Chapter 1358: Huangshui...Battleship?
Chang Haonan and Peng Juexian are both the helmsmen of their respective R&D teams. They also have other projects on hand that they cannot put aside for the time being, so it is naturally impossible for them to finalize every detail.
The two parties only need to set the main tone of cooperation, and the remaining details will naturally be handled by the specific responsible persons.
Therefore, before sending the latter away, he directly left Han Chenfeng's contact information to the other party:
"For specific matters, you can communicate with Comrade Han Chenfeng, who is directly responsible for the research on magnetohydrodynamic power generation."
After that, he was worried that the name Han Chenfeng was not convincing enough, so he added:
"The theoretical concept of the proof-of-principle equipment I just mentioned was proposed by me, and the rest was completed by Researcher Han. It only took one year to build it from scratch..."
As expected, Peng Juexian immediately showed an expression of importance. He took the business card from Chang Haonan, glanced at the front and back, then raised his head and thought for a moment:
"Oh... I remember now. He's the director of Institute 240, right?"
Chang Haonan was stunned for a moment, then realized that although the Nuclear Industry Group and the Nuclear Construction Group had been separated long ago, Han Chenfeng was, after all, an old engineer with 20 to 30 years of work experience. He was also responsible for uranium exploration and utilization in the past. It was normal that Peng Juexian had heard of him.
"Yes, it would be even better if you two knew each other. It would also be much easier to cooperate in the future..."
Peng Juexian put away his business card:
"I can't say that we know each other... we have met once."
Perhaps noticing some curiosity in Chang Haonan's eyes, he immediately explained:
"Academician Chang, you should know that I was responsible for the research and development of fusion weapons in my early years... After the last nuclear test in 96, the demand in this area decreased. At that time, I had not yet been awarded the title of academician. So in order to raise funds for the team, I proposed a conceptual plan for a water-mobile power generation platform to the Navy. Xiao Han was also in the demonstration team at that time."
This past event had never appeared in the other party's personal homepage or in An Shouzhi's introduction. Even the project itself, Chang Haonan had never heard of it before.
"The Navy has also developed a mobile power generation platform?"
In his impression, the last time China came up with a similar idea was around 2020, and it was also led by the power sector.
Peng Juexian nodded:
"It was originally planned to be a technical verification platform for surface nuclear-powered ships, but later it was discovered that the difference between the power reactor and the electric power reactor was too great...even greater than the difference between the submarine reactor and the ship reactor. Even if it was developed, it could not be directly transplanted to ships for use. In addition, the military's funds were tight at the time, and almost all of them were used to upgrade ordinary surface ships. In the end, only a concept was produced and nothing was done..."
"This project is not a high-level secret, but because there is no follow-up... at least not yet, so not many people know about it, basically limited to a few parties involved."
Chang Haonan understood instantly:
"I see……"
Regarding this type of "useful exploration conducted by the army in difficult times", each branch of the military has many bold or strange ideas.
Due to resource or feasibility limitations, only a small part of them are ultimately transformed into actual results.
It's normal that you haven't heard of it.
Then I suddenly realized another problem:
"Doesn't that mean that Researcher Han knows some people in the Navy?"
Chang Haonan was originally thinking about how to write a letter that would be both effective and respectable to recommend Han Chenfeng to the Navy, but now it seems that he doesn't need to think about it anymore...
Faced with this somewhat unexpected question, Peng Juexian hesitated for a moment:
"I'm not sure... But the person who presided over the concept demonstration at that time happened to be Li Jiang, the current head of the Navy Equipment Department. Maybe they know each other."
……
Coincidentally, just as the two of them were talking about this matter.
Han Chenfeng met Li Jiang at the Navy Equipment Department.
In fact, when Chang Haonan mentioned the idea of "using plasma to generate electricity to drive the electromagnetic energy emission process" yesterday, the reason why he thought of the electromagnetic gun at the first time was precisely because of Li Jiang.
The Navy has been dreaming of a low-cost, high-efficiency land fire support weapon for a long time, but many attempts have not been finally implemented.
Although plasma power generation has the disadvantage of a long preparation time, that is calculated based on an outrageous indicator of 200-300MJ.
You should know that the maximum muzzle energy of the 406mm caliber MK7 naval gun is only at the level of 300MJ.
The cost is that it takes half a minute to launch a shot.
By this calculation, charging once every 15 seconds is still equivalent to increasing the firing rate by 100%.
If the requirements for launch energy are relaxed to the level of a 203mm gun, there is every potential to further reduce the volume of the detonation section and shorten the preparation period to about one third of the original.
This is equivalent to firing once every 5-6 seconds.
It's already at the level of a heavy cruiser.
Moreover, although the power output curve of plasma power generation is steep in electromagnetic energy, it is much flatter than chemical energy, and there is still room for further optimization, which means that these indicators can be achieved on a platform much smaller than the Des Moines class.
As for the cost, it is always cheaper than missiles.
Moreover, even if we take a step back, at the very least, it can serve as an early technical verification of the electromagnetic catapult, so it is not completely worthless.
"This……"
For a moment, Li Jiang didn't know how to react.
Judging from Party A's requirements for preliminary research alone, although the current plan is only a concept, the content is quite detailed, and the functional system as the core part has been verified on the ground. Coupled with the endorsement of Academician Chang, it seems to be well prepared.
But he just felt it was outrageous.
"Tell me the truth, Lao Han. Is it necessary to do this for technical verification or is it something you just want to do?"
In the past, the 037 anti-submarine ship was once nicknamed the "yellow water battleship" due to its excessive firepower.
But the configuration of two twin 57mm guns plus two twin 25mm guns is called a battleship, which is just for fun.
In contrast, Han Chenfeng's plan to move several electromagnetic guns onto destroyers and frigates is a true yellow water battleship when the naval guns in the 21st century generally do not exceed 130mm...
Facing his old friend's soul-piercing question, Han Chenfeng's eyes flickered:
“It doesn’t make any difference…”
He did not answer directly:
"Academician Chang's ultimate goal is to provide a more effective way to power the electromagnetic catapult technology you are researching... But after all, it is a brand new technology. You can't just build an electromagnetic catapult to verify it?"
Li Jiang raised his eyelids and glanced at Han Chenfeng.
Although I am reluctant to admit it, what the other party said is indeed right.
The cost of an aircraft carrier's supporting subsystems is often higher than that of a complete ordinary surface ship, and it is still under development and is not feasible to be put into verification immediately.
In this case, there are only two pieces of equipment with the same technical principle left.
Either an electromagnetic gun or a seaplane catapult.
Obviously the latter is more abstract.
China doesn't even have a light seaplane suitable for catapult launch.
"All right……"
He decided not to dwell on this issue anymore and instead turned his attention back to the design in front of him:
"It seems that this kind of artillery... electromagnetic gun, requires a relatively large space under the deck?"
When he asked this question, several names of ships that were suitable as verification platforms flashed through his mind, but he immediately ruled them out one by one.
The Bi Sheng is preparing to test the improved 346 radar and the Haihongqi 9B air defense missile, while the Hua Luogeng is being modified with new electronic countermeasure equipment. It is impossible for them to be used for other purposes in a short period of time. The other Type 051 destroyers are too old. If drastic changes are to be made below the deck, it will even be difficult to guarantee safety.
As for the young ships that entered service after the 90s...
Stop joking. The navy is still relying on these precious ships to carry the flag. If you say you want to take one away for transformation, the fleet commander will definitely block your way.
Just when he was in a dilemma, Han Chenfeng shook his head:
"In fact, it's the opposite. This plan is designed based on battleship-level firepower, so the size seems a bit outrageous..."
He pointed at the several groups of detonation drive segments on the design, and continued, ignoring the other party's shocked look of "You really want to build a battleship?":
"Based on the requirements we just determined, the size can be further reduced. Considering that the electromagnetic gun shells do not require cartridges or bags... the entire gun does not even need to penetrate the deck. Of course, the premise is that you have to integrate the shell hoisting mechanism as well. This is not my area of expertise."
Li Jiang scratched his eyebrows:
"That'll be easy..."
"I can't say much about ships that are too big and too new, but the East China Sea Fleet is having trouble with the somewhat useless Jiujiang fire support ship. I can report to my superiors and just treat it as... reusing an old ship for good use."
