Philippines 1700s Flintlock Muskets
Firearms continued to develop during the 1700s, an age defined by the global clash between Spain, France, and Great Britain, as well as revolutions.
One such innovation was the use of flint to create the spark to ignite the powder in the pan, removing the match. Thus emerged the flintlock weapons, including pistols, rifled muskets, and smoothbore muskets.
Smoothbore muskets were used by most army units. Smoothbore muskets were only accurate within 25 yards, but massed infantry formations and tactics increased the chances of hitting enemy formations.
They fired metal ball shots that were usually contained in a pre-packed paper cartridge with measured black powder, which made reloading faster. Muskets were muzzled loading, which meant you have to stand when reloading. Black powder generates big clouds of white smoke, obscuring the battlefield, in addition to fouling the barrel.
The musket was eventually equipped with a blade, known as a bayonet. This gave the musket men melee fighting capabilities, making pikemen obsolete.
The British forces of 1762 during the British invasion and occupation of Manila, were equipped with flintlock muskets.
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