鸦片战争时期中英铁炮优劣的调查研究

An Investigation on the Chinese and British Iron Cannons during the Opium War

本文是对国内外32个单位现存的331门鸦片战争时期的中英铁炮的调查。调查发现它们皆为铸造的前膛装滑膛炮。不同之处在于:(1)清军铁炮类型有红夷炮、铁模炮、子母炮、冲天炮、抬炮等几种。主导型红夷炮炮身庞大,膛壁较厚,火绳以点放为主。英军铁炮有加农炮、榴弹炮、卡龙舰炮几种。主导型加农炮的炮身小,膛壁薄,普遍规整和光滑。打火装置有火绳和燧石击发器两种。(2)清朝泥模铸造的铁炮有不按固定比例的造炮现象,英军铁炮各部固定比例吻合度好。(3)清朝红夷炮的瞄准装置一般前设准星,利用炮身铸的范线的配合,按三点一线的原理发射炮弹。英军加农炮、接近筒形的榴弹炮和卡龙舰炮,已遗弃传统的准星装置,主要靠炮口或炮腰正上方立表的方式,按三点一线的原理发射炮弹。实地调查说明英军铁炮质量高于清军。本文从技术与社会两方面对清军铁炮技术和性能不良的原因以及武器、性能与战争胜负之间的关系进行了讨论。

The investigation of 331 Chinese and British iron cannons during the Opium War in 32 sites and museums in coastal provinces of the southern part of China,shows that all those cannons are the Muzzle-loading smooth-bore guns.But the Chinese cannons differ from the British ones in the following aspects:ands are based on mud models and sand ones respectively.The size of the British cannons is in a better proportion and they are higher in solid boring chamber cannon proportion than that of the Chinese ones.The types of Chinese artillery included cannons named 'Red Barbarian',mother-and-son cannons,'Chongtian' mortars,and so on.The 'Red Barbarian' cannons are huge in body and thick in chamber,firing by matchlock.The British artillery included long cannons,howitzer guns and carronades.They are small in body,concise and smooth,thin in chamber,firing by fuse or flintlock.The aiming fix of 'Red Barbarian' cannons is arranged at the front position,watch on middle or back section and mould line.Therefore,it can be concluded that the British cannons were better than the Chinese ones in terms of investigation during the Opium War.The differences of both artilleries in performance are an important factor which leads to the failure of the Chinese army.The reasons of the weak performance of Chinese artillery in the war as well as their impact on the results of the war are discussed from the perspective of interactions between weapon technology and society.