The Loose Association of Wargamers

Paul is humble about his knowledge of the period. I'm genuinely ignorant.

Paul wrote: ↑Thu Mar 14, 2024 1:51 pm Small units of shot, including firelocks should not have a compulsory evade move when charged by cavalry.

Yes, "Commanded Muskets". I've always wondered how much use these were because as soon as the Horse moved, they'd surely be left behind.

I believe Firelock Guard were first used in the artillery park as they were a safer bet,amidst all the barrels of powder, than matchlocks.
Later as the period progressed, pikes grew fewer as firelocks became more common. Even though they were much more expensive to produce.

Therefore, as my tenuous grasp of logic directs, firelocks had advantages: faster to load? More accurate? Longer range? Easier to carry?
Evidently, none of the above.

I'm in a quandry*.

donald


* Quandry- a Korean-made hybrid car, quite comfortable to ride in though not as good as the Chinese-made X-Peng Perplexity**

** They should really get me to devise car names.

Early flintlocks were quicker to fire than matchlocks, but nowhere near as much as later flintlocks mainly due to their bulk.
The main differences seem to be in safety and training needed.
Flintlocks needed less training to use, safely and effectively, and achieved a higher rate of fire due to less safety issues.
Manuals for the use of matchlocks recommended removing the match after every shot to lessen the risk of accidental explosion during loading, which must have slowed them down, supposedly, to a sustained fire rate of around 40 shots an hour.

This has little of nothing to do with this conversation, but it's very pretty. Vive la France!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=thLwaFVgSdY

ochoin wrote: ↑Fri Mar 15, 2024 10:44 am
* Quandry- a Korean-made hybrid car, quite comfortable to ride in though not as good as the Chinese-made X-Peng Perplexity**

** They should really get me to devise car names.

Ho ho

ochoin wrote: ↑Fri Mar 15, 2024 10:44 am * Quandry- a Korean-made hybrid car, quite comfortable to ride in though not as good as the Chinese-made X-Peng Perplexity**

** They should really get me to devise car names.

I'm not sure i'd forever want to be in a Quandry when driving!

However it couldn't be worse than Fords penchant for naming cars after 1980's porn mags!

ochoin wrote: ↑Fri Mar 15, 2024 10:44 am Paul is humble about his knowledge of the period.

He knows his stuff. The early flintlocks were the same sizes as the matchlocks, only the firing mechanism was changed. A lot of matchlocks were converted to flintlock, if they were in good condition.

ochoin wrote: ↑Fri Mar 15, 2024 10:44 am I believe Firelock Guard were first used in the artillery park as they were a safer bet,amidst all the barrels of powder, than matchlocks.

Later as the period progressed, pikes grew fewer as firelocks became more common. Even though they were much more expensive to produce.

They were used as train guards because they didn't have to carry a lit match. But it wasn't so much the development of the flintlock that reduced the need for pikes. The invention of the socket bayonet (so you could keep the bayonet fixed and still fire the musket)made pikes redundant.

ochoin wrote: ↑Fri Mar 15, 2024 10:44 am Therefore, as my tenuous grasp of logic directs, firelocks had advantages: faster to load? More accurate? Longer range? Easier to carry?
Evidently, none of the above.

Not enough for game purposes, mate, unless you're playing skirmish games, perhaps.

ochoin wrote: ↑Fri Mar 15, 2024 10:44 am I'm in a quandry*.

It could be worse. You could be in a Leyland P76.

Spanner wrote: ↑Sat Mar 16, 2024 7:34 am It could be worse. You could be in a Leyland P76.

Sounds like it should come with a Soviet Air Landing formation attached.

The P76 is what happens when youse lot send unwanted company managers and directors to the (former) colonies- and give them a bit of authority. Actually a quite advanced car for 1973, the early poor build quality, some reliability problems, problems getting components and sky-rocketting fuel prices meant the imitation Yank "Large Family Car" was as popular as a pooh sandwich. The Rover SD1 used some of the components, such as McPherson steering and aluminium block for the donk, and shows what Leyland Oz should have done..

Probably not as good a set of wheels as Donald's Quandry, though. Quandries are quite popular in Oz.

Spanner wrote: ↑Sat Mar 16, 2024 10:00 am Probably not as good a set of wheels as Donald's Quandry, though. Quandries are quite popular in Oz.

I thought a Quandry was a marsupial, limited to Western Australia, with a subspecies in Tasmania? Known for its "WTF" facial expression. It is endangered due to it's near terminal indecision about whether to feed, fight or fornicate.*

*The Tasmanian subspecies isn't known for fighting as it is the only one left on the island. It's enthusiastic pursuit of the other two can often alarm tourists.

Paul wrote: ↑Sat Mar 16, 2024 11:33 am
I thought a Quandry was a marsupial, limited to Western Australia, with a subspecies in Tasmania? Known for its "WTF" facial expression. It is endangered due to it's near terminal indecision about whether to feed, fight or fornicate.*

Are you talking about Australian animals or Australian politicians?
Probably valid comments for both.

donald