early black powder timeline

[LordGhee]

Dear Sirs,

Like to start up the gunpowder thread again so here is a gunpowder timeline, which I plan to post here for your edification. But the first two hundred years took ten pages I decide to post a shorter line that deals with the black powder weapons. I deleted the important people listing, and most battle descriptions this is still long.

 

1250AD – Roger Bacon and others discover gunpowder around this time. Many keep it secret but it effeteness is limited by the impure ingredients.

 

1300 AD Somewhere in Northern Italy a person notices that if you take a tube and tie it to a board as a platform, cram in gunpowder (made with the new purer saltpeter) and put in an object, light it with fire and boom; the object is propelled with great force.

 

The status of warfare at the time in France, England, central Germany and Italy is that heavy cavalry rules the battlefield. The knight the main user of the heavy cavalry style is armored in double chain with knee and elbow plates. Infantry generally carries the large shield and long spear. Most of the time infantry is not around as it is easier (and their job) to let the nobles fight. Light troops are generally armed with bow (75lbs draw) crossbow (200lbs draw) or javelin (Spanish style). Their ranges are 200m for the bow, 250 for the cross bow and 50m for the javelin. Edward I of England adds longbows (100lb draw) to his army. The longbow range of 300m and rate of fire give the English one hundred years of battlefield successes.

The Mongols for the past 60 years have been showing the world why the gent that grab a bow and jumped on the horse was so bright. Over most of the world the main troop type is the horse bowman except in Europe and the new world where horses are not due to be imported for 250 years.

Siege warfare is carried out with the aid of the trebuchet and catapults. Which results in the height of castle building. The Mongols learning from the Chinese that trebuchet can be built big, build them to hurl up to 2000lb stones. These stones crush the walls at Baghdad and the assassin’s castles breaking the group. The Trebuchet range is 400m.

 

Note there are many websites and a great PBS show on building and using Trebuchet.

 

1338AD – The first listing of thunder jars in France followed in England and Germany by 1342AD.

 

The state of gun technology as of the middle of the 1300’s show change. The guns start off as wood tubes that are hollowed out tied to a log and filled with powder and things to shoot (balls of stone and spears). The big problem in guns is the gun bursting (blowing up). This is due to many factors like: overcharging with too much powder, fatigue due to use, poor workmanship. The wood guns quickly get wrapped in leather and rope probably to fix burst guns, then to strengthen them to keep them from bursting. Later wire is used to wrap the gun. Then around the mid 13th century somebody figures if wire is good then a metal tube is better.

Early guns are small to us to day and used in sieges for they must be put together at the site where the powder mixed and there is a source of fire. The problem with powder is the saltpeter as it gets dusty or absorbs water from the air and is render useless quickly. The first use of guns in war is in Sicily in the mid 1300. They are all individually made and different sizes, which makes it a skilled profession (as shown by their pay). The Gunners are quickly accepted into the artillery (as in catapults and trebuchets) guilds.

Guns in general fire a softball size stone about 600m+. The 600m + range of these weapons is the reason they are accepted quickly as they out range any catapult, ballista and Trebuchet (400m+). These guns have a very slow rate of fire. This is due in part to having to let the piece cool so it will not cook off. Guns in general have a very limited life do to weak metal tubes bursting. They are mention at many sieges and towards the end of the 1300s start to show up in numbers. Armies need a least a few to clear out the enemy’s guns so the rest of the artillery can deploy or be stopped from deploying.

 

1346 AD. – The Battle of Crecy in France with the French losing to the British with their longbows.

 

 

There is a report on two small cannons at the battle, and they are used to no reported effect. During the day of the battle the Genoese crossbow men (4000) suffer through a rain. Their crossbow get wet and since the bows are wood and animal parts have less range and effect than normal. The English have bow cases and weathered the rain with no bad effects. The Italians remembered being out range and shot down and start looking to improve their weapon.

 

By 1400 AD guns have developed into two types. Handgunns and what will be called cannons. Handgunns have been used for a few decades mainly in sieges. These weapons are big, crewed by couple of gunners and they fire a shot the sizes of a mans fist. The recoil is severe and pictures show a hook at the end of a gun that holds the wall to brace it. Guns are still manly used in sieges, as a source of fire is needed. Black powder is made at factories and can carry now for limited time. Old powder is still a problem, as it gets unstable and or useable. The main reason that these weapons are used is range. Repeat range. Early cannon range 400m+ and handguns 200m+. This out ranges bows and catapults of all types. Rate of fire is in the minutes to reload with only a few rounds used.

The guns still heat up quickly and cook offs still happen. Rate of fire is limited to a few rounds a day still but guns are not bursting as much. The touchhole is the firing mechanism. This will misfire half to one quarter of the time. (Most of the time the firer can retouch and fire the piece.). Cannon have developed into two types, the cannon used for range and the bombard, which is a larger in diameter gun with a short barrel used to hurl very large stones to smash walls. This type shows up in the 1430’s and a bombard race starts in Germany with every country joining at some point; the end result is Ivan the Great of Russia ordering the casting of a bombard that can hurl a 5,000 lb stone. It is so big it is not moved from the foundry in Russia until the modern era.

The Italians have developed the steel crossbow (500lb draws and 300m range.) Early in the century it is cocked with a pulley and rope. Later a wind less is added by mid century on heavier models with a 700lb + draws and up to 400m range. The steel crossbow is not affected by weather as examples have been immersing in water for hours, pulled out and used with out any effect to range or power. The Italian’s remember the rain at Cercy.

The French, leaders in amour protection have started to adopt the coat of plates (easily the most mistranslated piece of lore). This armour is made usually of two leather (other fabrics where used) layers with metal plates the sizes of playing cards sandwich between them. The palates where rivet or sown in. This gave very good protection unless a point found the gap between the plates.

 

 

1411 AD. First drawing of a matchlock mechanism will not be in general military use unit the late 1400.

 

1415 AD Battle of Agincourt. The English fight the French. The English win again.

 

Here are some notes. The cannon with the French never make it out of the armies rear.

There is a company of heavy crossbows (all crossbow at this battle are steel) of about 300 that had kept their shields (the pavis) and moved into the woods on the British left flank. Using teamwork, advancing by fire and cover beat the archers in there during the battle. Realizing that the French have loss the battle these men retire.

The new armour coat of plates remains popular due to the protection it gives but stories of arrows penetrating it abound.

The Hit Rate of missile fire in battle has been in general to be figured that only (see Hughes book Firepower) one in a hundred shots (gun, rifle or arrow) hits in a battle. If that is the case then the 5000 British archers each started with 40 arrows and were supplied with 40 more arrows during the battle, fire over 400,000 arrows that day. With a hit rate of one in a hundred you get 4000 hits, say 2000 more knights where then killed in the hand-to-hand fighting then you get 6,000 casualties. In the record the French army was organized in 3 groups called battles. Each battle was about 7,000. Only the first two battles fought. This gives a casualty rate of 50 percent for the first two battles of the French army. This is consider by most analyst and the U.S.Army to render a unit ineffective. From the records this is about right. The English lose about 1,600 men.

 

1425AD Jan Ziska in bohemia leads the peasants in a revolt that last 20 plus years. He uses wagons as movable forts with lots of missile troops in and behind them. Every one in Europe hears of his successes and how the Handgunns are very effective. Their use during battles is remarkable; the problem of fire is solved by the use of the wagons forts

 

In the year of 1435AD the metal workers of Mainz get together to build the first suit of plate armour. This project has over 1500 armourers working on it and is to show the leadership of this Germany city in metalworking. It is priced at over 100,000marks. This is equivalent to a billion dollars of today’s money. It is so expensive that the group gives it to King Charles of Spain who is at the time is the riches king in Europe with an income of over 500,000 marks. They get an immediate order for four suits of plate from him at a much reduce cost. At the first siege that he wears it many Nobles are suitable impressed and orders come in (4 suits then 8, then 12 ect).

This suit of plate becomes the standard that every soldier wants. In order to prove the quality of the merchandise armour start to proof their product by shooting the breastplate (after purchase) with a crossbow at 30 ft or later with a pistol shot after the crossbow is no longer used. This is the start of the proof mark. This armour is capable of stopping most blows with swords, arrows and crossbow blots (heavy included). Many examples in history abound. Unfortunately handgunns and cannon (of course) are the threat for the energy is still transferred to the wearer. Japanese armour makers (circa 1600AD) are driven to distraction for they can make plate that stops arrows but the bullet crushes it or the Armour stops bullets and the arrow pierces it. By 1540 the Spanish and Venice armies fighting the Turks are all in Plate vs. the Turks in chain.

 

1450 Battle of Formigny the French using cannon to start the battle win against the English longbow. The cannon start causing casualties and the English advance. The new white companies which are the first professional year round soldiers (cavalry) in hundreds of years. Professionally ride down the advancing English who lose most of the 4000 longbow at the battle. These troops are a gift that the French kings mistress has given him. This gift starts a trend and armies become more and more professional.

 

Handguns are now the size that one man uses. The guns are a tube on a stick that is held under the arm. One man can aim and fire it but siege use is still the main use do to a need for a fire.

 

1452AD Battle of Castillion, The French have driven the British out of France except at Calais, but do not rule wisely. The people of Aquitaine revolted and the British send an army under the Earl of Shrewsbury to help them. The French send an army under the marshal of France and the Bureau brothers commanding the siege elements to the area where the army sieges Castillion. The French set up a camp with an irregular wall. The French have 600 guns (about 300+ handgunns). The Earl marches to the relief of the town. As he approach the town the British defeat a force of lancers who move to the camp. The Earl learns (wrongly) that the French are leaving and try to catch the army on the march and attacks the camp. The guns cut down the English like the longbows did the French with the wall channeling the troops into kill zones. The Earl is killed and the army destroyed. The revolt ends.

 

1453 AD The Siege and taking of Constantinople happens. The Turks on the fourth attempt in 70 years, siege the city. After 50 days of bombardment with the biggest gun in Europe at the time take the city in the 5th assault. The gun fires a 600lb stone ball that is thrown 1000m or more that crush whole towers and wall segments. The guns fires up to 10 rounds a day with 5 seaming to be the average rate. The gun on the last shot ordered after a long day firing burst killing the builder. Urban the builder went to the sultan after every other king in Europe turned him down. At this Siege Trebuchet, catapults and guns are used together and after this guns take over siege work totally by the end of the century.

The guns by 1460’s are down to firing a baseball size stone. Handgunners are ½ of the missile troops with garrison and siege work their mainstay. Crossbowmen are team with pike; the pike shelter the crossbows from enemy cavalry on the battlefield. The Pavis has gone out of use probably due to a handgun shot able to smash it turning it to fragments. The cavalry all are mostly in Plate and records of handgun shot hitting and knocking men off horseback with the plate smashed but the man alive (unconscious).

 

 

This event is considered by many to end the middle Ages.

 

1475 AD About this time in Italy the slow match is invented this allows the s lock to be added to the handgun. This allows the guns to start to be used in the field and in battles. Misfires are reduced as the primer pan is added. The caliber is reduce to around 50cal (big blue marble size) this is called the Harquebus. This handgun is under 5 feet and short range (300m) but is carried easy and fired fast (once a minute by a good gunner).

 

The war of the roses is getting going in England with very few guns the longbow is the major English Infantry weapon. Handguns are added to the English army slowly only pushed out in the late 1500’s.

 

Most Cavalry is Plate equipped in Italy, followed by France, Spain England, Germany then rest of Europe this takes 100 years.

 

1470 there is evidence of iron balls being used by the French. Though expensive Iron shot transfers twice the energy to the wall that is being bombarded.

 

1494 AD Charles the VIII of France allows his cannon to be place on wheels carriages. These cannon are used in the invasion of Italy 1494. This makes them useful in field battles and with the new Iron shot he makes quick work of castles and city walls.

 

1499 AD The first use of the word Moschetto (musket)

 

1500 AD. Spain in defeat start adding cannon with wheels and raises professional troops.

Infantry is pike armed and has 25% Missile troops usually ½ crossbow and ½ Harquebus.

 

 

 

 

 

Notes. Guns up until 1700 seem to have two limits, after 200 rounds the gunner starts thinking about melting the gun down because of fatigue, bursting becomes a threat. 10rds rapid (in one text of the 1620s 3 to 4 hours time and the gun gets to hot.) seems to heat the gun up to much. Gunners will cool them any way they can (water preferred but wine and other fluids in a pinch will do) but the insides retain heat very well. Heated guns can cook off rounds and in the heated state are weakened and have a greater risk to burst. Notice that the great gun had fire 250rds or more over 50 days and fired many shots (10 plus) that day there by earning the double chance of a burst, first from long-term use and from the heat of the rapid fire.

 

This is the first 200 years of guns in war

 

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In the first 50 years you need to make the powder on site. It dose not carry well and loses effect.

Guns generally will fail to fire half the time. But the gunner can retouch (fire) the gun.

Remember early guns are wood tube strengthen.

Later metal guns are made by a smith who hammers bands of metal around a wood core. The bands are melted together and the core burnt out.

Guns retain heat and guns that are to hot can if wood: start on fire, burst on firing like a bomb or just split.

Generlay the max fire out put is around ten rounds fired in a day.

Loading guns take a long time. You have to spoon in the powder and pack it after waiting for it to cool or at least the sparks die.

Ammo is stone, and this has to be carved. One advantage of stone is that it shatters on a hard surface and fragments can kill. One disadvantage of stone is that it shatters on a hard surface and dose not carry all of it energy to the wall it is trying to knock down.

Guns are all different sizes so the stone ammo will be only made for and fire in one gun.

 

Suggested damage done.

In Champions guns are smashing weapons early on. Normal dice attacks

Wood guns -500meters-8 to 10 dice.

Early metal guns 8 to 11 dice. 600m

Range is increase with the discovery that when a smaller chamber in the tube end is used you get greater range.

1400 wall handgunn 10 dice. 250m

1450 handgun 9 dice but greater range (350m+) do to better fit of shot (truer cores) and powder.

1453 great gun of Urban, 14dice one hex area effect with explosive effect on striking hard surface. 1000m+ range

Skill levels help when loading in that a better seal will fire the ball further, properly packed powder will fire with fewer misfires.

Now some of your are thinking what about a hex row area effect, well it was not discovered until the 1630’s that cannon shot bounces. This grazing effect was not used until the 1700’s. You shoot the gun at less than a mans height and it bounces along until it runs out of energy being a danger the whole way. Before this you lob shot onto people and it only bounces a few meters.

 

now for some early guns stats.

[Old Man]

Probably about the best summary of firearm history I've seen on the net. Thanks! I never did understand why guns became popular when longbows seemed to be so much better.

[James Gillen]

Black Power

 

Power to the People!

 

"POWER TO THE PEOPLE!!"

 

Uh... sorry, guy. I think you left a 'd' out of your subject title.

 

JG

[LordGhee]

Duh!

 

Sorry about the spelling.

 

Note to self, thread titles have no spell checker.

 

Lord Ghee

[Steve Long]

No worries. I figured out how to edit the title and changed it. It threw me, too, when I first read it... esp. since it sounded more like it would belong in the future "Dark Champions" board than the FH board (unless it was all about drow civil rights)....