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Rifled breech loader
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<p>A rifled breech loader (RBL) is an <a href="/facts/Artillery/GLpMYG9o">artillery</a> piece which, unlike the <a href="/facts/Smoothbore/T6z0unC3">smoothbore</a> <a href="/facts/Cannon/IH7VkIpm">cannon</a> and <a href="/facts/Rifled_muzzle_loader/clcjCxVG">rifled muzzle loader</a> which preceded it, has <a href="/facts/Rifling/63UWYEdX">rifling</a> in the barrel and is loaded from the <a href="/facts/Breech-loading_weapon/bCzCKg7n">breech</a> at the rear of the gun. </p><p>The spin imparted by the gun's <a href="/facts/Rifling/63UWYEdX">rifling</a> gives projectiles directional stability and increased range. Loading from the rear of the gun leaves the crew less exposed to enemy fire, allows smaller gun emplacements or turrets, and allows a faster rate of fire. </p><p>These rapidly improving breech systems and the powerful new guns they facilitated led to an <a href="/facts/Arms_race/o8nvYPVu">arms race</a> in <a href="/facts/Fortification/pyH0FXhH">fortification</a> and <a href="/facts/Ironclad/woAQJfj3">ironclad</a> warship design that led to the <a href="/facts/Battleship/PjjTspo5">battleship</a> class of <a href="/facts/HMS_Dreadnought_(1906)/NsmN6Xod">HMS <i>Dreadnought</i></a> and continued until the start of <a href="/facts/World_War_I/vITTUanQ">World War I</a>. </p>