Chapter 132: The Rapid Development of Western Sichuan
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"Marshal, generals. This is a new 155mm heavy howitzer developed by our arsenal. The caliber is 155mm, and the barrel is twelve times as long as the caliber. The high and low firing range is from 0 degrees to 42 degrees. The shell weighs 42 kilograms, and the muzzle velocity of the shell is
325 meters per second, the maximum range is 7,500 meters, and the gun weighs 2.5 tons. Now it has been improved and can be mass-produced at any time! We plan to name this cannon the Type 91 155mm heavy howitzer "from the Chengdu Arsenal
Tang Mu, the director of the R&D center, personally introduced Wang Yuze and others. Although he is now in his fifties, this old man who has devoted himself to military research since his early years still looks energetic. The research and development of every cannon in western Sichuan has
With his presence, everything from the old-fashioned cannons that have been eliminated to the new cannons currently being researched is soaked in his hard work.
Looking at the cannon with its barrel raised high in front of him, Wang Yuze and the military leaders were very happy. Cannon is called the god of war, and heavy artillery has extremely powerful power. If the Western Sichuan Army is equipped with heavy artillery, then the siege
The ability to take out strongholds can definitely be enhanced a lot. For example, in the last war, facing the city walls of Xi'an and the capital, if hundreds of heavy artillery could be mobilized, it would be enough to knock down the strong city walls.
"This cannon is very good. I think each division can be equipped with a company. Moreover, the staff can establish one or two independent artillery brigades for use in wars. I think it will definitely be very effective!"
Wang Yuze said with a smile.
"This can be considered. However, the heavy artillery is too heavy. It can still be used within the scope of Western Sichuan. Beyond Western Sichuan, the road conditions are very bad. It is difficult for this kind of heavy artillery to keep up with the speed of the troops!" Already a national defense officer
Minister Jiang Xingguo said that a 2.5-ton heavy artillery would have to be towed by at least eight or more horses. As the domestic road conditions are always relatively bad, the combat effectiveness of this heavy artillery will be greatly reduced.
"That's true. However, our enemies are not only the Manchus, but also the great powers. Facing the great powers, we must have heavy artillery. The 155mm caliber howitzer is just the beginning, we also need larger
caliber heavy artillery. 210mm heavy howitzer, 305mm heavy howitzer, we all need to equip these. In addition, the navy's naval guns and arsenal also need to start looking at it as soon as possible. Compared with the cannons used by the army, the caliber of naval guns is
It is bigger and the requirements are stricter. I hope Director Tang can develop more and stronger cannons for us in Western Sichuan!" Wang Yuze said. After Western Sichuan defeated the Manchu Qing, it will inevitably face the great powers. By then, for Western Sichuan, for
For Western Sichuan, it is a bigger challenge. Although everyone believes in the combat effectiveness of the Western Sichuan Army, it is also necessary to provide the Western Sichuan Army with sophisticated weapons and equipment.
"Don't worry, young marshal, even if I risk my old bones, I will make more and better weapons for Western Sichuan!" Tang Mu immediately promised. Researching more and better weapons for the Western Sichuan Army has become an old man's dream.
A lifelong belief.
Later, Tang Mu took Wang Yuze and others to visit other cannons under development, such as 105mm cannons, 150mm cannons, etc. Compared with howitzers, cannon barrels are longer, generally 30 times the caliber, and have a range of up to
More than ten kilometers. However, Western Sichuan is relatively weak in this aspect and is currently stepping up research. However, Tang Mu said that mass production will be finalized within three to five years.
After visiting the heavy artillery, Tang Mu took Wang Yuze and his party to the mortar research and development area.
"Young Marshal, this is an 80mm caliber mortar developed according to the requirements of the army. After the research is successful, the army can eliminate 37mm caliber mortars and deploy 60mm caliber mortars to platoons and companies.
The first level will be replaced by this 80mm caliber mortar. In addition, we are also studying a heavy mortar with a caliber of 120mm. After the research is successful, it will provide powerful fire support for the infantry in battle!
Tang Mu introduced Wang Yuze and others with excitement. At this moment, he was like a parent introducing his outstanding child to others. After getting recognition from others, he was also very happy.
Wang Yuze and a group of military bosses felt excited when they looked at the artillery being studied. They had to admit that a large part of the reason for the strength of the Western Sichuan Army was reflected in the equipment. If the Western Sichuan Army used the
With the same equipment as the Qing army, even if the Western Sichuan Army can win, the casualties and costs will probably be much greater. The arsenal R&D center is where the Western Sichuan Army continues to provide weapons that are stronger than its opponents. This also ensures that the Western Sichuan Army
Where the army can win.
Next, Wang Yuze and the others also visited the R&D center for heavy machine guns and other firearms. Although the Maxim heavy machine gun currently used by the Western Sichuan Army is powerful, it is too bulky and weighs 28 kilograms. The latest heavy machine gun developed by the Chengdu Arsenal is
The water-cooled type will be changed to an air-cooled type. After successful research, the weight will be reduced to less than 25 kilograms, making it easier to carry. In addition, the arsenal is also studying light machine guns to enhance the firepower of each infantry squad.
"Director Tang, can you design a grenade that can be fired with a rifle? The range does not need to be too far, two hundred meters is enough. The grenade relies on the shock wave generated when the propellant in the bullet burns to push the grenade to fly. For example, use a blank bullet to
Instead of firing grenades with live ammunition. In this case, combined with the light machine gun, the firepower of the infantry squad will be further strengthened!" Wang Yuze said. In fact, what he proposed was the rifle grenade that was widely used after the 20th century. But now it is less powerful.
, it’s just not paying attention yet.
"Hey, this is a good idea. I have to write it down and organize a special person to study it. Don't worry, Marshal, we will come up with samples as soon as possible!" Tang Mu said excitedly.
It was already dark when they left the arsenal. Wang Yuze and the military bosses had spent a whole day inside without knowing it. However, after this visit, they became more knowledgeable.
Now that we have reached the strength of Western Sichuan, we are more confident that Western Sichuan will overthrow the Qing Dynasty and even join the great powers to fight for world hegemony. Although the various foundations of Western Sichuan are still slightly insufficient compared with the great powers, Western Sichuan is catching up.
With the wisdom and hard work of the Chinese people, everyone believes that Western Sichuan will definitely succeed.
At the end of 1891, Wang Yuze left Chengdu and began to secretly inspect the provinces below Western Sichuan. However, this time his main targets were the newly incorporated provinces in Western Sichuan. Starting from Chengdu, he went south from Panzhihua into Yunnan. When passing through Panzhihua, Wang Yuze again
An inspection was conducted on Panzhihua Iron and Steel Group. Currently, the Iron and Steel Group is undergoing expansion and is expected to be completed and put into operation in the middle of next year. By then, Panzhihua Iron and Steel Group's pig iron production and steel production will have doubled, reaching an annual production of 100,000 tons of iron and 50,000 tons of steel.
Thousands of tons, making Western Sichuan the leading steel production in Asia. Of course, if compared with the great powers, this is insignificant. According to historical data that Wang Yuze knows, this year's pig iron production is 1.9 million tons in France and 1.9 million tons in Germany.
It is 4.1 million tons, the United Kingdom is 7.5 million tons, and the United States is 8.4 million tons. Steel production in France is 750,000 tons, Germany is 2.45 million tons, and the United Kingdom is 3 million tons.
200,000 tons, compared with 4 million tons in the United States. The beginning of the 20th century was an era of steel competition. Therefore, Western Sichuan still has a long way to go if it wants to catch up with the great powers.
The Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau area is considered a relatively poor area in China. Along the way, Wang Yuze discovered that the lives of the people here are completely different from those in western Sichuan. In the western Sichuan area, after more than 20 years of efforts by the government,
The problem of food and clothing has been basically solved, but in these two provinces, the people have not even been able to solve the problem of survival. However, the government has already started to improve it. After the land is distributed to the farmers, they also have hope for their future life.
.And I am even more grateful to Western Sichuan and Wang Xiao and his son.
From Yunnan to Guizhou, and then from Guizhou to Hubei. Compared with Yunnan and Guizhou, due to geographical factors, the living conditions in Hubei are much better than those in Yunnan and Guizhou. In the past, due to exploitation by landlords and officials, the lives of ordinary people were relatively difficult. But Western Sichuan defeated the Manchurians
After the Qing Dynasty took control of Hubei and carried out the reform of the Western Sichuan model, although it only took half a year, the lives of the people have already begun to change. They also support the Western Sichuan government very much. The Chinese people are undoubtedly the most honest, as long as they
They are very satisfied if they can eat enough.
In Wuhan, Wang Yuze inspected the Wuhan Iron and Steel Group. For this steel group, Wang Yuze also raised high expectations. If you want to catch up with the great powers, it is very difficult to rely only on the two or three steel bases in western Sichuan. You must develop in all directions.
After learning about the annual output of Wuhan Iron and Steel Group, Wang Yuze asked the competent authorities to increase production and increase production capacity as much as possible. Infrastructure construction in western Sichuan is now in full swing, and there are still many places where steel is needed.
Entering Shaanxi from Hubei, comprehensive construction has begun. Within Shaanxi, construction of many railways has begun, and the entire Shaanxi is like a busy construction site.
After the inspection, Wang Yuze returned to Chengdu from Shaanxi and rushed home before the year. The cabinet had already begun a summary of last year's work. In 1891, Western Sichuan's fiscal revenue reached 127 million yuan, a year-on-year increase of 2%.
13. Of course, war reparations are not included, and the Qing Dynasty only had more than 80 million. In terms of the great powers, France had 3.3 billion francs, Germany had 700 million marks, Russia had 900 million rubles, and the United Kingdom had 100 million pounds.
, the United States is 400 million U.S. dollars. If converted into Chinese dollars, Western Sichuan's fiscal revenue ranks only behind the United States, the United Kingdom, France and Germany. (The above data are obtained through Palgre world historical statistics, Xiaoyu does not know whether it is accurate
Yes, this is the setting of this book for the time being! If there are any mistakes, I hope book friends will forgive me!)
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