Chapter 517 Artillery and Machine Gun

Within two days of the M1 semi-automatic installation, five 107 rocket launchers were shipped from Paris to Antwerp.

When it was produced, it was discovered that it only cost more than a thousand francs per door. Even Steed couldn't believe it was true. He asked several times:

"Is this true, General?"

"Do you really need something like this? Will it actually work on the battlefield?"

"I'm worried something will go wrong, it's so cheap!"

Charles looked at the telegram and smiled. Its advantage was precisely because it was cheap. If it wasn't cheap, I wouldn't want it.

Tijani was not optimistic about the rocket launcher from beginning to end, and reluctantly followed Charles to the suburbs during the test.

That was the "Bueno" fortress. After Charles captured Antwerp, he lived here as a headquarters for a while. Apart from a trench, there was an empty barren land in front of it, with only a few bomb craters. , which were left by the Germans firing indiscriminately in the darkness during the Shire offensive.

Although this place is very suitable for rocket launcher testing, for confidentiality reasons, Belgian military police had to be used to clear the surrounding miles and ten kilometers ahead one day in advance.

This alarmed Albert I.

When Albert I heard about this, he rushed to the airport headquarters in person and asked expectantly: "General, I heard that the new equipment will be tested tomorrow?"

"Yes." Charles answered casually, signing the document in his hand.

"Is it one of the fortress defense systems?" Albert I asked again.

Charles was stunned for a moment, and the movements in his hands unconsciously slowed down.

It seems that rocket launchers can indeed be used in "fortress defense systems."

The range of the artillery in the fort is often not as good as that of the enemy's artillery, because the enemy will always produce artillery with a longer range to use against the fort.

However, rocket launchers can ignore the "range" problem.

For example, if the Germans used the "Big Bertha" to bomb the fortress again, the Belgian army could use a rocket launcher to blow it up suddenly and then turn around and leave.

Thinking about it, Ciel said "hmm": "Maybe, if you are interested..."

"Of course." Albert I beamed with joy: "Of course I'm interested, Major General. So, I can participate in tomorrow's test?"

"Yes." Charles replied: "But due to confidentiality, only you and Brigadier General Eden can participate."

"No problem." Albert I agreed, and then asked curiously: "Can I know what that is?"

Charles had reservations about this: "We claimed that it was a cannon, and you can think so."

Albert I's eyes lit up instantly.

An artillery piece, a new type of artillery piece!

Great, what the fortress defense system needs is cannons. As long as we have enough cannons, we can keep all enemies out of the defense circle!

Albert I was full of expectations for this cannon. He excitedly pictured the appearance of this cannon in his mind. After returning to the manor, he called Brigadier General Eden to tell him the good news:

"We will have artillery soon, a new type of artillery, invented by Ciel!"

"With this cannon, we will be invincible, no one can break through our fortress defenses!"

Eden agreed: "Of course, Your Majesty, the equipment invented by Charles is always the most advanced, including aircraft, tanks, machine guns, and mines. Many equipment are even unprecedented."

Naturally, they imagined what the cannon looked like and made a series of reasonable guesses:

If Charles went to such great lengths to keep its testing secret, this gun must be very advanced and excellent.

It must be tall and powerful, capable of hitting far and accurately, and "Big Bertha" would also be blown up into the sky by its cannon.

It should not be large in size, because Charles said it could be used in fortress defense systems, which means that this gun can be installed in fortresses.

Albert's only worry is its price, because Belgium's funds are not generous!

Little did he know that this was the only thing he didn't need to worry about.

…

When they saw the rough and low "connected drainage pipes" at Fort "Bueno" the next day, the huge gap left them speechless for a moment.

Albert I didn't even think that was what Charles was going to show today. He asked Charles: "Major General, where are you talking about the cannon?"

Charles raised his head towards the "water pipes" and said, "That's what you see, Your Majesty."

Albert I opened his mouth in surprise.

Although he told himself over and over again in his heart that this was a piece of equipment developed by Ciel and it would definitely be amazing, he still couldn't hide the disappointment on his face.

Brigadier General Eden had some doubts. Could this be another secret kept by Charles?

Just take out something to fool outsiders like them, and then test the real artillery after they leave!

Well, that must be the case!

Tijani was completely out of state. He was still thinking about the M1 semi-automatic rifle and how it could be used on the battlefield.

Soon, the soldiers loaded the rocket launchers with the rocket launchers under the disdainful eyes of everyone.

Brigadier General Eden became more determined after seeing the rockets.

Rockets are not an advanced thing. "Congreve" has been using them for a long time. Moreover, this thing is not accurate. There is no need for Charles to go to war to clear the field for it.

However, when Ciel gave the order to fire, everyone was shocked by what they saw.

The rockets made a terrifying "whooshing" sound, and one after another spewed thick smoke and flames as they flew towards the target, and their trail was clearly visible in the sky.

"Boom boom boom."

"Boom!"

…

After a burst of fire and explosion, the rocket blasted a barrage of bullets a few kilometers away, and several small trees in the target area were instantly shrouded in smoke.

The smoke gradually dissipated, and the small tree had disappeared, leaving only a small trunk to prove that it had existed.

Albert I was stunned. He couldn't believe that these ordinary "water pipes" had such great power.

Brigadier General Eden suddenly doubted his own thoughts. Could this be the protagonist today?

Tijani, who was startled, was stunned for a long time, and suddenly exclaimed excitedly: "I understand, this is another machine gun, a cannon machine gun!"

Albert I listened with a confused face. Cannons are cannons, and machine guns are machine guns. How can there be cannon machine guns?

Brigadier General Eden nodded thoughtfully:

"That's right, General."

"It relies on quantity, and uses quantity to make up for the lack of accuracy."

"It's like a machine gun, but it doesn't fire bullets but shells!"

Albert I suddenly realized, but then looked at the distance and said with regret: "It's a pity that its range is not far."

"About 8 kilometers." Charles said calmly: "Enough!"

No one understood what Charles meant.

Isn't the range of artillery as far as possible?

8 kilometers is not enough to reach the German 105MM howitzer, how can it be said to be "enough"? !