Consider the following statements about the arms used by Europeans in warfare in India : 1. The flint-lock muskets could work even in wet weather. 2. The addition of bayonet made musket a more effective and dangerous weapon in close combat. 3. The wrought-iron cannon barrels were easy to move and manoeuvre. How many of the above statements is/are correct ?

Statement 1 is incorrect because flintlock muskets, like matchlocks, were highly vulnerable to rain and moisture; damp powder would not fire from either weapon. While flintlocks removed the need for a burning matchcord, they remained sensitive to wet weather. Statement 2 is correct; the invention of the bayonet (specifically the socket bayonet) allowed the musket to function as both a firearm and a pike, making it a lethal weapon for close combat and leading to the disappearance of traditional pikes by the early 18th century. Statement 3 is incorrect because wrought-iron or heavy iron cannon barrels were notoriously cumbersome and difficult to move. European military superiority in India was primarily due to the speed of firing and range of their infantry firearms rather than the maneuverability of heavy iron artillery. Thus, only statement 2 is correct.

Sources

1. [1] Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 5: Expansion and Consolidation of British Power in India > Superior Arms, Military and Strategy > p. 84