Chapter 40: experiment

"Tutu! Tutu!" In a secret valley, a huge and continuous sound shook countless birds in the forest.

A new, automatic, large-caliber artillery is undergoing intense experimentation. This 30 mm caliber rapid-fire gun, this anti-aircraft gun has a very simple structure and is a very practical "anti-aircraft weapon."

In fact, this kind of artillery also assumes the heavy responsibility of future Ailan Hill troops' ground defense. Chris' idea is to use one weapon to satisfy both the air defense and ground needs of the troops.

The choice of the new weapon system went through a detailed discussion, and Chris even recruited Modler to have a meeting together.

At the beginning, Wagron felt that an improved version of the 75mm infantry field gun was used for ground combat, and a new anti-air artillery was developed to defend against possible targets in the sky.

However, this plan was rejected later, because it would not only waste the capacity of the 75mm caliber infantry artillery, but also may cause more logistical troubles. A simple calculation, this is equivalent to the production of three different types of shells, the supply will become more complicated.

The subsequent plan was proposed by Chris. He felt that the 88mm caliber cannon was used to solve the air and ground issues at the same time. However, Desaier felt that the rate of fire of this large-caliber artillery was too slow to be suitable for attacking agile dragons, so he was forced to give up.

Chris also felt that before the development of the radio proximity fuze, the effectiveness of the large-caliber anti-aircraft artillery was too low, and the range advantage of the large-caliber anti-aircraft artillery could not be reflected on the battlefield, which made it very useful. The 88mm caliber cannon has no use for it.

After all, shooting an 88mm cannon with a height of 10,000 meters is too wasteful to deal with a dragon with a flying height of only a few kilometers. Medium-caliber or small-caliber anti-aircraft guns seem to be more suitable.

So, another serious question lays on the paper: what if the power is insufficient if a small caliber is used? After all, facing a giant dragon with scaly armor, using weapons such as large-caliber machine guns for air defense, Chris feels unsafe anyway.

So, soon, the 12.7mm heavy machine gun air defense program was overturned, and Desaier also believed that relying on such air defense weapons would not be able to block the warcraft cavalry on the ground and the dragon in the sky.

Then, the choice of weapons began to focus on small and medium-caliber anti-aircraft guns. Chris put forward many plans, and everyone has their own optimistic plans.

For example, General Wilkes, who emphasized the mobility of the troops, and General Modler, support 20mm anti-aircraft guns, because the anti-aircraft guns of this caliber have the lightest weight and can easily move with the troops. Good deployment.

However, this caliber also has some shortcomings, that is, Chris and Desai have been worried about the problem of not being able to threaten the dragon.

On the other hand, Waglon, Koria and others support the use of 40mm Bofors anti-aircraft guns. They believe that this weapon has a very good damage effect and a slow rate of fire. It can be used as a multi-purpose weapon to equip troops. .

However, the Bofors anti-aircraft gun also has its own shortcomings, that is, its mobility is not very good. Under normal circumstances, this weapon is dragged forward by a tractor and cannot be immediately put into battle.

In addition, most of the barrels of the Bofors anti-aircraft guns are water-cooled, so that it can maintain continuous combat capability. The navy does not matter. Anyway, it is not bad for the weight, but the army is really intolerable, so it can only bear the pain.

Therefore, after some careful selection, the 30mm caliber has become a choice that everyone can tolerate. On the one hand, this caliber can be used as a reference for aircraft guns. On the other hand, the rate of fire and weight are good, which can meet combat needs.

After selecting the weapons, the arsenal worked overtime and started trial production. It's still a familiar taste and a familiar formula: Chris took the lead and led a group of craftsmen to use a purely manual method to make such an experimental model of Gaoping dual-purpose weapon in front of him.

This is a very interesting weapon: it uses a magazine feeding system, which can reach a theoretical rate of fire of more than 200 rounds per minute. At the same time, it is also equipped with a steel plate anti-shield, used as a flat-fire turret.

The entire 30mm caliber rapid-fire gun is mounted on a carriage with eight small-diameter wheels to obtain a stable shooting environment and effectively reduce the height. The eight wheels of the carriage are all attached with iron on the side to improve the load-bearing and support strength.

If necessary, the rapid-fire gun itself can also be removed from the carriage and reinforced on the ground as a fire support point, or cannons can be directly produced, deployed on the castle and important locations, and used as a defensive fort.

In short, this is a very versatile weapon. Chris knew that once this weapon started mass production, he might have to make do with it for 3 years or more. Unfortunately, this fairly advanced rapid-fire gun has no way to be equipped with rubber tires.

"Synthetic rubber isn't enough..." Looking at the old solid wood wheels that were a little hairy, Chris felt that his aesthetic was collapsing. A 30mm rapid-fire gun from the World War II era, coupled with a medieval carriage, is really a sour and cool match.

No way, his Principality now only has northern territory and cannot grow any rubber at all: Even if he wants to import a large amount of natural rubber, the Arante Empire, which has already had a tense relationship with Allan Hill, would not be willing to satisfy love anymore. Lanhill's import demand is up.

Thinking of being dragged down by rubber for a long time, Chris couldn't feel better. Although the one in front of him may already be the most powerful war machine of this era...

"If it doesn't work, let's start from the Higgs Kingdom... Let them buy us rubber from the Dothan Empire. If you want to come to Arrant, you won't interfere?" General Bourgeos suggested.

"We're already doing this." Chris smiled bitterly, shook his head and said, "But there is not much natural rubber...the price is ridiculously high. Now the surrounding countries are about to reach a tacit understanding, what are we going to buy? Just soaring prices."

"The price increase is a bit better... The key is to hold gold coins, you can't buy them..." Desaier shrugged and said helplessly: "We need more and more things, and more and more. There are fewer and fewer businesses that can supply us."

With a somewhat regretful sigh, Modler opened his mouth and exclaimed: "This weapon is really good. If two guns are put together, the rate of fire can be doubled!"

"Don't think about the dual installation." Looking at the experimental artillery that was firing, Chris said to the generals around him: "Although I also want to increase the firepower density, the load of the carriage and the recoil problem are all I have to consider..."

"Productivity is also a problem! We can't produce so many 30mm anti-aircraft guns for a while..." Smith also shook his head and began to explain: "So, the design is a single gun and one vehicle."

For the factory, a carriage without any difficulty actually has no production pressure. What determines the number of anti-aircraft guns is the production quantity of the anti-aircraft guns themselves.

"Furthermore, this thing was designed with battle damage in mind..." After looking at Wagron and other generals, Chris said helplessly: "This kind of weapon may become a weapon for slaying dragons, and it will naturally be destroyed by dragons. The knight focused on attacking... Dragon's Breath is not a joke."

"Once attacked by a dragon, these anti-aircraft guns and anti-aircraft gun shooters will be lost. Therefore, the best results can be achieved by scattered deployment." Chris said, showing some unbearable expressions.

These anti-aircraft gunners, everyone in the future will take risks to fight. They will become the priority targets of dragons and may give their lives at any time. Only after they have all been eliminated, the infantrymen will lose their barriers, and only after the anti-aircraft guns are all misfired, can the dragon knights obtain an ideal attack environment.

"In addition, the artillery shells are not enough! We are under great pressure to produce bullets. The arsenal has already begun to expand. Four expansions at one go, all of which are used to produce ammunition." Smith mentioned this and felt a bit of a toothache.

Modern warfare is really gold and silver. Those cannonballs and bullets are produced in large quantities, and they can be wiped out in a single battle. The average poor people really can't afford it. Seeing the emergence of automatic weapons, Smith knew that the ammunition consumption in the future might be even higher.

What he couldn't imagine was that in another world far away, the US military in the 21st century would need to pour 250,000 bullets to destroy an enemy... What is this concept? The concept is that the ammunition provided by a 10,000-ton freighter full of bullets can only kill 800 enemies...

Of course, the current Ailan Hill is far from extravagant to such an extent. They were unable to equip some anti-aircraft guns. However, it is precisely the anti-aircraft guns in front of them that are firing and experimenting with various performances. For the first time, it provides a possibility for mortals, a possibility to face the dragon.

"It's true, if you use the double installation, the ammunition consumption will double. We don't have that much ammunition." General Wagron, who knew that the ammunition was insufficient, nodded in agreement with Smith.

However, I immediately told the other party: "However, Minister Smith... Your production capacity should indeed be increased. We are now forming more troops..."

"Don't worry! At this time next year, our arsenal will be at least ten times larger than it is now!" Minister Smith of the Ministry of Industry replied with confidence.