Chapter 75: Weapons Test, Cannons Part: 2
Bharatiya Academy of Military Sciences Testing Grounds:
The generals, and Vijay in particular, were very pleased with how the grenades had turned out. Vijay was even more delighted that his vision to train indigenous, research-oriented scientists who could develop new technology had gotten off to a good start with the development of the grenade.
"Alright, Hey Ram, it's your turn to show us the big gun," Vijay ordered Hey Ram to bring out the cannon.
"Right away, Your Highness," Hey Ram replied as he quickly went to fetch it.
By the time Hey Ram returned, Vijay began to inquire about the opinions of the generals. "So, what do you think, generals? What is your assessment of this weapon's combat effectiveness?"
"It's a miracle, Your Highness. For something so small to produce such a massive explosion is truly remarkable. I don't fully understand how it works, but based on my experience, this could play a significant role in the war, especially in the densely populated areas of the army formation. Furthermore, we can use this weapon to damage buildings and disrupt the enemy's logistical lines without direct contact. That's just the beginning, and with more use of this weapon, I am sure we'll discover its true potential. Overall, I believe this weapon is a major breakthrough in warfare, Your Highness," Logananda, the most experienced veteran in the room, commented.
Vijay nodded in approval, appreciating Logananda's insightful assessment of the grenade. It was evident that the old man had a talent for war strategy.
"What are your thoughts on this matter?" Vijay asked the younger generals, seeking their opinions.
The younger generals shared their thoughts, some similar to Logananda's and others with unique perspectives. General Singh, in particular, became emotional as he recollected his time leading the rebel army and the lives that could have been saved if they had grenades back then. As they heard him sigh, the other generals also sympathized with his sentiment thinking about their own battles and lost soldiers. Nevertheless, the core idea of the grenade's usage remained the same, leading to the unanimous conclusion from the military that the grenade had immense potential in combat situations.
Soon, as they were discussing about the usage of grenades, Hey Ram returned with the cannon, which was still covered with a thick cloth, but was mounted on a cart with iron-reinforced wooden wheels, pulled by two draft horses.
"Swish!"
The curtain covering the cannon was unveiled, revealing the cannon to everyone. While the shape of the cannon appeared somewhat familiar, reminiscent of the old cannons they had seen, the key difference was its larger size, requiring high-quality draft horses to pull it. This indicated that the new cannon was significantly heavier than its predecessors.
Logananda, upon observing the setup, deduced that the cannon weighed at least more than 2 tons. This revelation lowered his expectations regarding the cannon's practicality on the battlefield. He believed that a weapon of this size and weight, which required a significant amount of manpower and the use of two high-quality horses, might not be feasible in actual combat situations. However, he chose not to voice his concerns and decided to reserve judgment until after the test had been concluded.
The cannon was swiftly aimed toward a temporary cement-fortified wall constructed for the test. First, a person meticulously cleaned the bore of the cannon using a long apparatus. Then, another individual presented a paper bag filled with gunpowder, which was cut open as the bag made contact with the opening of the bore, allowing the powder to be poured inside. The idea of using standardized paper bags of the same volume to ensure consistent performance and a longer lifespan for the cannon had been conceived by Hey Ram, inspired by the king's standardization of weights and measurements. This method aimed to simplify the process for artillery soldiers during battle, as using too much gunpowder risked damaging the cannon or causing it to explode while using too little could compromise speed and accuracy. Therefore, Hey Ram devised this approach with standardized paper bags.
After the appropriate amount of gunpowder had been loaded, it was neatly compressed inside using a special long apparatus with a base on one end that fit snugly inside the bore. After a few stomps, the gunpowder settled. Then, a fuse was inserted into the breech of the cannon in a way that it would make contact with the gunpowder, allowing it to ignite. Another person quickly placed a spherical iron ball weighing at least 10 kilograms in front of the cannon. With these procedures completed, Hey Ram nodded his head, signifying that the preparation was complete, and sought Vijay's permission to commence the test.
Vijay was very pleased with how efficiently and precisely the team had executed the process. While the steps may appear simple, orchestrating them with a team and precision in a short time span was a complex endeavour. Vijay contemplated the idea of creating an instruction book for training the new artillery soldiers, thinking that it could help recruits familiarize themselves with the weapon more quickly. However, he decided to set this thought aside for another time as he granted permission for Hey Ram to fire the first shot, saying, "Go on."
With Vijay's permission, Hey Ram instructed his assistant, "Light the fuse," with utmost seriousness. The assistant nodded and, with trembling hands, lit the fuse. He counted down, "3, 2, 1... Fire."
**BOOM!**
**BZZZZZZ!...**
A dust wave blasted from the cannon's epicentre as a deafening sound echoed when the fuse disappeared inside the cannon. Everyone's ears rang as they heard nothing but a constant buzz for the next few seconds. They were in awe as the explosion sent the behemoth of a cannon a few feet backwards. This might not seem like a lot, but considering that the cannon weighs well above 2 tons, it could be seen that it generated a massive force that is well above 5000 KN. The explosion also startled the poor horses, as they desperately tried to escape the scary place.
"Shiva...!"
"Amma...!"
Logananda and Ramaiya exclaimed simultaneously as they saw a huge gaping hole in the fortified wall. They couldn't imagine how much manpower would be required to bring down that wall, but with this weapon, it could be accomplished with a single shot. What was even more astonishing was that the wall was at least a hundred meters away.
Vijay, despite being from the future, was also taken aback by the scene. He had never witnessed gunfire properly, let alone a cannon.
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