Difference between revisions of "Riflemen"
From TemeraireWiki
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
In the British [[Aerial Corps]], riflemen were positioned as needed on the dragon during flight to fight off the enemy, including boarders. They were generally young, junior officers, such as midwingmen. | In the British [[Aerial Corps]], riflemen were positioned as needed on the dragon during flight to fight off the enemy, including boarders. They were generally young, junior officers, such as midwingmen. | ||
| − | The usual weapon of riflemen at this time was the Baker rifle, a revolution in firearms design. Until the introduction of the rifle, guns had barrels that were internally smooth. Rifling the barrel, | + | The usual weapon of riflemen at this time was the Baker rifle, a revolution in firearms design. Until the introduction of the rifle, guns had barrels that were internally smooth. Rifling the barrel, i.e., putting a spiralling groove down its internal length, made the bullet spin in flight, greatly improving accuracy. This accuracy was vital in dragon-to-dragon fighting, where massed, innaccurate musket fire was impossible. |
{{expand}} | {{expand}} | ||
Revision as of 19:53, 6 August 2007
In the British Aerial Corps, riflemen were positioned as needed on the dragon during flight to fight off the enemy, including boarders. They were generally young, junior officers, such as midwingmen.
The usual weapon of riflemen at this time was the Baker rifle, a revolution in firearms design. Until the introduction of the rifle, guns had barrels that were internally smooth. Rifling the barrel, i.e., putting a spiralling groove down its internal length, made the bullet spin in flight, greatly improving accuracy. This accuracy was vital in dragon-to-dragon fighting, where massed, innaccurate musket fire was impossible.
