Chapter 511 Rocket
Charles talked nonsense to the two of them, like explaining and complaining:
"You know, we need 'Congreve' rockets to destroy enemy balloons, and we also need rockets to bombard enemy artillery positions."
"I tried to produce rockets myself, but I encountered difficulties with rocket propellants, so I had to buy them from Schneider."
"God, he has tripled the price of rockets, which has kept our rockets in short supply."
...
Charles' words were half true and half false. It was true that the price of rockets had tripled, but this was normal for France, which was short of supplies.
Schneider's eyes had always been on steel and artillery. He was not interested in operating such backward, outdated, and low-demand things.
He even believed that once the price was raised, other arsenals and even Britain would increase production and seize the market at a low price.
Only Charles knew that this was not the case.
Rockets were by no means "backward", "outdated", or "low-demand" things.
The reason why Charles wanted to buy from Britain was that he knew that Britain was ahead in this regard, especially the British Navy.
The British Navy tried to use a warship equipped with a large number of rocket launchers to carry out landing operations or to attack ships at sea at close range.
(The above picture shows the British landing craft LCT (R) during World War II launching rockets. This type of landing craft can carry up to 5,000 rockets for land and sea attacks at one time, and can launch about 1,000 rockets at a time)
(The above picture shows a close-up of the LCT (R) landing craft, with the deck densely packed with "sea mattress" rocket launchers. This combat method is extremely dangerous. As long as a shell hits, it is possible to cause all rockets to explode. This may be the main reason for its rapid elimination.)
The British rocket launcher first had the "sea mattress" and then the "land mattress", and the British have been trying to improve the rocket propellant to make it more accurate. Its process is more advanced and safer than Schneider's, and more suitable for mass production.
(Note: The production of old-style rocket propellants requires repeated rolling of the semi-liquid and semi-solid propellants at a certain temperature to make them uniform. This process is prone to explosion and is not suitable for mass production.)
Charles is now precisely positioned and easily purchases technology from the UK to surpass Schneider in one fell swoop.
But of course, Charles will not let others see that he wants it very much.
"This is not a hard condition." Charles added: "I know that many countries have this technology, at most it costs a little money. If you don't want to, I can change a condition..."
The key is "change a condition."
"No, no." The "Secretary of the Navy" interrupted Charles: "As for propellant technology, we can even give away rockets under development."
Although the British Navy has invested a lot of money in rocket artillery research and development, this project has been proven to never succeed: no matter how hard the researchers try, they can never improve its accuracy, and rockets without accuracy will have no value.
It is more appropriate to use a failed and soon-to-be-abandoned technology as a negotiation condition, because there is nothing cheaper than it!
"Really? That's great!" Charles replied: "Thank you very much, Captain, you saved me a lot of trouble."
He said this, but there was no joy on his face, as if he had accomplished a trivial matter.
Charles' play successfully deceived the "Minister of the Navy". The "Minister of the Navy" did not doubt it at all. He stood up and shook hands with Charles:
"Then, happy cooperation, Major General."
"I will contact the Navy immediately and prepare to cooperate with your Navy."
"Of course, I will send the rockets and related technologies to you as quickly as possible, faster than you can imagine!"
...
The "Minister of the Navy" did what he said in this regard. The next morning, two "Avro" landed at the Antwerp Airport.
The plane brought not only the technology of rocket propellants, but also a sample and data of an unformed rocket. The two people who delivered the things were technicians, who were technicians in the development of rocket propellants and rockets.
"We have received orders to teach your technicians to produce propellants and rockets before we can return."
"This may take a week if the equipment is complete."
"If there is no equipment, it may take a few more days. This depends on how fast you purchase the equipment. After all, this is an extraordinary period."
Charles was almost knocked unconscious by this sudden happiness. This was undoubtedly a "gift" from the "Secretary of the Navy".
Does the "Secretary of the Navy" know what he is doing?
If he knows it in the future, he will definitely regret it!
Charles suppressed his excitement and nodded calmly. He stood up and shook hands with the technicians:
"Okay, thank you very much. I will send someone to take you to Paris right away."
"Have you heard of the Saint-Etienne Arsenal?"
"Yes, that's where you are going. Don't worry, I will let them treat you well. The arsenal is not short of money!"
When the "Avro" carrying the technicians took off again and flew to Paris, Tijani looked at Charles and asked in confusion: "Rockets? What do we need this thing for?"
"Of course, to destroy the enemy's balloons." Charles answered casually: "We need rockets with a longer range and more accurate shooting..."
"Please, Major General." Tijani interrupted Charles: "You seem to have forgotten what you said, 'Congreve' will soon be replaced by an incendiary bomb, which is an incendiary bomb. A bullet, wouldn’t it be farther and more accurate than a rocket?”
The lie was ruthlessly exposed by Tijani. That was indeed what Charles said, and this type of bullet is already in production and will be distributed to the aviation force soon.
"Okay!" Charles replied helplessly: "That is used to deal with the German 105MM howitzer."
Tijani was stunned for a moment, then laughed: "Oh, yes, I plan to ask the carpenter to make a bow and arrow to use against the enemy's rifle!"
"I mean it, General," Charles replied.
"You don't think I will believe it, do you?" Tijani looked at Charles in disbelief: "The 105MM howitzer can hit more than ten kilometers, Major General, it is far and accurate. What about rockets? You can't guarantee it from one or two kilometers away. Where can it fly? And you want to use it to deal with the 105 howitzer? "
Tijani smiled evilly: "This joke is not funny at all, Major General. The British artillery you are producing is still possible."
He was talking about the 6-inch 26-cwt howitzer imported from Britain.
It is indeed a good thing, but what it lacks is that the range is not enough to completely suppress the German 105 howitzer.
Charles didn't explain it to Tijani. He smiled softly: "Remember what I said today, general, you don't need rockets!"
"Yes." Tijani nodded firmly: "I don't need it!"
