Chapter 344 Submarine Technology

As time entered April 1913, Arthur also entered a relatively relaxed and enjoyable leisure time.

With the arrival of batches of aid from Britain, Australasia once again entered a stage of rapid development.

Because of the support of talents from Britain, Australasia quickly mastered the newly acquired British and French science and technology.

One of the technologies that Arthur paid more attention to was the submarine technology from France.

With the efforts of a group of British and Australasia experts, the Royal Dockyard quickly conquered the French submarine technology and even planned to build one or two for experiments.

France's submarine technology was ahead of other European countries in the early days, but because of many detours, the current leading advantage has been reduced a lot.

One of the more important ones is the French people's hesitation in choosing submarine power.

In terms of submarines, France was one of the first countries to use a combination of diesel engines and electric motors, but it has been in a state of hesitation and is also using steam engines and electric motors.

Although this seems to be an exploration of the diversification of submarine power, it actually wasted the advantage that France had always maintained in submarines, and was later overtaken by Britain and Germany.

In contrast, British submarines and German U-boats established the torpedo-carrying method based on torpedo tubes early on, canceled the Jewitsky hanger that would damage the outer appearance, and developed a more reasonable appearance. In addition, they were more focused on the choice of power systems, and they were ahead of French submarines in the important speed of submarines for a long time.

As for French submarines before and after World War I, the most impressive one should be the "cannon-carrying" cruiser submarine Surcouf. This type of 4,330-ton submarine equipped with a twin 203mm turret, although it seems to have powerful firepower, is still a "wrong technology tree" type.

On the one hand, the turret is slow in combat, has sealing problems and destroys the appearance of the submarine. On the other hand, the vibration and recoil generated by the huge gun make it difficult for the hull to bear, which is far less practical than small and medium-caliber deck guns. It is a standard flashy existence.

However, for Australasia at present, there is still a lot to learn from France's submarine technology.

Australasia currently has mastered the technology of the German submarine U-3, and is the last group of seven groups of submarines.

You should know that when Germany built submarines, it adopted the method of group construction.

This also made the actual performance of the seven groups of submarines, which are all U-3, differ greatly from one group to another.

Germany equipped its submarines with diesel engines, starting with the seventh group of submarines of the three U-3 submarines.

After the evolution of a total of seven groups of 22 submarines, the current U-22 submarine has very advanced performance.

Because it is equipped with two eight-cylinder two-stroke diesel engines, the total power reaches 1,700 horsepower, which also makes the submarine's displacement reach 837 tons, the maximum surface speed reaches 15.4 knots, and the maximum underwater speed reaches 9.5 knots.

In addition, the main weapon of the submarine has also been replaced with a 500 mm torpedo tube. Such a large-caliber torpedo tube is a fatal blow to cruise ships and transport ships that lack armor protection.

This also gives submarines a unique strategic significance. Under the deep sea, submarines are elusive assassins for cruise ships and transport ships.

Of course, because the performance of submarines is not very advanced now, submarines have no room for resistance when facing regular main battleships.

Compared with the relatively single level and series of German submarines, the series and levels of French submarines are currently more diverse.

As one of the founding countries of modern submarines, France has more than ten levels of submarines so far, with a variety of large, medium and small submarines.

At present, France has the world-class submarine models, including Gustav Zede-class submarines, Amphitrite-class submarines, Peron-class submarines, Dupuy-Delemer-class submarines, Diana-class submarines, Amide-class submarines, Jossel-class submarines, and Lagrange-class submarines.

Except for the Amphitrite-class submarine, which has a range of only 2,400 kilometers, all other types of submarines have a range of more than 4,000 kilometers and can perform long-distance combat missions.

Even the last two Djoser-class submarines and Lagrange-class submarines have a range of 8,000 kilometers at a speed of 11 knots, which greatly increases the combat range of submarines and strengthens the strategic position of submarines.

These two levels of submarines can be said to be truly ocean-going submarines, expanding the threat of submarines to the Atlantic Ocean.

The range of German submarines is only more than 2,000 kilometers, which is not a little bit different from French submarines.

Except for the Gustav Zede-class submarine, which was built in 1911, other types of submarines were built or planned to be built this year.

This is enough to show the sincerity of the French. At least the French really gave these submarine technologies!

However, this does not mean that the French are generous. According to Arthur's estimation, the French should have more advanced submarine designs, but the current construction plan has not yet started.

But in any case, the performance of several levels of submarine technology currently handed over to Australasia by France is indeed more advanced than that of German submarine technology.

When Australasia has fully mastered the technology of French submarines, combined the advantages of German and French submarines, and independently developed Australasia's own submarine technology, it will be time for Australasia's submarines to show their reputation.

The French submarine technology currently mastered by Australasia is actually the Gustav Zede-class submarine that the French began to build two years ago.

The Gustav Zede-class submarine is 74 meters long, 6 meters wide, and has an underwater displacement of 1,098 tons. It has begun to enter the ranks of medium and large submarines and serves as a pilot submarine in the French Navy.

Although it is larger than the German submarine, it is equipped with a power system including two 1,750 horsepower steam engines and two 810 horsepower electric motors with a total power of 5,120 horsepower, which allows the speed to reach the world's first-class level of 17 knots on the surface and 10-11 knots underwater.

The Gustav Zede-class submarine also has excellent endurance, with a total mileage of 5,780 kilometers/10 knots, and can carry 47 officers and soldiers.

The submarine's main weapons are eight 450mm torpedoes, two in torpedo tubes and six on twin external brackets. There is also a 75mm deck gun and a 47mm deck gun, which are basically on par with medium and large submarines in other countries.

In general, the Gustav Zede-class submarine is a submarine that keeps up with the world's advanced level, and its overall technological level is world-class.

Arthur quickly agreed to the Royal Dockyard's experts' application to build several Gustav Zede-class submarines, and named the two Gustav Zede-class submarines to be built as Q03 and Q04.

Australasia uses submarines built by other countries, code-named Q. Currently, two are equipped and two more are expected to be built.

Although the current French submarine technology is very good, it is basically world-class or even leading.

But for Arthur, this technology that other countries also know well can only serve as the basis for Australasia's submarines.

Only when Australasia develops equally advanced submarine technology of its own, Arthur dares to use it with confidence.

Fortunately, the submarine technology of this era was not that complicated, and the technology was not as good as that of later generations.

As long as the submarine technology of Germany and France is mastered, and the essence is removed, it is not difficult to develop advanced submarines belonging to Australasia.

After all, Australasia currently has the ability to independently design and build dreadnoughts and super dreadnoughts. Compared with dreadnoughts and super dreadnoughts, is the technology of submarines still difficult?

In fact, if it were not for the experts of the shipyard to master the French submarine series as soon as possible, Arthur would have already issued a task to let the experts start developing a new series of submarines.

There is good news for Arthur, that is, although it has joined the Allied forces, Australasia does not need to bear the naval pressure from Germany.

The naval mission of Australasia is just to help Britain maintain order on the west and north coasts of the Indian Ocean, that is, the east coast of Africa and the south coast of India.

Generally speaking, the German fleet will not appear in this sea area at all. After all, they need to be chased and intercepted by the Allied fleet to break through this sea area.

What's more, the British would never allow the German fleet to appear in this sea area.

Because this sea area is not only an important transportation route for Australasia to Europe, but also related to the connection between the British mainland and the Indian colonies.

This also means that even if the First World War breaks out in the future, Australasia still has a lot of time to build its own army.

And because of Australasia's excellent geographical location, Australasia is basically impossible to be invaded during the entire First World War.

The only possibility of being invaded is that either the island country joins the Allies or the United States joins the Allies.

But these two conditions are not very realistic. Before Britain cut off its aid, the island country was just a loyal brother of Britain.

Their relationship with Germany is not that good. If the island country wants to join the Allies, it must also weigh the strength of the British Empire.

The United States is actually the same. Although it is already a real power in economy and industry, its military strength, especially the army, is not comparable to some secondary powers, let alone the powers.

And throughout the First World War, the mainland of Australasia will be protected by the Allies.

Anyone who is hostile to Australasia is equivalent to being hostile to the entire Allied Powers.

Even after World War I, the combined power of Britain and France was much stronger than the military strength displayed by the United States.

What's more, the current situation has already changed the world. It is basically impossible for the United States to develop rapidly in World War I as in history.

In this way, the strength of Britain, France and the United States will become larger and larger after World War I. At least before the outbreak of World War II and the strength of Britain and France was completely exhausted, the United States could not be the opponent of the United Kingdom and France.

Even as long as the British and French colonial system does not collapse, the British Empire and France will always be the old powers and one of the most powerful countries in the world.

Nowadays, Australasia is also a member of the world colonial system. If the United States wants to easily destroy the British and French colonial system after World War II as in history, it depends on whether Australasia agrees.

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