Ballistics computing definitely. Though less adaptable mechanical computers can do that as well for things like Battleships. If you can produce enough of them they could be useful for land based artillery. They might be of even more use though in logistics. WW1 saw massive government control of production and the economy and a massive logistical effort to supply their forces. Having more automated computing can help reduce the amount of people that need to be running calculations on some of those things. They can also speed up operational R and D. For example, when they were considering creating the first roll-on/roll-off ferries a computer created calculations on the savings involved could help get it approved quicker. It is one of those background force multipliers.
A Better Rifle at Halloween
- Thread starter diesal
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- britwank rifles ww1 different
In OTL it was never built and as the proper plans have never been found we do not actually know if it would work ( the papers published did not share a lot of detailed design ). We do know it was very different the Babbage's as it was based on multiplication not addition. Whilst it was a general purpose design , many specialist designs existed for tabulating data ( using punched cards ) or calculating tables of numbers ( for gunnery etc )
The details of it generally come from a paper that he published in 1909 that, AIUI, was very detailed. It generally seems to be regarded as likely to work, and significantly improved over Babbage's work, being portable (8 cubic feet in size), controlled and programmed with a typewriter keyboard, and able to calculate two 20 decimal digit numbers in 6 seconds (as opposed to Babbage's 3 minutes). He apparently did make detailed drawings of the device but those have not been found.
Computer Pioneers - Percy E. Ludgate
Biography of pioneer Percy E. Ludgate from J.A.N. Lee's 1995 book Computer Pioneers, updated
history.computer.org
Not detailed enough however for a reconstruction to be attempted, hence the likely to work.
True enough. However, considering that Babbage got his behemoth to work, I am pretty confident that if Ludgate's machine does not work to start with, it can be made to.
Huh, well any chance that you can spread this guys ideas around a little bit more while you are at it?
He certainly seems like a hell of a hand, I might be able to shoe horn him in. The problem is that at the rate I am going finishing the war is going to take me 40 years, but I will do what I can, I didn't really set out to write an industrial time line and I promise to get back to the front. But the industrial side was so screwed up and there were so many opportunities to do a better job.
True enough. No need to bog yourself down. If you need to skip over things to get to the story, please do so. I don't think anyone here is going to blame you.
>Attempts to write a military history
>Discovers the foundational basis of the material relationship of human beings in culture in the production of their own subsistence
Yet another hard marxist timeline about obscure British rifles.
yours,
Sam R.
—Of course pleasant things happening isn't historical inevitability. But Britain should really have had better rifles according to historical materialism.
>Discovers the foundational basis of the material relationship of human beings in culture in the production of their own subsistence
Yet another hard marxist timeline about obscure British rifles.
yours,
Sam R.
—Of course pleasant things happening isn't historical inevitability. But Britain should really have had better rifles according to historical materialism.
Actually the rifles, kind of made sense for the purpose of the British Army, it was a colonial police force and so was equiped in a manner that made sense for it hence the lack of heavy guns, the 6 regular divisions, it was just unfortunate that they had to fight two massive land wars in Europe in 30 years. The Royal Navy was a whole other kettle of fish, it's conservatism was insane beyond insane. I would not have been surprised if Charles Beresford had been in the pay of Tirpitz. He didn't have any role really during the war beyond destroying Prince Louis and whilst I would have liked him to be hit by a bus or perhaps eaten by a rhinoceros, I can't just make a habit of killing of all the historical characters I dislike. Chitral Charlie I might make an exception for.
The Siege of Liege continues
12th August 1914, Liege.
The siege continued, the infantry division had already suffered heavy casualties, however the small number of Machine Guns which they had been equipped with had proved to be very useful indeed. The Germans had been beaten back twice from major assaults to the north of the city, in the east things were fairing less well. The Germans had brought up their super heavy guns. With shells striking some of the fortresses, however the need to also penetrate the infantry lines which were relatively well dug in thanks to the efforts both of the Soldiers, the Guard Civique and the impressed labour of the locals, (saving those working on the destruction of the railway infrastructure work that was continuing apace) meant that the German fire was not able to be purely concentrated on the fortresses but must also be used to suppress the soldiers manning the defensive lines.
Leman was concerned about two forts, Fort Barchon was largely ruined but holding, but it was that the Fort d'Évegnée was at risk of falling soon. It was under the heaviest attack and had also been attacked by German infantry trying to get around to the rear of the fortress. They had come under fire from the men of the 15th brigade who were entrenched between the fortresses. As much barbed wire as war available in the stores and every other form of obstacle had been used to try to slow the German Assaults. But the garrison was massively outnumbered, the fortress guns were completely outranged, the soldiers ill equipped. It was the cold ferocity of Leman and his determination to fight to the last man and the last bullet that was holding the city, his rage against the destruction of his nation was the keystone of its defence.
The first Zeppelin raid had been followed by several others which had worsened conditions in the city but had little daunted the civilian population. His sole link via radio with Antwerp was still working and he was able to keep the King informed of the progress of the siege.
The King had commended him and the people of the city for their resolution, he did not promise that relief would come, given the disparity of forces it could only have been a lie and Leman was glad not have to repeat a lie. What he did promise was that every day they held on was one more day the Meuse was closed to their enemy, one more day for Belgium to remain free. It was also one more day for France, and now with the landing of the first brigade for Britain to Honour their pledge that Belgian Neutrality be upheld. To that end the King commanded that Leman hold, that Liege hold.
The siege continued, the infantry division had already suffered heavy casualties, however the small number of Machine Guns which they had been equipped with had proved to be very useful indeed. The Germans had been beaten back twice from major assaults to the north of the city, in the east things were fairing less well. The Germans had brought up their super heavy guns. With shells striking some of the fortresses, however the need to also penetrate the infantry lines which were relatively well dug in thanks to the efforts both of the Soldiers, the Guard Civique and the impressed labour of the locals, (saving those working on the destruction of the railway infrastructure work that was continuing apace) meant that the German fire was not able to be purely concentrated on the fortresses but must also be used to suppress the soldiers manning the defensive lines.
Leman was concerned about two forts, Fort Barchon was largely ruined but holding, but it was that the Fort d'Évegnée was at risk of falling soon. It was under the heaviest attack and had also been attacked by German infantry trying to get around to the rear of the fortress. They had come under fire from the men of the 15th brigade who were entrenched between the fortresses. As much barbed wire as war available in the stores and every other form of obstacle had been used to try to slow the German Assaults. But the garrison was massively outnumbered, the fortress guns were completely outranged, the soldiers ill equipped. It was the cold ferocity of Leman and his determination to fight to the last man and the last bullet that was holding the city, his rage against the destruction of his nation was the keystone of its defence.
The first Zeppelin raid had been followed by several others which had worsened conditions in the city but had little daunted the civilian population. His sole link via radio with Antwerp was still working and he was able to keep the King informed of the progress of the siege.
The King had commended him and the people of the city for their resolution, he did not promise that relief would come, given the disparity of forces it could only have been a lie and Leman was glad not have to repeat a lie. What he did promise was that every day they held on was one more day the Meuse was closed to their enemy, one more day for Belgium to remain free. It was also one more day for France, and now with the landing of the first brigade for Britain to Honour their pledge that Belgian Neutrality be upheld. To that end the King commanded that Leman hold, that Liege hold.
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Morris has always struck me as a man with an eye for a good idea and the willingness to work hard and invest to make it happen. I suspect that it would take very little nudging for Morris to champion new technology’s.
The first thing that came to mind when I read he spent the war making mine sinkers was creating early depth charges.
Although his instincts where always to produce more and more quickly so Morris would be a good business partner for F&H to mass produce their rifle.
Are there French Forces heading into Belgium at this time? Were any being directed to support relieving the sieges?
Does this mean Fort d'Évegnée has held out a little longer already? Wikipedia at least seems to be saying it fell around mid afternoon 11th OTL
Ian over at Forgotten Weapons has a few video's on the Ross
Sir Charles Ross was a Jerk: The Martello Tower
www.forgottenweapons.com
Ross MkI: Canada’s First Battle Rifle
www.forgottenweapons.com
Ross MkII: Sorry, We’ll Get it Right This Time
www.forgottenweapons.com
The Ross in the Great War: The Mk III (and MkIIIB)
www.forgottenweapons.com