11x25 Martel

Mechanics & Inner Workings

The Martel is a fairly conventional round in shape, if wider than average with overall and base diameters of 11mm. This gives it significantly more mass than other handgun rounds. It pioneers the same 2:1 ratio of nose-to-base that would later become the gold standard of most Seilurid projectiles. It features a flat base and a somewhat wide nose end, causing it to tumble on impact. In more recent times, the switch to brass casings allows cases to be handloaded by users.

History

The 11mm Martel was the second smokeless powder cartridge adopted for small-arms use by the Seilurid Empire, shortly after the 8mm Renaud. The round itself had been ready for some time prior to its official introduction in 1891, but its introduction had been delayed - much like the Renaud - because the weapon intended to make use of it, saw delays in design and production. Both were designed by the Arsenal Martel arms manufacturer in La Hire.
Though side-arms are often seen as little more than a last resort weapon or a status symbol for officer in other nations, that is not so among the Seilurid Empire who made extensive use of heavy revolvers among its Grenadiers and cavalry. As such, when the world of smallarms was revolutionized by the invention of smokeless powders, the need for a new handgun cartridge that took advantage of this new substance was quickly established. The problem of excessive smoke and the draw of longer-ranged shots were not as important in this case as with rifle gunline as the intended users fought from close range in a highly mobile fashion, but the idea of greater penetrating power was certainly a driving motivation.
Indeed, at the time of the 11mm Martel's design, there was much debate globally about the lack of stopping power of various rounds in colonial wars, and the Seilurid themselves employed armored infantry, the Cuirassiers à Pied, whose armor was highly resilient to black powder sidearm rounds. It was this concern that lead to the 11mm Martel; a stout, heavy round that delivers a considerable amount of power in close-range. Their jacketed design was in direct opposition to the hollow-point rounds favored in foreign nations, which caused more grievous wounds, but had even less capability to penetrate armor.
Since its introduction, the 11mm Martel has seen some minor changes, but these have not been deemed important enough to change its designation. Starting in 1899, the rounds were made with a slightly altered formula of its Poudre Blanche propellant that was more shelf-stable, while in 1904 the cases started to be made out of brass rather than mild steel due to ever decreasing supplies of steel in the Empire.

Item type

Ammunition

Creation Date

1891

Owning Organization

Seilurid Empire

Weight

19.8g

Dimensions

37x11mm

Base Price

1/20 Scinti for a box of 20

Raw materials & Components

The core of the 11mm Martel is a solid lead slug, jacketed in a thin bronze coating to protect against premature deformation. The casing is made of brass, though older models may be found in steel casing, while the propellant is the nitrocellulose-based Poudre Blanche