Nah, it's not random :) Henri-Joseph Paixhans invented the first high-pressure (meaning high velocity) shell guns for use in Naval warfare in 1823. Explosive shells had been used in cannons and mortars prior to this, but only at high angles of fire and low velocity. The Paxihans Guns were able to fire these explosive shells at high velocities, making them suitable for use on ships.
This instantly made all wooden ships obsolete. A Wooden ship can absorb a large number of inert cannon balls, but exploding shells will decimate the integrity of the hull and, conviently, set it on fire.
This was used to devistating effect in a few naval battles (Notably by the Imperial Russian Navy) which ended up with people deciding it was time to build boats out of Iron and eventually Steel.
How Victor Hugo came to utter this particular quote, however, I cannot say.
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Henri-Joseph Paixhans invented the first high-pressure (meaning high velocity) shell guns for use in Naval warfare in 1823. Explosive shells had been used in cannons and mortars prior to this, but only at high angles of fire and low velocity. The Paxihans Guns were able to fire these explosive shells at high velocities, making them suitable for use on ships.
This instantly made all wooden ships obsolete. A Wooden ship can absorb a large number of inert cannon balls, but exploding shells will decimate the integrity of the hull and, conviently, set it on fire.
This was used to devistating effect in a few naval battles (Notably by the Imperial Russian Navy) which ended up with people deciding it was time to build boats out of Iron and eventually Steel.
How Victor Hugo came to utter this particular quote, however, I cannot say.
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