
His gaze swept over the crowd, and his tone became solemn. "Today, you have forged your own sword and shield for Carnford! Cannon, like muskets, will become the key to our future victory and defense of our homeland!"
"Carnford's artillery will surely grow from nothing to something, from small to large! And you are the heroes who made it all possible! History will remember your achievements today!"
Finally, his gaze settled on Elmont, whose body trembled slightly with excitement, and he announced his decision, "Elmont! Your successful development of the Eagle Cannon is a great achievement. I hereby officially promote you to the rank of First-Class Craftsman."
"From this day forward, you have the authority to recruit and train apprentices and build your own technical team! I hope you will remain humble and continue to develop more and better weapons for the territory!"
"Thank you, Your Excellency! Your subordinates will certainly do their utmost!" Elmont and the other craftsmen expressed their gratitude excitedly, their faces beaming with barely suppressed joy and pride.
After the initial excitement of the successful test launch, Karl regained his Lord composure.
Looking at the two craftsmen leaders before him, radiant with success, he knew that creating powerful weapons was only the first step; the key was how to make those weapons unleash their full power on the battlefield.
All of this is inseparable from well-trained gunners.
"Elmont, Hector," Karl's voice drew everyone's attention, "The successful trial production of the Cannon is a great achievement, but there is another crucial matter that you need to address immediately."
The two immediately stopped smiling and stood at attention to listen.
Karl continued, "You two are the most familiar with these two new cannons in Carnford right now, especially you, Elmont. You not only know how to build them, but you've also personally operated similar Eagle Cannon on ships, so you have practical experience in their use."
He glanced at the two men. "Now, I want you to use your strengths, combine the experience from this trial production, and refer to the artillery Drill Manual of the Goldflower Kingdom's military that you know, to compile a practical artillery training manual for our own Carnford artillery."
He specifically explained the requirements for the manual, "The manual doesn't need advanced theory; the key is practicality and ease of understanding! Contents should include, for example, key points for the daily maintenance of Cannon, how to safely transport and quickly set up artillery during marches, standardized loading procedures for different types of ammunition, basic aiming and firing angle adjustment methods, and post-firing cleanup and troubleshooting."
"In short, the goal is to enable a literate soldier to learn the most basic operations by following the manual, and to enable an ordinary literate soldier to become a qualified gunner after a short period of training!"
Elmont and Hector exchanged a glance, both seeing solemnity and a hint of excitement in each other's eyes. This was undoubtedly a significant and important mission.
Elmont bowed first and replied, "Rest assured, sir! While on the ship, I studied the Drill Manual for the Eagle Cannon repeatedly and know every step by heart. Combining this experience in building the cannon, I am confident that I can write a simple and clear procedure!"
Hector chimed in, "Although I haven't personally operated the cannon, I am intimately familiar with the structure and characteristics of the Minin Cannon. How to maintain it and ensure stable firing will be detailed in the manual. I will work closely with Elmont to compile the manual as soon as possible!"
"Very good!" Karl nodded in satisfaction. "This matter is urgent. Our artillery needs to be formed as soon as possible. Once you get back, start working on it immediately. First, draft an outline for me to review. If you need any assistance, just contact Edgar."
"Yes, sir!" the two replied in unison, already beginning to outline the framework of the manual in their minds.