General Sergey shoved a brick-like object that reminded Wang Zhong of an “encyclopedia” into his hands, “For you.”
Wang Zhong looked at the book, pondered for a moment, and then set it aside, saying to Sergey, “I’ll take a copy of this back with me for a detailed review. Could you recommend some excellent artillery pieces?”
General Sergey replied, “Isn’t the 57mm gun used on the current ZIS-30 good enough? We were actually planning to shut down the production line for the 57 and switch to mass-producing the 76mm ZIS-3.”
Wang Zhong responded, “That piece is indeed good, but the barrel is a bit heavy.”
The Ante Army actually had two calibers of 76mm guns: one was the ZIS-3 anti-tank gun, generally equipped in the Anti-tank Battalion, and the other was a 76mm infantry gun equipped by the infantry troops—this gun used the carriage of a 45mm anti-tank gun.
Because of the Red Army’s sudden increase in demand for anti-tank guns, Earth’s history saw most carriages used to produce the 45mm anti-tank guns. Consequently, the 76mm short-barrel infantry gun lacked fame due to its minimal production.
Incidentally, because of the weight issue with the 76 anti-tank gun, it was generally assigned at the division level and occasionally served as a howitzer.
This was why the 45mm anti-tank gun was used until the end of the war on Earth: it was light, with two people being able to push it and run, and although it couldn’t penetrate the thicker armor of mid-war tanks, it was effective against half-tracked vehicles.
The Sturmtigers had a large number of half-tracked vehicles, unlike the Red Army which only had a significant number of tanks, the accompanying infantry could only ride on the tanks.
As Wang Zhong recalled this knowledge that transcended time and space, he continued, “Moreover, the penetrative ability of the 76 is currently sufficient, but surely the enemy will increase their defenses. In fact, we’ve already captured two model H Mark III tanks, which have added extra armor on the front. Experience more content on m v|l e’-NovelFull.net
And the frontline troops have mounted tank tracks on top of the already thickened armored plates.”
The Prussians used tank tracks as armor, placed on the front of the tank body, not only increasing protection but also serving as spare parts if the tracks were damaged.
General Sergey nodded, “That’s a very reasonable consideration.”
Wang Zhong said, “We must be proactive. I think the 85mm anti-aircraft gun is quite good, with a high muzzle velocity and a flat trajectory!”
On Earth, the main tank gun used in the later T34-85 was developed from the 85mm anti-aircraft gun.
“That’s too heavy, it must be radically simplified and significantly lightened,” General Sergey shook his head.
Wang Zhong immediately understood that the general was truly knowledgeable because on Earth, the 85 anti-aircraft gun had to be extensively modified to barely fit inside a tank, and there was a significant reduction in performance compared to its anti-aircraft version.
At the very least, General Sergey seemed to roughly understand the data for each piece of equipment; he probably really did read the brick-like file.
Continuing to stroke his beard in thought, the General mused, “If you’re looking for performance similar to the 85 anti-aircraft… the Navy has a 100mm dual-purpose high-level/flat-trajectory gun that could be considered.”
Wang Zhong asked, “From the Navy?”
“Yes, and that naval gun’s structure is very simple because the majority of the firing control is handed over to the ship’s anti-aircraft control system. It’s actually more suitable for mounting on a tank than the Army’s 85 anti-aircraft,” Sergey explained.
Wang Zhong frowned, “This 100mm gun, can it fit inside a turret?”
He remembered that on Earth, one of the major reasons the big-headed version of the T34 was equipped with an 85mm tank gun was that the 100 gun couldn’t fit. Later, when the T44 tank was mounted with a 100 gun, it initially designed a turret with a 1700mm ring diameter to forcibly stuff the gun inside, but the test personnel reported the interior was too cramped during actual testing.
Even the Russians found it cramped, which meant it was truly cramped.
Therefore, the production T44-100 tank used a turret with an 1825mm ring diameter.
That was the situation on Earth.
As for Ante, judging by what General Sergey had just said, the maximum they could build was a turret the size of the T34W, making it impossible to fit a 100 gun into such a turret size.
General Sergey’s brow was also twisted in thought. After pondering for a while he suggested, “How about this, we remove the turret, create a front for the Combat Room with a large inclination, and design a separate observation tower for the tank commander.”
Wang Zhong commented, “That would only be suitable for ambushes.”
“It could be produced with our current production line,” General Sergey spread his hands, “And you’ve said it yourself, we are going to continue defensive operations.”
Wang Zhong stroked his chin; he had just been thinking of making a version of the Hellcat without protection.
Now Sergey’s proposal offered reliable protection—the tank would definitely be shorter without a turret—and good reconnaissance and sighting abilities, but it wouldn’t be suitable for offense.
Should he use this design to first train the crew and accumulate experienced tank operators?
And meanwhile, hurry up and import lathes and engines from the Federation—once these were sorted, go straight into making the T54?
T54 versus E100… A tier ten room in World of Tanks?
The more Wang Zhong thought about it, the more promising it seemed.
At this point, General Sergey mistook Wang Zhong’s silence and said to him, “Using naval guns has another advantage: the Navy originally manufactured these guns to serve as secondary armaments for planned battleships. But the battleships, along with the half-constructed hulls, were all seized by the Prussians, leaving a large number of completed guns without use.”
Wang Zhong made a swift decision, “That good? Then let’s use the Navy’s guns! Wait a second, the Navy’s battleship plans have been ruined? What about other large vessels?”
General Sergey answered, “Aside from the Arctic Ocean Fleet, the others are pretty much done for.”
Wang Zhong inquired, “Then does the Navy have a lot of Naval Infantry?”
“Yes, what about it?” Sergey queried.
Wang Zhong said, “Could I take all these Naval Infantry members?”
He had cooperated with the Naval Infantry before and knew that what set these men apart from the regular Ante Army was their higher level of education. All Naval Infantry had at least a tenth-grade education, and a significant number had completed high school.
And the proportion of army troops graduating from tenth grade is very low, most soldiers from rural areas have only attended church-run schools, a simplified version of tenth grade, with many courses not taught.
Priests would recommend smart young people to go to higher education for further studies, but now these people are either on production posts or in the Navy or Air Force.
It’s impossible to put these people in the army as mobilized soldiers.
When Wang Zhong heard that the Navy was forming Naval Infantry from high school graduates who were ship crew members, his eyes widened: Give them to me, not those bumbling generals!
General Sergey felt helpless, “For that, you should go to General Tugenev, oh, he might be promoted to Grand General soon. He is the Chief of Military Command, responsible for personnel transfers. I’m only in charge of equipment transfers. Let’s get back to your proposal.”
“Using the Navy’s 100-mm gun, along with the T34’s chassis…”
Wang Zhong: “Can’t the chassis be reset? Can’t we place the engine sideways? This way, we can shorten the engine compartment and make it more compact overall.”
The T34 tank’s engine was placed vertically, apparently because the technology level at the beginning of World War II didn’t support horizontal engines—Wang Zhong wasn’t sure, so he asked.
General Sergey scratched his head: “I’m only familiar with equipment data, I really can’t answer that question. How about… I call a designer over?”
Wang Zhong: “Your son-in-law?”
“No, no, another designer is here actually, he came to submit a proposal for the KV tank modifications, shall I invite him in?”
Wang Zhong: “Good. I also want to take the opportunity to commend the design of the KV.”
General Sergey picked up the phone on the desk: “Let Chief Engineer Ke Jing come in, the Chairman of the Equipment Review Committee wants to see him.”
Wang Zhong took a sip from the teacup on the desk, it tasted awful.
General Sergey put down the receiver: “He should arrive within five minutes.”
Wang Zhong: “This tea you’ve made is really lousy.”
General Sergey: “Of course, it can’t compare to how your personal maid brews it. Your maid has become famous, turning down all the small gifts for you, and glaring at the gift givers with a murderous look.”
Wang Zhong was surprised: “Really?”
General Sergey: “Yes, take off your make-up, stop a drunk on the street, and he’ll tell you a dozen stories like that. Some even claim that when enemy paratroopers tried to attack your headquarters, it was your maid who single-handedly took them all out with a machine gun.”
Wang Zhong raised his eyebrows, recalling how strong Nelly’s grip felt on the few occasions he had touched her hand. However, the idea of her shooting from a standing position with a machine gun was too much—Nelly definitely couldn’t do that.
It must be the result of repeated exaggerations.
At that moment, General Sergey’s aide-de-camp opened the door: “Chief Engineer Ke Jing has arrived.”
An engineer walked in and immediately stood at attention upon seeing Wang Zhong, as if he was a soldier: “Your Highness!”
Wang Zhong: “Don’t call me ‘Your Highness’!”
General Sergey: “Don’t blame him, everyone knows that calling you ‘Your Highness’ in front of Her Majesty will please her.”
…So that’s the root of it!
Wang Zhong: “You can call me whatever in front of Her Majesty Olga the First, but don’t call me ‘Your Highness’ in my presence. I ask you, why not place the engine horizontally?”
Ke Jing was shocked: “Why? All the models we took as a reference have vertically placed engines.”
Wang Zhong: “Just because of that?”
“Yes, I see the Prussians’ tanks are like this too, right?”
Wang Zhong gaped: “There’s no other reason? Wouldn’t it be harder to manufacture if placed horizontally?”
Ke Jing: “We would have to design it and then try to manufacture it to find out. How could I possibly know if it’s more difficult to produce without having designed it first?”
You’re right!
Wang Zhong: “In that case, don’t bother with any improvemnts to the KV; the most urgent improvement for the KV is stability, and if you don’t change the power, any tweaks you make are pointless. If we could elevate the engine to 500 horsepower, the KV’s failure rates would definitely drop drastically.”
“Indeed,” replied Ke Jing casually, but then broke into a sweat, “I mean, your insights are absolutely correct!”
Wang Zhong: “Don’t be nervous. Since you’re here today to answer my questions, then it’s you, you will be responsible for designing the 100-mm gun carrier.
“It’s a tank destroyer without a turret but with enhanced sighting capabilities, using the Navy’s 100-mm dual-purpose high-low angle gun, the T34W’s V2K engine, and it must have a horizontally placed engine, with a crew of four to five.
“Moreover, considering real combat conditions, this destroyer needs to have a fairly good depression angle, at least -5 degrees.”
Ke Jing pointed at himself: “I’m to design it?”
Wang Zhong: “Yes.”
General Sergey: “It might be better to write down a formal set of requirements and have General Tugenev issue an official assignment.”