development of weaponry (GWU)

• Name of French rifle in service in FPW?

  Chassepot which had better range and reliability
• Chassepot was a superior French rifle in the FPW but they still lost, suggesting?

  In the middle of the period weaponry was not as important as other factors in determining outcome
• Name of early machine gun possessed by French in FPW?


  Mitrailleuse
• Name of the French artillery gun that had a range of approximately 3500 yards and was responsible for deciding almost every battle in the FAW?


  The Napoleon
• What weapon was invented first?

  1840s Dreyse invented the breech-loaded rifle where the bullet was slotted in a chamber ready for firing through new bolt action mechanism. Dreyse ’needle gun’ could load 5x more quickly than old muzzle loaders and could be loaded and fired from a lying position therefore users could for the first time take cover. Sadowa 1866 Prussians used to demolish Austrian enemies.
• What rifle was developed that was better than the Dreyse needle gun?

  French developed Chassepot- had greater reliablity and range- despite this Prussians still win FPW of 1870-71 due to superior Prussian generalship, strategic use of railways and more effective military tactics. Superiority in weaponry didn’t guarantee victory
• How did new deadly rifles impact nature?

  Cause significantly higher casualties eg APW Sadowa Austrians suffered 44,000 casualties compared to 9000 of Prussians
• 1860s artillery developments?


  The French developed the Napoleon- firing over 3500 yards. Significant impact in FAW as decided outcome of virtually very battle because so superior to Austrians. French positioned themselves out of range of Austrian guns and easily attacked and destroyed their artillery.
• Most significant artillery tech?

  Krupp steel breech loading artillery was most decisive during FPW- 3x accuracy, twice firing rate of French and was influential in Prussian victory at Sedan 1870 which captured Napoleon III and all 104,000 of his men. It also impacted nature as it caused the disappearance of heavy cavalry formations instead it would be artillery that supported infantry assaults as seen in ACW and GWU.
• 1860s Mitrailleuse?


  ‘Wonder weapon’- early machine gun. Could fire 200 rounds a minute but was kept so secret that hardly any French knew how to use it during was with Prussia 1870/71. Key example of how better weapons dotn guarentee victory