Fişeğin Gelişiminin Küçük Silahlara ve Harekât Ortamına Çoklu Etkisi

The understanding of improvement of range and accuracy in the weapons used by humanity in the struggle for existence has driven the development of ammunition. The effort to gain superiority against the threat began with enhancing the loading speed of the rifle and increasing the number of salvo shots. As a consequence of the evolution of lead ball into cartridge, changes emerged in the structure and operating system of the small arms with the integration of the components of the cartridge. With the development of technology, strategies in the field of operations started to change. The struggle for rapid reloading, increased accuracy, increased range, and higher rate of fire instead of line and mass formations has led to the sparsity of tactical mass formations in order to reduce the risk of casualties. In order to get superiority over the parties’ each other, small arms-cartridge interaction compatible with the operational environment come to the forefront. In this study, it is attempted to illustrate that the past understanding of the compatibility of the cartridge to the weapon is transitioned to the understanding of designing the barrel and rifle adaptable for the cartridge after a certain period of time following rifle’s invention. The development of rifles within the scope of small arms in response to the situations came across in the operational environment, especially during the First and Second World Wars, led to consideration differences in cartridge diameters. Nowadays the different point of views related to cartridge calibres arised the concept of medium caliber cartridges. Cartridge types play an active role in the evaluation of the effectiveness, controllability and functionality of small arms in terms of use. In terms of appropriate effect for the operational environment, the design and structural developments of cartridges can improve the effectiveness of small arms. The article evaluates the cartridge-small arms relationship and the effects of their interaction on the operational environment in the period between the 19th and 20th centuries. In today's context, it is tried to be revealed that the advancements in rifle development will primarily depend on developments in cartridge technology, and it is suggested that efforts should be made in this area.