Better guns, along with breech-loading, made possible both longer ranges and higher rates of fire. |
Recoil systems and cartridge ammunition increased rates of fire of breech-loading weapons. |
Enterprise was armed with two 100-pounder smoothbore, muzzle-loading Somerset cannon and two rifled 110-pounder breech-loading guns. |
The American Civil War also previewed the importance of breech-loading rifles. |
In the second half of the year the government purchased approximately 6,000 breech-loading rifles. |
Steel warships propelled by steam and equipped with breech-loading weapons had become standard. |