Chapter 366 Additional Armor

Amidst the flying catkins of the sycamore trees, Laurent drove Charles to the tank base.

This was not a good experience. Cars in this era were semi-open. When the car went fast, fruit hairs would fall on Charles' face in the strong wind, and sometimes get into his eyes and nostrils, causing pain and itching.

Charles had to lower his military cap and raise his collar to cover his mouth and nose, as if he was too shameless to see others.

There were still people on the streets on both sides who recognized Charles. They waved excitedly to Charles, and some people ran after the car for a while.

Ciel thinks this behavior is boring, so what if he catches up? Express your admiration or ask for an autograph? What does this mean to them?

More than half an hour later, the car finally arrived at its destination.

Perhaps it is because there are fewer sycamores in this area and there are much less fruit hairs in the air.

Brownie and Estini, who knew the news in advance, greeted them at the entrance of the base with several guards.

As soon as they saw Ciel's car, they greeted it with a smile.

"Long time no see, General." Brownie said, with a kind look in his eyes and a hint of surprise.

Brownie couldn't imagine that the "little guy" riding a bicycle had become like this. Although his appearance didn't change much upon closer inspection, the overall appearance had changed so much that he almost didn't recognize it.

Estiny didn't care about this. He was holding a thick briefcase in his hand, and seemed to be waiting for this moment to discuss with Charles with a lot of questions.

Charles first inspected the training of the tank brigade and overall felt satisfied.

In the past, the tanks and infantry of the 1st Tank Brigade were separated, with one tank regiment and one infantry regiment. During the battle, the infantry was assigned to the tank regiment to follow the advance.

Browne explained: "I was thinking, if you have to assign it every time you go to war, why not do it before the war?"

This has more practical significance, Charles thought, and it also proves that Browne and Estini are qualified commanders. Under their command, the tank brigade is moving in a more reasonable and correct direction.

Then Estini couldn't wait to bring Ciel into the base's laboratory.

This was established by Estini himself, and it was considered a branch of the Tractor Factory Research Institute. Here he could more conveniently test and improve the tank.

The laboratory is not big, about 100 square meters, and is a simple tent supported by waterproof canvas. There are tools and parts piled everywhere inside. Parked in the middle are two "Shire A1s" that are either being repaired or improved.

Estini said impatiently: "Perhaps you know that our tank engine has surpassed the 'Holt 120' and reached 130 horsepower."

Ciel said "Yeah", this was Matthew's credit.

After studying in an aircraft manufacturer for a period of time, he improved the engine and successfully achieved overtake.

Although the overtake is not much, it is only 10 horses more than the "Holt 120", and it is not stable enough, but these are all matters of time.

"In this case, I plan to replace it with a larger-caliber cannon." Estini came up with the document and showed a design drawing in front of Charles: "The one I want to install is a 75-caliber cannon. I thought The extra horsepower was enough to carry its weight, but it turned out that wasn’t the case.”

"The breech block is too long?" Charles asked.

Carrying a gun on a tank is not just a matter of weight. The barrel is outside the body and the breech is inside the body.

If the tank turret is not large enough, the longer breech block of the larger caliber gun will press against the top or side walls of the turret.

"Yes." Estini looked at Charles in shock: "This makes its pitch angle very low. It can be said that it can hardly turn, and the gunner has no extra space."

"It needs to change the cannon." Charles replied: "It also needs to change the turret."

This is determined by the space in the tank compartment, and there is no better way.

Charles suggested: "In comparison, it would be much simpler if we used the extra horsepower on armor."

"You are right, General." Estini agreed, but he did not seem to be very interested in it: "It is indeed easier to add armor, but I don't think it is necessary."

As he spoke, Estini flipped through his briefcase, pulled out a data sheet and handed it over: "This is the firepower summary of the German A7V, a 57MM caliber artillery plus 6 Maxim machine guns."

Ciel understood after hearing this.

"Shire A1" has 25MM frontal armor.

The 57MM artillery can penetrate it, but the 6 Maxim machine guns cannot.

Even if its armor is increased, for example to 30MM, it can still be penetrated by 57 guns, but not by 6 Maxim machine guns.

Therefore, the added armor becomes meaningless in actual combat.

No wonder Estini focused on increasing the caliber of the cannon instead of armor.

Charles smiled and said, "We may have to face more than just the A7V, Colonel."

"What do you mean..." Estini looked at Ciel doubtfully.

"We are making progress, and of course the enemy is also making progress." Charles replied: "Last time, our 'Shire A1' beat the German A7V without even a chance to fire. Do you think they will continue to use this tank? ?”

Estini lost his blood with a "swish", and he realized that he had made a mistake: all the designs were aimed at the enemy's A7V.

Think about it again: If the enemy also develops a new tank, and also requires a short period of time to produce finished products and send them to the battlefield...

Estini looked up at Charles with some anxiety in his eyes: "General, the enemy is likely to learn from the 'Char A1' and launch a light tank similar to it."

"Yes." Charles nodded: "And it is very likely that there will be a small-caliber artillery similar to our 37-gun. At this time, it will be necessary to strengthen the front armor."

Colonel Estini regretted it so much that his previous judgment was invalid.

Stacking defenses is not only useful but also useful because it means that the enemy cannot penetrate us, but we can penetrate the enemy.

Thinking of this, Estini said distressedly: "My fault, General. It seems that it is too late to strengthen the armor now. We need to re-produce the front armor, consider its counterweight, and then have to rework everything..."

What he was talking about was removing the old armor and putting on new armor. This was not something that could be accomplished in a short time, especially since the tank brigade still had more than two hundred tanks.

"No." Charles shook his head: "We can produce additional armor."

"Additional armor?" Estini looked confused. This was a new vocabulary for him.

However, he quickly understood the meaning from the word "additional", and then exclaimed: "Yes, General, additional armor! It's so simple. I didn't expect it. I'm such a fool!"

Estiny is certainly no fool.

Every step of development and every innovation of the tank has come step by step in the long history, and many people have made mistakes or even gone in the wrong direction.