Chapter 94

Chapter 94: Armory Upgrade

On August 20, 1867

In the Hechingen Arsenal in Berlin, a transformation was taking place. Skilled workers disassembled outdated machines and equipment that had originally been acquired from the Prussian royal family along with the arsenal itself. These machines, which had served their time, were being carefully dismantled for various parts and materials.

While these machines were no longer suitable for Berlin's needs, they still had a valuable purpose ahead of them. These disassembled parts would be shipped to the East African colonies, where they would play a crucial role in the maintenance and repair of old-style flintlock firearms.

The East African colonies were still utilizing these flintlock guns, which could serve effectively for several more years, especially in dealing with the indigenous populations of Africa. These old machines would be invaluable in keeping these firearms operational.

Despite considering selling these machines, Ernst found no suitable buyers. In Europe, nations were working on improving their military equipment, and outdated production machines were not in high demand. In more remote areas, transportation costs made selling these machines impractical.

Ernst's decision to send these machines to East Africa was strategic. They could continue to be useful in the colonies for maintaining and repairing firearms. While they couldn't be used for mass production, they were invaluable for their intended purposes.

Simultaneously, new machines were being installed in the Hechingen Arsenal. These machines would be dedicated to producing the Dreiser rifles that the Prussian Army was equipping. After the Prussian-Austrian War, there was less stringent control over military industry, allowing Ernst to obtain new equipment.

The Dreiser rifles, once produced, would be used to arm the standing armed forces of the East African colonies. These well-trained soldiers were part of the regular army and required modern firearms. The old-style flintlock guns, still functional, would be issued to the militias in the colonies, who had less training and were primarily used for local security.

Additionally, a branch of the Hechingen Arsenal was under construction in the Austro-Hungarian Empire. This branch specialized in the imitation and production of light artillery, and its location in Trieste facilitated the supply of artillery to the East African colonies. Trieste's favorable shipping conditions made it an ideal hub for this purpose.

The expansion into artillery production was motivated by the need to address potential threats to Portuguese colonies and the coastline. The Sultanate of Zanzibar also possessed artillery inherited from the Oman Empire, but their pieces were outdated and insufficient in number. Equipping the East African colonies with their own artillery became a necessity.

The establishment of this branch factory was a long-term solution, as the East African colonies were not currently involved in conflicts and could focus on territorial consolidation. Buying artillery directly from Europe was less practical at this stage.

(End of Chapter 94)