Comments by "Simon Nonymous" (@Simon_Nonymous) on "The Drydock - Episode 218" video.

  1. I am very sure I have actually seen this at a reenactment, plus the pricking of the vent also served to see if there was a charge in the breech
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  2. I can't answer the first part, but on the second part - yes. Barrel whip is one issue, in that the longer and slimmer a barrel is, the more like a tuning fork it gets, so harmonics become increasingly an issue. Also to keep the projectile accelerating down the longer tube requires more propellant, leading to the breach/barrel needing to be stronger at the closed end, a bigger charge needs to handled, plus higher bore pressures can lead to quicker throat and bore erosion. I'm coming at this from small arms and tank guns, and there's a reason why they pretty much tend to sit within a certain range re calibre or the L number. Guns like the German 7.5cm L70 and 8.8cm L71 were unusual I'd say. Hope that helps :-)
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