The breech-loading cannons were set to fire in only one fixed direction and were of little use. |
Better guns, along with breech-loading, made possible both longer ranges and higher rates of fire. |
The other early sea-cannon, which we have mentioned, were also breech-loading. |
This coincided with rapid improvement in firearms, with breech-loading rifles replacing the musket. |
By 1870, they had access to more effective breech-loading, repeating firearms. |
Steel warships propelled by steam and equipped with breech-loading weapons had become standard. |