What's the problem with mines? Many people think that mines are a very simple weapon. Just make an iron shell filled with explosives, set up a trigger device, and finally throw it into the sea.
Compared with other projects in naval battles, this is extremely simple, and to put it bluntly, anyone can do it.
However, not everyone can actually use mines. For example, the simplest iron shell can be used by countries that are not good at it, not to mention the appropriate triggering device behind it.
Seriously, there will be even more countries that cannot be created.
Even if you can build a qualified mine, you may not necessarily use the mine well. The simplest mine laying is not just throwing the mine into the sea. It involves a series of factors such as tide and water depth. If any of them is not taken into account, it will not be possible.
Well, all the mines you worked so hard to lay will be in vain.
Li Xiao is undoubtedly lucky. If he had been born half a century earlier, I am afraid he would not have been able to handle mines. The reason is that there is no suitable triggering device. Mercury mercury was only discovered in the early 19th century. Without this triggering device, it is really impossible to do it.
.You can’t just get a long lead and light it at sea (laughing).
Of course, even with a triggering device, the performance of mines is actually limited by the explosives. In this era, the typical explosive is black powder, and the explosive power of black powder is really average. Unfortunately, mines are generally relatively large, so it is difficult to
It doesn't matter if there are dozens or hundreds of kilograms of explosives.
It's just that the efficiency is too low and the damage effect is too poor. But for Li Xiao, this is unacceptable, because he wants the power of the mines to be strong enough. After all, the mines required for laying mines are at least tens of thousands. If
Each mine requires hundreds of kilograms of black powder. The amount is a bit scary, but if it can be replaced with other more powerful explosives, it will naturally be more economical and perfect.
It's just that explosives with greater explosive power are not so easy to make. The Nobel family lost several lives before they came up with nitroglycerine. In fact, the power and safety of this thing are only average, at least.
It cannot meet Li Xiao's needs.
Fortunately, Li Xiao had already made plans for this problem. Starting in 1849, Wallachia had cooperated with the Russian Academy of Sciences to invest in the research and development of new safe explosives.
Of course, both the new type and safety need to be quoted, because the research direction given by Li Xiao focuses on picric acid and yellow explosives. Everyone is familiar with the latter, the well-known explosive with two T's. As for the former, most of them
Everyone is a stranger.
Picric acid was discovered very early, in 1771, but it was only used as a yellow dye at first. Later, an accidental explosion accident made the French realize its power, and then they switched to using it as explosives.
However, there is also a saying that the power of picric acid is very ideal, and it can even release toxic smoke when it explodes and burns violently. However, this stuff is an acidic substance and can easily react with metals to form extremely sensitive picric acid salts.
This kind of picric acid salt has extremely high mechanical sensitivity and can almost explode at the first touch. If you think about it, the most critical performance of an explosive is safety. If it cannot be safely produced, stored and transported, it will be meaningless no matter how powerful it is.
Unfortunately, picric acid is such an overly sensitive explosive that it is not fully qualified for use in the military field. Therefore, although Li Xiao gave such a research direction, he also suggested studying yellow explosives at the same time.
Compared with picric acid, yellow explosive is much safer, otherwise it would not be called Lao Niu dynamite by later generations. Of course, the key point is that the raw materials of yellow explosive are cheap. If there are sufficient petroleum resources, it can be produced
Still relatively cheap.
It is a pity that although Russia is rich in oil resources and has been ridiculed in later generations as a gas station disguised as a superpower, at present, Russia's oil resources are relatively extensive in terms of mining and smelting, and cannot produce enough toluene. Naturally,
The difficulty of Yellow Explosive is a bit high.
Therefore, Li Xiao suggested that the focus of research and development should be on picric acid. After all, the mechanical sensitivity of this thing is high enough. If it is placed in an iron-shelled mine, it might explode as soon as it is touched without the need for a detonator. The fuze effect of this detonator is relatively high.
The low times can also be regarded as a supplement.
Of course, the sufficient arsonist effect of picric acid is also the reason why Li Xiao values it more. After all, in this pre-ironclad era, most ships and even warships have wooden shells, which are covered with a layer of copper at most. For picric acid, which is known as even steel
As far as explosives that can melt are concerned, it's a magical weapon.
"Is it picric acid?" Kornilov asked with a frown, "Can this thing really be used as an explosive?"
Yes, as naval elites Kornikarov and Nassimov both received the best education, and there is still no shortage of modern scientific knowledge. He knew what picric acid was, but he had never heard that this dye could be used as an explosive.
handle.
Li Xiao explained: "Yes, the effect is very good, but it is a bit too sensitive. If used as an explosive, the power is probably more than a hundred times that of the best black powder!"
The figure of one hundred times really stunned Kornilov and Nassimov, because this figure is really unimaginable, because they think that black powder is very powerful. An explosive that is a hundred times more powerful than black powder, this
Does it really exist?
"The Academy of Sciences has done a comparative test, and this number is well-founded," Li Xiao explained patiently, "The only problem is that the storage and transportation of picric acid is very troublesome, and it is too easy to explode!"
Kornilov and Nassimov did not take these words seriously. After all, they are not experts in chemistry. In fact, they are not sensitive to the mechanical sensitivity of explosives at all. In their opinion, even if they are sensitive to picric acid, as long as they are
If the power that is one hundred times more powerful than black powder is real, then it is of sufficient value.
"Then what are you waiting for!" they said impatiently, "immediately trial-produce a batch of mines filled with picric acid and let us see the power!"
In fact, they didn't need to tell Li Xiao that he was ready. Several hundred kilograms of emergency prepared picric acid had arrived in Sevastopol, waiting for them to agree to the test.
Kornilov waved his hand and said: "No problem, I will prepare a target ship immediately! But if the effect is not good, you will have to pay the cost!"
"The effect will definitely satisfy you," Li Xiao said confidently, "The question now is, if you are satisfied, how can we produce picric acid on a large scale? After all, it would take tens of thousands of mines to block the Black Sea.
A large amount of explosives are needed, and considering that war may be imminent, we must start production in advance!"