Chapter 942 New Weapon (additional update for those who accumulate 400 monthly tickets)
It’s a new day, the weather is pretty good, and a winter sun in the sky adds a touch of warmth to this cold season.
Riding a carriage, Zhou Xu arrived at the testing site of the Ordnance Research Department outside the city.
“Your Majesty.”
“I don’t have to pay any courtesy, let me see the new weapons!”
Facing Zhou Xu who was obviously impatient, Zhuang Mengdie did not hesitate and made a move. A tester holding a new weapon walked over quickly.
"Your Majesty, this is my latest version of the individual crossbow!"
At this moment, the individual crossbow held in the hand of the tester is definitely not a light crossbow, but It is a heavy-duty individual crossbow with a crossbow arm one meter long!
Compared with those arm crossbows and one-handed crossbows with a range of only ten or twenty meters, this heavy-duty individual crossbow is much larger in size. From head to toe, it is completely incomparable to being compact and light. .
Anyone with a discerning eye can see that this heavy individual crossbow evolved from the city defense crossbow.
The size has been reduced and part of the design has been adjusted, so that the city defense crossbow, which originally required two soldiers to operate and was placed on a wall to shoot, has become a single soldier crossbow that only one soldier can operate smoothly.
A large number of tests and adjustments were conducted during this period to ensure the power and range of the heavy individual crossbow to the maximum extent.
The test started soon. The round target for the test was placed directly at a position of two hundred meters. It can be said that I am very confident.
This situation would not be possible if it were replaced by a bow and arrow.
Not to mention the powerful bows specially equipped for fierce generals like Zhou Chongshan, let’s take the mass-produced bows and arrows used by ordinary archers as an example.
Not talking about the maximum range, it doesn't make much sense, let's just talk about the effective range. At this stage, while ensuring the lethality, the effective range of the bow and arrow in level shooting is less than two hundred meters.
Even if it can be achieved, if you want to hit a target two hundred meters away, the requirements for archery skills are very high, but this is obviously different from the situation of a heavy individual crossbow.
In the blink of an eye as Zhou Xu's thoughts were whirling, the tester responsible for operating the heavy individual crossbow was already in action.
I saw him stepping on the ring at the head of the crossbow, which is the pedal of a heavy individual crossbow. After stepping on it, he can use his whole body to pull the crossbow at a faster speed. open.
In the process of continuous adjustment and testing, this tester has undoubtedly used this heavy individual crossbow countless times, and the entire operation is now quite smooth.
Open the crossbow and set the target, pick up the heavy individual crossbow, take aim briefly, and then pull the trigger.
At that moment, with a slightly sharp roar, the crossbow arrow shot through the air and directly hit the round target two hundred meters away!
Zhou Xu, who was watching from the side, couldn't help but applaud, and at the same time, the testers breathed a sigh of relief.
From the beginning of the development of this individual crossbow to the present, he has been responsible for all testing work.
After using it a lot, practice will naturally make you perfect, and you can basically ensure that you will not miss the target.
But the situation was different today. Their majesties were standing nearby and watching, which made him really a little nervous, fearing that he would not perform well and be embarrassed in front of their majesties.
It wasn’t until a crossbow hit the target successfully that I completely relaxed and felt a sense of relief.
But the test was obviously not over yet. After adjusting the state, the tester started operating again. This time, he aimed at the round target located one hundred meters away.
Unlike the round target two hundred meters away, the surface of this round target is covered with a layer of fish scales.
Obviously, if you want to ensure armor penetration, you have to shorten the shooting range to within a hundred meters.
The trigger was pulled, and the crossbow bolt burst out again, directly piercing the armor and sinking into the round target accurately!
“Okay!”
Zhou Xu, who saw this scene in his eyes, felt excited.
Hurry up and order someone to fetch the armored round target to find out!
After receiving the order, the round target was quickly delivered to Zhou Xu.
At this time, it can be clearly seen that the armor plate has been penetrated by the crossbow arrow.
The crossbow arrow was pulled out, and the staff next to it quickly took measurements.
"After penetrating the armor plate, it will sink five centimeters into the round target. If it hits the enemy's heart, it will directly pierce the heart. He will be dead."
For the power of this heavy individual crossbow , Zhou Xu can be said to be too satisfied.
"Very good, just follow this version and start mass production!" Zhou Xu developed heavy individual crossbows not to deal with the ratmen in the south. They were not worthy.
The advantage of the crossbow lies in its powerful penetration ability.
The reason why Zhou Xu wanted to develop individual crossbows was because of the green-skinned troops that appeared in New Taipei District before.
Although those greenskins are poorly equipped, they possess the troublesome ‘WAAAGH! ! ! ’ The force field, bows and arrows were obviously not powerful enough when used against them, and they could not pose a threat to them at all.
Under this premise, the dwarf troops that appeared later quickly shot and killed the greenskins with heavy crossbows.
This is the fundamental reason why Zhou Xu developed the individual crossbow, to deal with the green-skinned troops that may appear in the New Taipei District, and to further ensure the stability of their Greater Zhou New Taipei District.
Of course, this does not mean that after having heavy individual crossbows, their internal bows and arrows can be completely retired.
In fact, compared to crossbows, bows and arrows are the long-range weapons in the true sense that have been used throughout the entire cold weapon era.
At the same time, the two long-range weapons, bows and crossbows, also have their own advantages and disadvantages.
It is still based on their internal mass-produced version of Da Zhou. Let’s talk about power first. The crossbow is stronger. There is no doubt about this. The penetration power is there.
In terms of range, it's a little more complicated.
The attack methods of bow and arrow are divided into flat shooting and projectile.
In the flat shooting state, bows and arrows are no match for crossbows. Crossbows have a longer effective range and are more powerful.
But bows and arrows can be thrown.
In the case of projectile, the effective range of the bow and arrow is longer.
Simultaneous projection can form a large area of arrow rain. In defensive battles, it can cross one's own city walls. In front of the battle, it can cross one's own front troops to directly attack the enemy, or even hit the enemy's back row.
This has tactical value.
But crossbows don’t work. If crossbows want to show their power, they must arrange the crossbow troops in the front row to face the people’s gates, or in city defense battles, arrange them on the wall. In short, there must be no one in front of them. Obstacles that prevent them from shooting, otherwise they won't be able to cast.
At this time, some people may say that crossbows can also be ejected.
Indeed, you can do it if you insist on doing so.
But this is like asking a fat man with extremely poor jumping ability to participate in a high jump competition. He can jump twice, but the effect is terrible!
In addition, bow and arrow attacks are more efficient.
The reloading efficiency of the crossbow is really slow. If you switch to a bow and arrow, you can hit it with a single shot.
And compared to heavy individual crossbows, bows and arrows are also lighter and more flexible.
Of course, compared with bows and arrows, crossbows also have the advantage of being less difficult to use.
If you pick up a random farmer on the roadside and ask him to practice according to the process for an hour or two, he will be able to practice well.
Switch to a bow and arrow. Whether you can hit the target in this short time is a question.
To train a qualified archer requires a lot of time, effort, and cost.
But the cost of crossbowmen is very low and they can be quickly formed.
But even so, crossbows cannot shake the status of bows and arrows on the cold weapon battlefield.
Because crossbows are more expensive, more time-consuming, and more prone to failure.
As we all know, at the military level, a weapon needs to be strong and durable, and it also needs to be mass-produced. Crossbows obviously do not meet this requirement.
When a large number of configurations are required, bows and arrows are a better choice, and crossbows are more suitable for forming a special force.
On the battlefield, crossbows and bows can be used interchangeably according to the actual situation on the battlefield. There is basically no argument about who replaces the other. They can coexist.
(End of this chapter)