Espingole (multi-shot weapon)

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Danish espingole
Medieval log box

The Espingole [ ɛspɛ̃ˈgɔl ] was a grape gun , an early forerunner of the machine gun . The special thing about the espingolas is that the barrel was loaded with propellant charges with several projectiles in succession (similar to a Roman candle ). The projectiles were pierced and a fuse had been threaded in, so that the ignition flame after the initial ignition can continue independently until the last charge at the end of the barrel and trigger the shots one after the other , similar to the bomb tubes of the art of fireworks . The two main disadvantages are the complicated and time-consuming loading process and the impossibility of controlling or stopping the firing sequence once it has been triggered.

Forerunner of Espingolen the Middle Ages under the name were at the end Klotz rifle known.

In the 19th century, the Danish artillery used the espingolas in the first (1848-1851) and second (1863-64) Schleswig-Holstein war, but without the expected success. During the chaff storm on April 18, 1864, about 30 espingolas were captured. These espingolas could hold up to 28 charges. Since the barrels could not be reloaded during the battle, loaded replacement barrels were carried along. With smooth runs the range was initially 125 meters; with the drawn barrels used from 1849 onwards , it could be increased to 379 meters. The crew of an espingole consisted of three soldiers.

literature

  • The espignoles of the Danish Army. In: Archives for the artillery and engineer officers of the German Reichsheer. Volume 28, Chapter 18, Mittler & Sohn, Berlin 1850, p. 263 ( Google Books. ).
  • Entry: "Espingole" in Pierer's Universal Lexicon (1857)

Web links

Commons : Espingole  - collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b Espingole. In: Meyers Konversations-Lexikon , fourth edition, 5th volume, Verlag des Bibliographisches Institut, Leipzig and Vienna 1888, p. 853.
  2. ↑ P. Sixl: Development and use of small arms . In: Journal for historical weapons, 6th issue, Dresden 1897–1899, pp. 137–141 ( digitized version ).
  3. ^ Georg Ortenburg: Weapons of the Wars of Unification 1848–1871. Bechtermünz, 2005, ISBN 3828905218 , p. 95.
  4. ^ Nick Svendsen: The First Schleswig-Holstein War 1848-50. Helion and Company, 2010, ISBN 9781906033446 , p. 40 ( online ).