Australian Storm 1876

   Chapter 831

Bian Chunsong walked briskly into the study on the second floor. Two important letters were placed in the center of the desk, just stacked on top of a pile of newspapers. He looked at the lacquer stamp, picked up the silver letterhead knife and opened the first letter from Somalia. State letter.

  This is a letter sent by a friend from Xi’an who is engaged in European trade. It is mainly about the export of European walnut trade. In this era of information obscuration, similar business information is very valuable.

According to this friend, close to one-third of the European market is occupied by walnut traders from Citi, and the market price is quite good. Peeled walnuts per pound can reach between 2 shillings and 5 pence to 2 shillings and 8 pence. Quite stable, it hasn't changed for more than three years.

  Xi’an is on a busy Asia-Europe trade route. Many Chinese businessmen in the region do international trade, making use of the convenience of information and logistics, and their business is very hot.

  For such a price, Bian Chunsong was neither surprised nor disappointed. He took the envelope and considered it seriously;

Peeled walnuts are more expensive. This is because a lot of labor is required and the loss is relatively large. In the local Australian market, they have to sell for eight to nine cents per pound, which is about one shilling between eight and ten pence. , About 30% cheaper than the European market.

  If freight is added, the price will not be much different.

  But considering that the current high prices in Australia cannot last for a long time, Xingxinghu Ranch is the first to grow walnuts and is the first to go public, so there is a dividend period of about five or six years, and you can enjoy excess profits.

In the future, the area of ​​the walnut orchard of Xingxing Lake Ranch will be quadrupled in the future, and many ranches in Victoria are following the trend of planting. After 6 to 7 years, a large area of ​​walnut production will be launched, which will inevitably depress the price and may exceed that of Australia. Demand.

  After the walnut returns to its value, exporting to Europe becomes a profitable trade.

  The key is that the demand in Europe is large and the price is stable. It is a worthwhile option in the long run.

  Don’t expect huge profits in agricultural product trade, because there are no barriers to it. You can grow it by others, and the main thing you can do is to make money by yielding.

  Thinking about it for a while

  Bian Chunsong has not made a decision for the time being, because in the next two or three years, his ranch will still be able to enjoy the dividends of the walnut industry exclusively. Don’t worry about this, just reply to a letter when you have time.

  He picked up the second letter and checked the lacquer stamp. He knew at the moment that this was a letter from the Qimarang military base in Tasmania. Specifically, it was written by his mentor, Professor He Zuguang.

  Similar letters will go through security checks before being sent out, using the stamp of the local garrison.

  Open the letter and look at it, as expected.

  After reading carefully for a while

  Bian Chunsong put down the letter in his hand and fell into consideration;

  After the "Young Tiger" medium tank was designed and finalized, the secret research base of the Ministry of War in Qimarang was divided into two teams in the research and development of the tank.

  Continue to use the chassis of the "young tiger" tank to develop a series of deformed car families, such as 95mm vehicle-mounted artillery, 122mm open self-propelled artillery, medium-sized tank engineering vehicle, ammunition delivery vehicle and other new projects.

  The finalized "Young Tiger" tanks are produced at a rate of 55 vehicles per year. The number of related series of deformed vehicles is relatively small. The total annual output is between 10 and 15 vehicles, and they are basically stored in the strategic reserve.

  In addition, the light-duty "Wild Wolf" tank has been moderately improved, and continues to be produced, with an annual output of about 80 to 90 vehicles. Except for 15 to 20 vehicles entering military service each year, all other vehicles are put into the strategic reserve for storage.

  The second scientific and technological research and development team is to carry out the research and development of the "heavy armored tank project". Taking into account the tactical requirements and actual use experience, the Ministry of War puts forward quite high research and development indicators.

  Project code T～1 tank

  The total weight is no less than 19.5 tons and no more than 21 tons. The crew is four people. The main weapon is a 60mm short-barrel and howitzer, and the secondary weapon is a heading machine gun.

  Requires heavy tanks and armored vehicles to be able to withstand the bombardment of 40mm artillery on the front, side defenses to withstand 12.7mm heavy machine gun shots, and the rear armor to withstand 9.8mm rifle bullets.

  On the ability of action;

  Requires a cross-country speed of 30 kilometers per hour, a barrier wall of 0.55 meters, a trench width of 1.78 meters, a wading depth of 0.7 meters, a climbing **** of 22 degrees, and a cruising range of 150 to 170 kilometers (without carrying additional fuel tanks).

  In today's era, this technical requirement is a very high standard.

Brigadier General Bian Chunsong, as the supreme commander of the tanks and armored arms and a military academic authority, served as the deputy director of the review committee of the "T~1 Heavy Armored Tank Project" during his teaching at the Royal Whampoa Army Academy. He personally led and passed the design of the Ministry of War Indicator technical scheme.

  The reason why high mobility and heavy firepower are required stems from the high mobility strike theory he advocated. The newly developed T-1 tank should obey the army’s requirements.

  After the emergence of the wild wolf light tank, it has given great inspiration to the armies of all countries in the world. This is 20 years ahead of the original world line. The current world's combat theory for tanks and armored vehicles is mainly divided into two factions;

The    group believes that high-maneuverability firepower strikes should be emphasized, mainly based on the Ocean Empire and France, and advocates the development of small and medium-sized armored tanks with strong off-road performance.

The    group believes that survival should be the priority. Considering the harsh land warfare environment in Europe, defense should be given priority, firepower second, and mobility again.

  This faction is dominated by the United Kingdom and Russia. The United Kingdom still loves the research and development of diamond tanks as on the original historical line, while the Russians are very advanced and spend a lot of money on the development of heavy tanks with a height of more than eight meters and a weight of hundreds of tons.

  This super heavy tank has two 76mm guns. The bottom of the tank is four meters above the ground and is equipped with a small short-barreled gun.

  Under the guidance of this concept, heavy tanks should be mobile fortresses, heavy steel punches for army troops when attacking, and support points for defense.

  In this case, priority should be given to strengthening defenses so that the tank can defend against frontal bombardment from 60mm artillery. As for the speed requirement, 12~15 kilometers per hour is enough, and it can keep up with the speed of the infantry.

The "Wild Wolf" light tanks exposed by the Ocean Empire did arouse the interest of some European army powers, but after a little research, they immediately lacked interest.

  This ultra-light machine gun vehicle has a low defense capability. It can be easily penetrated with a 14.5 mm heavy firearm. It has basically no survivability in the artillery-intensive European battlefield.

  With the pride of industrial countries such as Britain, France and Germany, they still disdain to introduce this small Douding tank. They need to develop a tank that meets the needs of their own army.

Bian Chunsong is the first advocate of the former theory. He has experienced the raging Civil War. He knows that with the defense of tanks, no matter how hard it is strengthened, it is impossible to resist the frontal bombardment of high-density artillery. Only high mobility can improve survivability. .

  In the French Army

The intensive firepower of 76mm field and howitzers is highly respected. The army is equipped with more than 3,000 guns. When attacking, the gun barrels are directly flattened to bombard the enemy's position, the distance is even close to 3~4 kilometers, and the enemy's resistance is destroyed by fierce artillery fire. will.

  Faced with such fierce artillery fire, even if the T-1 tank has heavy armor, it cannot withstand it, and the slow-moving tank is the best gun target, and there is no survivability at all.

The theory of Bian Chunsong’s faction has been recognized by the summit. The T-1 tank design index issued by the Ministry of War is based on this high-mobility firepower strike tactical theory, which requires sufficient protection to achieve mobility, firepower and armor. The three elements of protection are balanced.

  Today, Brigadier General Bian Chunsong received a letter from his mentor, Professor He Zuguang, frankly that it is too difficult to achieve this design goal, and hopes that it can contribute to the goal of reducing some of the design goals.

  The engine, gearbox, and clutch that drive a 20-ton tank is a very difficult scientific and technological project. To achieve reliable, durable and high-speed is no different than difficult.

In order to achieve the anti-ballistic performance in the design index, the front armor of the tank should be between 80 mm and 90 mm, and the side and back armor should also be between 20 mm and 30 mm, plus a 20-ton chassis and heavy-duty walking mechanism. It would take more than 14 tons of dead weight, plus 60 mm short-barreled artillery, and other equipment, the experimental vehicle is easily overweight.

  In the letter of Professor He Zuguang, the experimental tank prototype reached 23.4 tons, and the weight of at least 2.4 tons had to be reduced. This task is very difficult.

  But there are some workarounds, such as reducing the design speed from 30 kilometers per hour to 23-24 kilometers, reducing the cross-country mileage from 170 kilometers to 120 kilometers, and reducing the failure rate per 100 motorcycle hours. That's what it means anyway.

  Such an outrageous request posed a big problem for Bian Chunsong. He did not have this right, and it was even less likely to agree to such an excessive request. How to respond is a headache.

  He thought for a while, picked up the letter, got up, and went downstairs.

At the entrance of the main building, Bian San'er was working hard to wash the car with two servants. Suddenly he saw Ferguson strode over, and quickly stood up and wiped the sweat from his forehead, before welcoming him and asked; "My lord, my lord It will be fine in a while..."

   "I want to go out for a while, come back and wash again."

   "Oh, got it."

   "By the way, I don't necessarily come back for dinner at night. The old lady came back and told them not to wait for me."

   "Well, I understand Sir Alex."

  Bian Chunsong pulled the car door and sat in, Bian Saner quickly picked up the crank to the front to start the car, then returned the crank to the car and closed the door smoothly.

  Bian Chunsong drove the vehicle lightly around the fountain in front, and drove far away.

  He is going to the town of Lijiapu, 6 kilometers away. This is the viscountry of Admiral Li Shuanzhu. He owns a ranch with an area of ​​more than 140 square kilometers here, which is the third largest ranch in Victoria.

  Lijiapu Town is 57 kilometers east of Melbourne. The coastal railway passes through the town. There is a railway station here. Now it has developed into a large town with a population of 34,000 and is one of the satellite towns around Melbourne.

  Admiral Li Shuanzhu is now one of the military leaders who have won the trust of today's sages. Not long ago, he visited Victoria and Tasmania, and now he is based in Lijiapu Town.

  Taking advantage of this, Bian Chunsong just got closer, wouldn't it kill two birds with one stone?

  (End of this chapter)