Chapter 203: Turning Point
Vienna
After the actual combat tests of the new rifle from the Hordas Armory were successful, it entered the Austrian military’s list of alternative equipment for standard issue. It was named the Holman-Strehlen M1852 rifle.
This seemed to be a European habit; designers often like to name the weapons they create after themselves.
These were trivial matters for Franz, who had no interest in delving into details. Being included in the army’s list of alternative equipment did not necessarily mean widespread adoption.
Breech-loading rifles had been around for over thirty years, starting with the American Hall M1819. Unfortunately, this rifle had a tendency to veer to the left after 45.7 meters.
Next came Prussia’s Dreyse M1841, which the Prussian army had already started to equip. However, many generals held opposing views, indicating that its performance had not yet won over the public.
This rifle only truly shone during the Prussian-Danish War and the Austro-Prussian War in 1864. However, its advantages over breech-loading rifles were not as legendary as later accounts boast, evident from the fact that the Prussian army did not universally adopt it.
Despite its four to five times faster rate of fire compared to muzzle-loading rifles, its firing pin was prone to damage. Early production runs were mocked as unusable on the battlefield unless you have spare firing pins.
Breech-loading rifles also frequently experienced gas leaks, with the leaking gas easily disrupting shooting and, in severe cases, causing burns to the skin, or, in unlucky situations, potentially blinding the shooter.
As production techniques improved later on, the performance gradually stabilized, and the Dreyse M1841 began to shine.
Franz encountered many similar rifles, and while their performance in the laboratory was excellent, they weren’t viable for mass production.
Either the cost was too high or the performance was reduced. This wasn’t a nuclear weapon so Franz naturally has to consider costs. Sacrificing performance was even more undesirable — what was the point of equipping a rifle without performance advantages?
Until the Holman-Strehlen M1852 came into existence. In terms of performance, it was similar to the historical Chassepot rifle, with just a slightly shorter effective range.
These were minor issues. Ensuring an effective range of 650 meters was sufficient. The rifle could shoot even farther, at over 1500 meters, good for intimidating enemies.
Franz had always believed that in actual combat, hitting an enemy accurately within 150 meters already made a soldier excellent. For longer distances, it was better to rely on instincts!
“Marshal, what do you think of this rifle? Should we consider switching to it?” Franz asked.
Marshal Radetzky replied with a smile, “Your Majesty, based on the collected data, the performance seems good, and it has the potential for large-scale deployment. However, the quoted price from the arsenal is thirty percent higher than that of ordinary rifles, and the ammunition consumption may be two to three times higher.”
Clearly, Marshal Radetzky was experienced and didn’t expect this rifle to achieve the theoretical maximum of 15 rounds on the battlefield. Otherwise, the increase in ammunition consumption would be much higher.
Franz remained calm and said, “A slight increase in cost is acceptable, especially considering that it will decrease after large-scale industrial production. As long as its effectiveness justifies the price, it’s fine.
If we give the order to focus on mass production immediately, the more than twenty arms manufacturers in Austria can produce thirty to forty thousand of these rifles each month without any issues.”
This is thanks to the outbreak of the Near East War, and Austria’s arsenals having expanded their production capacity. Compared to a year ago, Austria’s military production capacity has surged by fifty percent.
If they were to produce muzzle-loading rifles, there would be no problem with mass-producing one hundred thousand per month now, otherwise, the Russian army wouldn’t have been able to switch so quickly.
Marshal Radetzky calmly said, “Your Majesty, it’s better to be cautious. Let’s procure one hundred thousand for trial first. If the performance on the battlefield is good, then we can consider mass adoption. Currently, nations around the world are still using muzzle-loading rifles, and our current rifles are not outdated.”
Franz nodded. It was too late for a large-scale rearmament unless he ordered a national mobilization now. Austria’s industrial capacity still had significant untapped potential.
This situation was similar to when automatic rifles were introduced. Everyone knew it was a good weapon, but the terrifying ammunition consumption — could the logistics support it?
The limit of ammunition consumption would only be revealed on the battlefield. Just like the Montenegrin Army, after testing the rifle and despite being very satisfied with its performance, they abandoned the idea of purchasing it after witnessing the terrifying ammunition consumption.
You’re saying it has a high hit rate? That was true. The enemy can fire at most two or three rounds per minute, while you can casually fire seven or eight rounds per minute. Naturally, your chances of hitting the enemy are higher; this was normal.
But this increase in hit rate was not two or three times; it was only about twenty to thirty percent, and that was just when the enemy was not used to it. If they adapt to it, it might continue to decrease.
At first glance, it doesn’t seem like much, but if you consider how many bullets it takes to kill an enemy, you’ll realize it’s quite costly.
In the muzzle-loading rifle era, on average, it took double-digit bullets to kill one enemy. In the breech-loading rifle era, it increased to four digits…
There’s no way around it; the era of single-shot rifles has ended. Everyone is lying on the ground to shoot, making it even more challenging to hit enemies. The later emergence of trenches and machine guns further increased ammunition consumption.
In the era of semi-automatic rifles, it rose to five digits. Going forward, using individual rounds as a unit makes the number too large, so using tons as a unit is more appropriate.
……
Sofia Battlefield
An indignant Sardinian officer exclaimed, “General, the Russians are still relentless against us. What should we do now?”
Even after leaking all the British military intelligence to the Russians, they dared to continue their attack here. It was simply too much.
Mantuya, gritting his teeth, said, “We can’t retreat now. This is related to our honor and the glory of the Kingdom of Sardinia. Do you want to return home under the name of a defeated general and face military court? We absolutely cannot be the first to lose our position.
Since the Russians have gone too far, let’s give them a harsh lesson and show them that we are not easy to bully.
Tell the soldiers that our wages are still in the hands of the British. If anyone dares to run away, I’ll kill him on the spot.”
“Yes, General!” the young officer immediately responded.
Mantuya added uneasily, “Wait a moment. Spread the word privately, saying that the British are about to collapse. Once their defenses crumble, we’ll retreat immediately.”
As it turned out, the Sardinian army still had combat effectiveness when they fought with determination. The term “heavy casualties” depended on the standard used.
If there were a few casualties, they could add two or three zeros to the report, making it seem like heavy casualties.
If anyone paid attention to the casualty reports that the Sardinian army submitted to the allied forces earlier, they would have noticed that their casualty rate was approaching one-fifth.
The British believed this report because their own casualty situation was not too far from these numbers. Seeing themselves in the same situation as the others, the British never doubted it.
Facing the sudden eruption of the Sardinian army, the Russians realized that this “soft target” wasn’t easy to handle.
Gorchakov decided to test if the intelligence they obtained was accurate. After all, throughout their journey, the Bulgarians provided them with a wealth of information, and it wouldn’t be surprising if there were Bulgarians among the enemy forces.
……
As soon as the Russians took action, FitzRoy Somerset was nearly driven mad by the recent battle report. Suddenly, a barrage of artillery fire erupted, accurately hitting their artillery positions.
If it had been just one location, it might have been attributed to luck. However, every single artillery position was targeted, receiving the full brunt of the attack.
And the misfortune didn’t end there. After the artillery positions took a hit, the military supply warehouses were accurately bombarded as well.
Even though the Russian artillery had a low hit rate from a distance, after this relentless barrage, their losses were substantial.
After the shelling ceased, the Russian forces accurately identified their weak points and launched the most vigorous assault.
FitzRoy Somerset knew that someone had betrayed them by leaking information, but given the current situation, he had no choice but to call for reinforcements. Even if they had to settle scores later, the priority was to stop the Russian advance.
“How much longer until that idiot Oliver arrives at the front lines?” FitzRoy Somerset asked again.
The aide nervously replied, “Major General Oliver reported that they have just recaptured Plovdiv from the guerrillas. It is expected that they will reach Sofia in about a week.”
With a distance of over 120 kilometers, a week’s time was reasonable. The normal marching speed of the British forces was about thirty kilometers per day. Considering possible delays due to guerrilla attacks, the timeline seemed understandable.
FitzRoy Somerset ordered, “Order that fool to come faster. They must reach the front lines within three days, or face military discipline!”
“Yes, Commander!” the aide immediately responded.
FitzRoy Somerset, still uneasy, added, “Wait a moment. Tell that fool to first send half of the troops with light equipment to hasten their march. Leave the logistical supplies with the rear forces to increase their speed.”
The Russians are relying on a gamble, and this situation holds both risks and opportunities. As long as the reinforcements can arrive on time, the allied forces can turn the tide.
Otherwise, FitzRoy Somerset would have fled long ago. If the Sardinians don’t want to continue the fight, they can find a way to make the British the scapegoats. Why can’t FitzRoy Somerset let the Sardinians take the blame in return?
As a commander of the allied forces, he had plenty of ways to trick people.
Currently, the British and Ottoman forces were sharing the burden on the battlefield. If he yielded some territory to the Sardinian and Ottoman forces for joint defense, it was estimated that in less than a day, the Russians would break through the defense line.
FitzRoy Somerset still desired military achievements. If he lost Sofia, even if he let allies take the blame, he, as the commander, would have a hard time avoiding blame and leaving a permanent stain on his record.
……
Oliver was still capable; it’s just that it was his first time on the battlefield, therefore lacking experience, which led to a series of failures.
Upon receiving FitzRoy Somerset’s orders, he had already accelerated the marching speed, but the roads along the way were treacherous.
Being the operational area of the Bulgarian guerrilla forces, how could the roads not be sabotaged? They were repairing the roads as they marched, all the while dealing with ambushes from unknown locations.
Occasionally, there were unexpected landmines, generously sponsored by Franz. Worried about Russian defeat, he had prepared a batch in advance to obstruct pursuers.
Unexpectedly, the allied forces kept making mistakes, with each one refusing to contribute and inadvertently squandering their advantages.
The Russians didn’t appreciate these rubbish bombs, so they gave them to the Bulgarian guerrilla forces. Now, they became the cause of Oliver’s headache.
These landmines were the simplest to bury, making them easy to clear, with the only requirement being time.
With no better solution, the crude method seemed like the right approach. The British herded their livestock through the minefields, inevitably delaying their marching speed.
……
On January 2, 1853, the Bulgarian guerrilla forces suddenly attacked the rear of the British military position. Chaos ensued within the allied forces, and at this critical moment, the Sardinians fled, collapsing the defense line painstakingly built by FitzRoy Somerset.
With insufficient manpower, FitzRoy Somerset couldn’t adequately defend against the possibility of Bulgarian guerrilla attacks from the rear, catching him off guard.
The most embarrassing thing was that, at this moment, the reinforcements were less than fifteen kilometers away from the front lines. If the Sardinian forces had not fled and had instead dedicated all their efforts to assisting, they might have held on until the reinforcements arrived.
Clearly lacking the determination to face the Russians to the death, Mantuya wasted no time in fleeing. Since the British defense line collapsed, they couldn’t be blamed for this responsibility.
To avoid being blamed for this, Mantuya even took along some British soldiers and ran away with them.
This escape proved fatal for FitzRoy Somerset. As a defeated commander, he was not that far away from facing a military tribunal. If he managed to survive and return, he would inevitably face the consequences.
Oliver, who hurriedly marched to the scene, became the second unfortunate person. Exhausted and disregarding losses, he finally arrived just in time, only to immediately face a skirmish with the Russians.
Without any surprises, those with fewer people on the battlefield always suffer. Oliver, in his haste, didn’t bring any cannons, resulting in a disadvantage when they clashed.
After a tough battle, Oliver successfully led his troops to retreat. In the process, he also rescued a group of scattered British soldiers, making his efforts worthwhile.
The Russians, worn out and fatigued, lacked the energy to pursue further. Seeing the situation, Gorchakov naturally chose to cease the pursuit.
FitzRoy Somerset had long considered the impracticality of holding Sofia. Unfortunately, the city had been severely affected by the Ottomans, and its fortifications were long gone.
The city’s inhabitants harbored deep resentment against the allied forces. Relying on the city to fight battles on the streets alongside the Russians, they were the first to be drawn into a people’s war.
Moreover, the efficiency of the Ottoman government was too low. The supplies stockpiled in Sofia were not enough to sustain the allied forces for even a single month. If they dared to remain in the besieged city, they could expect total annihilation!
At this stage of the war, the allied forces were already stretched thin, and there was no hope of anyone coming to their rescue.
Even if reinforcements were called in from the homeland, there wouldn’t be enough time. After the battle’s failure, the allied forces were all eager to flee.
The front line, spanning over a dozen kilometers, makes total annihilation impossible. The Russians have only torn open a segment of the allied forces’ defenses anyway.
If it weren’t for the need to rescue more soldiers, Oliver wouldn’t have needed to rush over to engage in a confrontation with the Russians. They could have simply turned and fled, and the Russians wouldn’t have pursued them.
After six months of intense fighting, a battle involving nearly two hundred thousand troops concludes with a tragic victory for the Russians.
Looking at the casualty reports, Gorchakov can responsibly say that he successfully completed the tasks assigned by the Russian government. He truly achieved victory at the cost of considerable casualties.
The total casualties, including both the early and later stages, reached a staggering 67,000. The Russian soldiers were practically replaced entirely, with 26,000 of them killed, including the wounded who couldn’t be saved.
Despite a continuous influx of reinforcements from the rear, the Russian army now needs substantial rest and recovery. The final assault clearly indicates a decline in the combat effectiveness of the Russian forces.
With such a significant cost, the achievements were as follows: defeated 100,000 soldiers of the allied forces, killed 34,000 soldiers, and captured 25,000 including over 11,000 wounded.
Looking at the casualties on both sides, it would appear that the Russians were the ones who suffered defeat in this battle. If not for the sudden breakthrough of the Bulgarian guerrilla forces, the outcome of this campaign would have remained uncertain.
In order to save face, Gorchakov did not hesitate to swallow the achievements of the Bulgarian guerrilla forces and ignored the losses they suffered.
Of course, to ensure the continued loyalty of the Bulgarians, Gorchakov also sought recognition for them domestically, emphasizing the significant contribution of the Bulgarian guerrilla forces in delaying enemy reinforcements and making an outstanding contribution to the victory of the war.
After that, there was nothing more. Just this point alone was enough to convince the Russian government to agree to the conditions promised earlier.
Originally, the Russian government was considering annexing Bulgaria and was concerned that these guerrilla forces might become an obstacle. Now that they could be incorporated, how could Nicholas I possibly refuse?
Regardless of the losses on both sides, they could not overshadow the historical significance of this campaign. Historians widely acknowledge this battle as a turning point in the Second Battle of Bulgaria.
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