Chapter 275 Test on the Training Ground

The entire tank weighs about 12.5 tons. In addition to accommodating four crew members, it can also carry two circular bullet bags, 1,200 machine gun bullets, 28 shells and weapons for four crew members.

Because it is a tracked tank, the average speed of this tank on a flat road can reach 25 kilometers per hour, and the maximum speed is 32 kilometers per hour.

Of course, if it is a non-flat road, the average speed and maximum speed will be greatly reduced, and it may even affect the stability of the tank.

Although this big guy is slow, its maximum driving distance is as long as 210 kilometers.

Because the tank body is fully covered with 17 mm steel armor, this big guy looks a bit bloated, but its protection ability is indeed trustworthy.

If we look at history, the armor of tanks in the late World War I was only about 5 to 12 mm, and the armor thickness of the first generation of tanks in Australasia has far exceeded this number.

Of course, there is still a long way to go from the thickness of tank armor in World War II. During World War II, the thickness of tank armor had generally reached 45 to 100 mm, and the armor thickness of the Maus super-heavy tank even reached a terrifying 350 mm.

What is the concept of 350 mm? A full 35 centimeters, the thickness of the armor alone is almost half a meter, and the bullet is estimated to have only scratched off a layer of paint.

Seeing that Arthur was very interested in the newly developed tank, the researchers of the agricultural machinery factory quickly organized an experiment on the performance of the tank.

Of course, this experiment cannot be held in the agricultural machinery factory. After all, you are a factory engaged in agricultural machinery. How can there be explosions and machine gun sounds in the factory?

For confidentiality, the tank experiment was held in the base of the Guards Division on the outskirts of Sydney, and the sound of artillery and machine guns could also be falsely claimed as the training of the Guards Division.

Guards Division base, a certain training ground.

Usually, various artillery and shooting training have already begun here at this time.

But the training ground at this time seemed quiet, and there were more trenches, barbed wire, tunnels, ditches, chevaux de frise and simple small fortresses on the training ground.

Of course, although these facilities are simply built, their sturdiness is absolutely trustworthy.

At least it is a qualified defensive position in the war, and its protective performance is definitely better than the hastily built defensive positions.

Perhaps because of the rain yesterday, the training ground became a little muddy. People walking on such a road will inevitably slip, which will naturally reduce their combat effectiveness during combat.

On a high platform outside the training ground, Arthur, Minister of Defense Raul, Secretary of State Kent, Guards Division Commander Thomas, and the person in charge of the agricultural machinery factory stood on the high platform and looked carefully with binoculars.

I saw that in the training ground, a tracked vehicle with a strange shape was slowly coming not far away. Because it was a tracked vehicle, it did not slip in some muddy training grounds.

This is naturally the protagonist tank today. All the arrangements of the training ground today are prepared for tanks, in order to test the performance of the tanks built by the agricultural machinery factory.

"Mr. Factory Director, does this big guy really have the ability you said?" Guards Division Commander Thomas asked curiously.

Although the director of the agricultural machinery factory praised this big guy called a tank, Commander Thomas felt that it was a clumsy guy. Can it really be put into the battlefield and become a killer?

"Commander Thomas, just wait and see!" The director of the agricultural machinery factory glanced at Arthur's face, and then said to Thomas with a smile.

Under the gaze of everyone, the tank slowly approached the various built fortifications, and quickly crossed the obstacles such as barbed wire, wooden stakes, puddles, and tunnels with a crushing momentum.

Seeing that the tank easily crossed the obstacles that were very difficult for the infantry, Commander Thomas raised his eyebrows with interest and continued to watch with concentration.

Next was a steep slope that looked a bit strenuous, and under the steep slope was a regular trench.

Because the steep slope and the trench were relatively close, the tank was at risk of falling into the trench at any time.

However, this was not difficult for the tracked tanks. After climbing the steep slope easily, the tracked tanks passed through the trenches as if they were walking on flat ground, as if the two-meter-deep trenches did not exist.

At the end of the trench was a simple fortress built with steel bars and cement. Although it was not thick, if the infantry were to remove the fortress, it would probably cost a lot of casualties.

After all, such a fortress is like a turtle on the battlefield. He really has no good way to shrink in his shell.

The tanks approached the fortress. The people who had been hiding in the fortress fired with rifles and machine guns for three minutes. After finding that they did not cause any damage to the tanks, they immediately and decisively evacuated the fortress.

After everyone left the fortress, the tanks bombarded the fortress. Under the premise of frequent consumption of shells, it took less than two minutes to blow a big gap in the fortress. The fortress was also shaky and was directly destroyed by the impact of the tanks.

The most difficult problem for infantry to remove such a fortress is that when removing the fortress, the people in the fortress will also launch various counterattacks, causing a large number of casualties to the infantry.

The tank withstood three minutes of shooting from inside the fortress before destroying it, in order to prove that the tank could withstand attacks from inside the fortress while destroying it.

Seeing this, not only Division Commander Thomas, but also Minister of Defense Raul and Minister of State Kent all brightened up and were very interested in new weapons developed by agricultural machinery factories such as tanks.

After watching the tanks destroy the fortress, they slowly returned to the place where the experiment started. Only then did several people from the military look at the agricultural machinery factory. The excitement in their eyes could no longer be concealed.

"Okay, I called you here just to see the actual combat capabilities of this new weapon. The new weapon will definitely be equipped with our army, and it will be equipped with the Guards Division first." Arthur looked at the three people with excited faces. He couldn't help but said in a funny manner.

"Your Majesty, why don't you just equip us with a regiment! This kind of big guy is a big killer on the battlefield. It can not only reduce the casualties of our soldiers, but also destroy the enemy's soldiers and fortresses wantonly. It's simply unreasonable. "Hearing what Arthur said, Commander Thomas couldn't hold it anymore and quickly requested.

"Equipment must be equipped, but the current tanks are still in the research and development stage, and their performance is not so stable. There were no accidents in the tank experiment today, which does not mean that there will be no accidents in the future. But it is worthy of recognition that this kind of Tanks have huge combat capabilities and can play a decisive role on the battlefield," Arthur said with a smile.

In fact, it is no wonder that these military leaders are so excited about tanks. Even in its original history, this was a powerful weapon that could change the concept of combat.

And didn’t the torrent of steel produced by Red Russia in tanks and armored vehicles in later generations also frighten European countries for a long time?

"Director Joel, tell these guys about the current progress of tank development." Arthur said with a smile.

"Yes, Your Majesty." Joel, the director of the Agricultural Machinery Factory, nodded respectfully, and then explained to the three Kents: "Everyone, our tank is still in the research and development stage, and it is expected that it will be officially put into production in about half a year. Time. The tanks you don’t want to buy will have problems from time to time, right? Please give our machine factory half a year. I guarantee you that we can provide the military with reliable tanks in half a year.”

After hearing the half-year deadline mentioned by factory director Joel, the three Kents nodded to express their understanding.

The military's weapons generally pay attention to stability. After all, soldiers don't want their weapons to strike against them on the battlefield. Isn't this making fun of the lives of soldiers?

Minister Raul nodded and said with a smile: "Director Joel, our factory must pay close attention to the subsequent tests and improvements! Don't worry, the military's orders are absolutely indispensable. Even if I risk everything, I will do it for you." The army is seeking an order for at least a thousand tanks.”

Whether it is Kent, Minister Raul or Division Commander Thomas, they are all senior and elite personnel from the military.

They already have a full understanding of the tank's combat effectiveness and decisive role on the battlefield.

If the Australasian army can be equipped with thousands of tanks, even if the army has only 120,000 soldiers, it will definitely be worth the hundreds of thousands of troops in other countries.

It is even said without shame that with a thousand tanks, the Australasian army has directly entered the level of the great powers, and is definitely not at the bottom even among the great powers.

"The information about the tanks must be kept absolutely confidential. It is basically impossible to equip the troops on a large scale in a short period of time." Kent glanced at Minister Raul and directly refuted Minister Raul.

"I was negligent." Facing his former superior, Deputy Prime Minister Kent, Arthur's absolute confidant, Minister Raul did not dare to be presumptuous and said quickly.

"Kent is indeed right. Tanks are currently kept in absolute secrecy for Australasia and cannot be equipped openly. However, we can secretly form armored divisions and secretly form an army composed entirely of tanks, and deploy them from time to time. Other divisions come to train with the tank division. Of course, the members of these divisions who train with the tank division also need to be carefully selected. In short, until other countries do not vigorously develop tanks, it is best to keep our tanks secret." Arthur nodded. , which can be regarded as agreeing with Kent’s opinion.

Seeing that Arthur had already spoken, Minister Raul naturally did not dare to have any opinions.

"Of course, if it is discovered that other European countries are already vigorously developing tanks, then our tanks can also be used openly. At that time, as Minister Raul said, even if we equip thousands of tanks, we must ensure that we are good at tanks. , advantages for other countries.”

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