What new weapon should the Charisans push for next?

captinjoehenry wrote:

doug941 wrote:
If it is possible, skip the Hotchkiss and go straight to a Maxim. Not only were they superb infantry weapons but the QF 1pdr of the Boer War was nothing more than a Maxim sized up to fire 37mmx94R shells. A famous battle in August 1916 had 10 .30 caliber machine guns use 100 barrels to fire 1 million rounds with ZERO failures.

the reason i am in favor of the 37mm is that it is large enough to carry a HE filler which would make them much more effective against infantry behind cover and if it is mounted on a ship it would make quick work of a wooden ship at fairly long range while being light enough to be field mobal or light enough to mount on existing ships relatively easily.

By using the Maxim pattern, Charis can have both a light autocannon and a field machinegun and crews can use both with little to no cross-training needed. Train on one and you're trained on both.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maxim_gun
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/QF_1-pounder_pom-pom

doug941 wrote:

captinjoehenry wrote:
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the reason i am in favor of the 37mm is that it is large enough to carry a HE filler which would make them much more effective against infantry behind cover and if it is mounted on a ship it would make quick work of a wooden ship at fairly long range while being light enough to be field mobal or light enough to mount on existing ships relatively easily.

By using the Maxim pattern, Charis can have both a light autocannon and a field machinegun and crews can use both with little to no cross-training needed. Train on one and you're trained on both.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maxim_gun
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/QF_1-pounder_pom-pom

ok if they can get a fully automatic weapon up and running that is a great idea but while i personally feel like the invention of a fully automatic weapon is just around the corner it is still going to be easier to build something like the 37mm Hotchiks then a maxim or the 1 pounder but if they can get the maxim in soon enough that would be great.

doug941 wrote:If it is possible, skip the Hotchkiss and go straight to a Maxim.

Why not just skip over all of the fumblings and go for a design that is still in use? The Browning Machine Gun (in .50 BMG caliber) has been in constant service since it was introduced. The .30-06 version(s) of the BMG served long after the .308 Maxim was obsolete and out of service.

I'm not sure if the 20mm Vulcan and 30mm GAU-8 Avenger are closer relations to Hotchkiss or Gatling, but steam powered versions of either should be within reach.

Personally, I think an AK-47 clone would better suit Charisian needs than any crew served heavy machine gun.

Why not just skip over all of the fumblings and go for a design that is still in use?

Because the Maxim's is still in use. And they need a lot less matherials and technology, then Browning. I'm not sure that the M2 could be replicated without electricity at all.