Chapter 259

Chapter 3 will be updated later, I’m currently typing, sorry!

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(The picture below shows the Saint-Chamont M21 light tank. It has both tracks and wheels. It travels on the tracks when the wheels are retracted)

The place of discussion was still the dining table in the living room of the Djoka family. Although it was simple, it was absolutely confidential. The only outsider was Camille, but she didn't understand and had no interest in it.

Just like if a woman asks a man whether she looks good in a piece of clothing, they will usually reply with ambiguous words, such as "okay", "ok" and so on.

Their concept of "looking good" is not actually about the clothes, but the state of being without clothes.

In the same way, when women listen to military industry topics, even if they listen for a whole day, they may still exclaim: "What? The tank doesn't have wheels? How can it move?"

Therefore, Djoka did not ask Camille to avoid it, or even asked her to keep it secret.

If a spy tried to extract some information from Camille, he would be devastated.

A sketch was originally placed on the dining table, with a pen and draft next to it, which seemed to be used to calculate data.

When Estini sat down, he pushed the sketch in front of Charles and said worriedly: "This was drawn by my old subordinate based on his impression. He was fortunate enough to be a tester of Schneider. After coming into contact with this tank, Tell me something. I think it's a new tank that Schneider is developing."

Charles glanced at the sketch and laughed dumbly: "Can this be called a tank? It should be more of an armored vehicle."

Colonel Estini and Dejoka looked at each other. They had always thought that Schneider's tank would be a threat to the "Charre A1", but they did not expect that Charles would be so dismissive of it.

Colonel Estini thought that Charles was not looking carefully and further explained: "It has two forms, Colonel. It can use wheels or tracks, which will give it super mobility."

"Yes." Djoka agreed: "The wheels can be used on the road, and the tracks can be used on muddy areas or off-road. It's a good idea."

"So what?" Charles asked.

Colonel Estini replied:

"Mobility means faster penetration."

"It draws on the success of the Shire A1 to some extent."

"For example, focusing on mobility and changing weapons to machine guns, I even believe they will produce their own 37MM caliber artillery!"

Ciel nodded, there must be some reference, but because he didn't dare to blatantly copy it, he had to abandon the rotating turret.

After thinking for a while, Charles pushed the drawing back to Colonel Estini and asked softly: "Without a rotating turret, how do you think it can face the enemy's machine guns and large-caliber artillery?"

Estini pointed to the sketch and analyzed it:

"I guess they hope to make up for the lack of rotating turrets with quantity."

"They can make the side armor very thin, only required to withstand ordinary ammunition, and the front armor is thick enough to withstand K-bombs."

"When fighting, they always face the target head-on. With high mobility, they approach the target from all directions..."

Charles understood Estini's idea, and it seemed quite reasonable:

If the money to produce one "Shire A1" can produce two or more of these cheap light tanks, then the "Shire A1" needs to rotate the turret to aim at the target, but this cheap light tank can shoot from several at the same time. Direction relies on multiple tanks aiming.

Which one is more efficient?

It seems that this kind of cheap light tank may have as many numbers as ants, forming a "many ants kill the elephant" advantage.

Ciel smiled and shook his head.

The ideal is very full, but the reality is very skinny. Schneider would never have imagined that in the near future, various infantry anti-tank equipment will emerge as the times require.

Not to mention anti-tank equipment, these thin-skinned small tanks cannot even carry anti-aircraft machine guns. They will be used as targets by infantry.

Seeing that Charles still didn't take it seriously, Colonel Estini continued to explain:

"It is well known that our tanks have the disadvantage of being slow."

"It would be terrible if it could reach speeds of dozens of kilometers per hour like a car on the highway."

"It can penetrate targets quickly, Colonel. This is probably the development trend of tanks!"

Ciel was a little surprised when he said "hmm", which reminded him that Schneider might not only imitate the surface, but also go deep into the tactics.

As expected of a qualified capitalist, he has a very good learning ability, but unfortunately he still went astray.

"It will not be the development trend of tanks." Charles said firmly.

"We can't be sure of this, Colonel." Colonel Estini could not conceal his confusion and anxiety: "If it is not a development trend, what is? I can't think of any reform plan!"

After hearing this, Charles understood Colonel Estini's mentality at this time.

He believes that certain equipment must be changed during development, whether it is the core, structure or form.

After the "Charre A1" tank came out, Colonel Estini hoped to improve it but found that it could not be changed. This made him fall into despair and thought that he had stagnated.

At this time, Schneider suddenly developed a more mobile tank. Colonel Estini mistakenly thought that it was an improvement and a trend.

This seems ridiculous to a modern person like Charles, but people of this era do not know the future development of tanks, and it seems to be natural for people to fall into chaos and confusion.

Ciel pondered for a moment, then asked unhurriedly: "How much does it weigh?"

"I'm not sure." Colonel Estini replied: "But it is said that Schneider's idea is to lighten it. The weight is probably only half of that of the 'Shire A1'."

(Note: The actual weight of the Saint-Chamont is only 3.3 tons, less than half of the 8 tons of the "Shire A1")

Then Estini added: "The test result is that it can reach a speed of 28 kilometers per hour on the highway. This is just a preliminary test, and it may be faster in the future."

There was a trace of fear in Colonel Estini's eyes when he said this. He seemed to see a lot of these light tanks speeding on the road and dividing and surrounding the enemy.

Isn't this the template for Ciel's several battles on the front line?

Djorka also showed caution, which Estini had described to him before. This was even in line with the "swarm combat" theory that Colonel Estini had always conceived. In other words, only this kind of fast light tank could achieve his goal. combat theory.

Charles smiled softly and said: "Maybe we can think about it this way. If this light tank faces not the German heavy tanks but the 'Charre A1', which tank do you think can win?"

Estini and Djoka looked at each other, neither of them had thought about it this way.

(The picture above shows the Saint-Chamont M21 light tank with its wheels retracted)

(The picture above shows the state of putting down the wheels)