Chapter 159 Morale
Of course, considering that the Austrian military does not have a large budget, it can be put into use directly as long as a simple tail fin is added to the original design. The previously produced Congreve rocket will not be wasted, and prefabricated fragments will be engraved to strengthen it. power.
Prefabricated fragments are made by carving grooves on the projectile body, or directly sticking special hard metal sheets to the projectile body. When the projectile explodes, the impact force is used to intensify the damage to surrounding targets.
Historically, the Austrian Empire's research on rockets did not last long, and the rocket troops that were ordered in critical situations during the Battle of Sadowa did not play a role in turning the tide.
After that, rockets faded out of people's sight. It was not until World War I that the Austro-Hungarian Empire lacked firepower during its confrontation with Russia. Soldiers found these dusty weapons in the basement of the arsenal.
But it did not improve the situation of the war. Instead, it was taken by Russia, who invented the Katyusha rocket launcher and beat the Third Reich. In a sense, the Austrians also avenged Sadova. .
Not only the Austrians, but also the mainstream of the world's military circles at that time put accuracy first. However, as long as the power was sufficient and the number was sufficient, it didn't matter whether the attack was accurate or not. In the worst case, they would use ground-washing tactics.
It's just that artillery doctrine is still a bit too advanced for people of this era.
"Franz, if your modification is indeed effective, then we can let the Rocket Force concentrate its firepower and then make a little breakthrough. Maybe we will go back to the era of column tactics." Albrecht said.
"Brother, if the other party also has this kind of weapon, wouldn't the column tactic be a recipe for death? If hundreds of rockets are fired at it, not to mention the flesh and blood of the soldiers, not even the battleship can bear it." Friedrich retorted.
In 1827, the Austrian Navy launched a surprise attack on the Barbary pirates anchored in a Moroccan port, using 500 Congreve rockets to directly destroy the pirates' flagship and two capital ships.
"With the continuous upgrading of weapon firepower, concentrating troops together in the future will be courting death. As Grandpa Karl judged, the future will be the era of skirmishers, and dense formations will be completely eliminated." Franz said.
"The skirmish formation can certainly reduce casualties, but how to ensure the morale of the soldiers? I think you should know that even my father admits that as long as there is no restraint from the platoon leader, the soldiers in the queue will immediately turn around and run away." Al Brecht said.
"And the skirmishers have a natural enemy, which is the cavalry. Even the most experienced warriors cannot maintain a stable hit rate when facing the high-speed charging cavalry. The skirmishers in Napoleon's army at that time, regardless of personal quality and discipline Sex and morale are among the best in Europe, but they still can't deal with serfs on horses," Friedrich added.
Riding serf is a derogatory term for the Russian Cossack cavalry. Europeans generally believe that the Russian cavalry lacks quality, has no tactics, and is nothing but brutal.
Although the Russian Cossack cavalry won the victory in the end, they actually lost more than they won against the French cuirassiers. However, they almost never failed when attacking elite French skirmishers or chasseurs.
"Low morale is due to lack of faith. They don't know why they are fighting. To deal with the cavalry, you need rapid-fire weapons. If a soldier can fire more than three bullets in the ten seconds when the cavalry rushes in front of him, there is no need to panic. Yet?"
"Faith? Everyone in our country believes in Catholicism. Do you mean to eliminate the Protestants in the Austrian Empire?" Friedrich said.
It's just that Friedrich and Albrecht didn't look good after saying that, because their mother and sister were Protestants, and due to the Austrian Empire's religious freedom policy and the impact of joining the German Zollverein, the army now came from the North. There are not many Protestants in Germany.
"I'm not talking about religious belief, but faith in this country and this empire," Franz said.
"The soldiers of our empire only believe in two things, one is Catholicism, and the other is the family (referring to the Habsburg family). As for the imperial government and many local governments, they have hostile relations. In addition, you have not seen those Hungarians. What he did?" Albrecht said.
"I'm just talking about the solution. I also know that this cannot be solved in the short term, but with education and publicity, there is still a way to make most people believe this." Franz said.
"Compared to those useless sermons, I think money is more convincing. As long as those soldiers are given three times their wages, even the most cowardly people will dare to fight." Friedrich's tone was indifferent, obviously he had done it experimental.
"The treatment and status of soldiers must be improved, but they cannot be maintained by money alone. Wouldn't that make them mercenaries?" Franz has always scorned mercenaries due to his inherent modern thinking.
Albrecht said at this time.
"The current country's military recruitment system is an extension of mercenaries. I also like volunteers. They have strong combat effectiveness, obey orders, rarely flee, and even bring their own weapons and dry food. But if there is a real war, how many such soldiers can we have? How many times will it be beaten, and how much will be left?”
"We can enhance the people's willingness to serve the country through publicity and education, as well as improving the status of military personnel. We can also keep the people immersed in the joy of victory and beautiful illusions about the future for a long time."
"Franz, I didn't expect that you are still a Prussian lover. It is very dangerous for the army to own the country." Friedrich pointed at his head and said with a smile.
"Franz, you can find a way to save the Hungarians, which proves that you are a kind person. When an army owns a country, the people will suffer much more than now. You can ask the Prussians in your manor, Ask them if they want to go back?" Albrecht said.
"Uncle Albrecht, I didn't expect that your honest and loyal appearance would actually mislead a child." Franz said seriously.
Could working for a Junker landowner be the same as working for the royal family? Franz’s own operation, doesn’t he know the knowledge involved?
Albrecht was a little embarrassed. Is it easier for an honest person to deceive someone? Why was he caught out the first time he lied to someone?
Friedrich complained from the side.
"Brother, you think that people will suffer despite rise and fall. Who wrote that lyric? A Polish person?"
Albrecht asked incredulously.
"But Franz, how did you come up with such heavy lyrics?"
Franz shook his head and said.
"It's not what I thought of, but what I read in a book."
"Then another question, Franz, do you know how long it takes for the fastest shooter in the world to fire three shots?"
"44 seconds."
In response to Albrecht's question and answer, Franz just shook his head, then opened a box, took out a revolver from it, and placed it on the table.
"With this, the latest Colt revolver, anyone can fire six shots in five seconds."