1850 American Gold Tycoon.

Chapter 638 Rocket

"Our gunpowder is of better quality and much more powerful than the gunpowder used in the British Congreve rocket. For rockets with the same charge, our rocket is definitely more powerful." Sartre raised a gun with both hands. The 32-pound lightweight rocket was introduced to Liang Yao.

"In addition, according to your requirements, we have also adjusted the center of gravity of the rocket and added a new tail fin to the tail of the rocket to make the rocket's flight attitude more stable.

The finished rockets of different weights that you see now are all the optimal solutions we adopted after conducting countless experiments.

Our rockets are superior to the British Congreve rockets in terms of range and accuracy.

Taking the 32-pound rocket in my hand as an example, the maximum range of a Congreve rocket of the same weight is between 3.5 kilometers and 4.5 kilometers. Our improved rocket can have a maximum range of more than 6 kilometers and is slightly more accurate than the Congreve rocket. good. "

Liang Yao carefully looked at the 32-pound rocket in Sartre's hand. The rocket's length was about 1 meter and its diameter was about 10 centimeters. There was an explosive warhead screwed on the front end of the rocket. The warhead can be unscrewed counterclockwise according to the thread and replaced with an incendiary warhead of the same specification. The rear end of the rocket is equipped with a 4.8-meter-long balance rod with a tail fin.

The overall manufacturing process of the rocket is relatively sophisticated, at least better than the Congreve rockets used by the British army that Liang Yao has seen.

"The cost is also better than the British Congreve rocket, right?" Liang Yao said.

"You get what you pay for." Sartre chuckled.

"It's not true, it's a mule or a horse, pull it out and run around." Liang Yao can't wait to see the actual firing effect of these homemade rockets to evaluate the actual combat performance of the rockets, and then consider whether to establish a special rocket force.

Sartre also understood that although Liang Yao had many fantastic ideas, he always attached great importance to the actual combat effects of weapons rather than paper data. Instead of boasting about the rockets manufactured by the Sacramento Arsenal, he might as well just take these rockets to the shooting range and test-fire them.

Sutter, who was already prepared, took Liang Yao to the test firing site. Three carts shaped like pipe organs were pushed out. These carts are launch frames used for light rockets under 32 pounds.

The workers in the arsenal were nervously and skillfully conducting final inspections to ensure that everything was perfect. The launch device was carefully debugged, and Sartre led Liang Yao back to a safe area.

The entire venue before the test firing seemed very quiet, and only the rustling of the wind could be heard echoing in the ears.

"emission!"

Sartre gave an order, and everyone's eyes were focused on the tall rocket. With a sharp whistling sound from the rocket ignition, hot flames erupted from the bottom of the rocket, thick smoke billowed, and the rocket shot into the sky like an arrow from a string.

The rocket rose rapidly in the air, drawing a beautiful arc, and its tail flame dragged a long white smoke in mid-air. Everyone held their breath and concentrated, their eyes following the rocket's retreating figure, paying attention to the rocket's landing point.

As most of the rockets landed in the predetermined area, bursts of smoke and dust were thrown up, and the workers responsible for the test launch couldn't help but cheer excitedly.

Only Liang Yao was not satisfied with the results of the rocket test. Such accuracy could only hit a large number of infantry in line formations and some fixed large fortresses, and could not achieve more precise strikes.

Liang Yao also knew that this was the limit of what the technology of this era could achieve, and Sutter was not exaggerating. The rocket improved by the Sacramento Arsenal was indeed better in accuracy than the Congreve rocket that Liang Yao saw near Bali Bridge. Some, the walks are smaller.

The thick smoke slowly dissipated, and the test firing range returned to calm, but the smell of burning gunpowder still lingered in the air. Next to the rocket launcher, the ground was scorched by flames, leaving scorched marks.

"How about it? Our rockets are better than those of the British, right?" Sartre said, coughing as he rubbed his eyes that were teary from the smoke.

"Not bad, but the accuracy is not that good." Liang Yao said, "Pull out the 300-pound heavy rocket and fire a few rounds, let me hear the sound." "Okay, but we have to wait, the 300-pound heavy rocket There is no special launch vehicle, so the launcher can only be built on site." Sartre nodded and explained to the arsenal workers on the side.

Workers began preparing for the launch of the heavy rocket. Not long after, skilled workers carefully installed a 300-pound heavy rocket on a special launcher.

The cast iron casing of the rocket arrow gleamed coldly in the sunlight, revealing a cold and eerie metallic luster.

"emission!"

After everything was ready, Sartre issued the launch order.

With a deafening bang, hot red-yellow flames erupted from the bottom of the rocket. Thick smoke quickly spread on the ground, and the launcher was shaken to the point of almost falling apart.

A few seconds later, the rocket crashed back to the ground, exploding into a huge fireball, with blazing flames and thick smoke rising into the sky. The shock wave of the explosion swept around with thunderous force. Flames and thick smoke instantly covered dozens of meters around. A heat wave hit the face, and metal fragments flew everywhere.

The power of heavy rockets is beyond the reach of light rockets. During this test firing, Liang Yao even felt a slight tremor on the ground beneath his feet.

"It's fun, it's fun." Liang Yao clapped his hands and said happily.

Although the accuracy of rockets in this era cannot be compared with that of artillery, the impact of rockets on the morale of enemy troops is greater. The artillerymen of this era were unable to pull a 300-pound cannon across the battlefield, but a 300-pound rocket could.

"How many rockets do you plan to buy?" Sartre looked at Liang Yao expectantly.

"First set up a rocket battalion and see the effect." Liang Yao said with his hands behind his back, "The focus should still be on artillery construction. How is the training of the new recruits of the two reserve artillery regiments in Sacramento?"

Sutter has been responsible for training the militia in the Sacramento area. Unlike other areas, the militia trained in the Sacramento area also has artillery in addition to infantry. The California Military Institute's artillery section training facility is also located in Sacramento.

"The recruits in the reserve artillery regiment are all young students who have received basic education. They learn things very quickly. The only thing they lack is actual combat experience." Sutter said, "It's just actual combat experience. I can't teach them."

------

The Battle of Fort Sumter made the political situation in the North gradually clear, and the John Brown Rebellion that occurred last year once again appeared on the front pages of major newspapers.

After this incident, the North formed a top-down call to use force to suppress the rebellion in the South and save the Union.

This voice has become the political correctness of the north. The last voice within the northern political arena to resolve differences through peaceful dialogue has been completely suppressed.

No northern politician dared to propose peace talks and dialogue with the South in the face of such turbulent public opinion.

(End of this chapter)