This LEFH18 howitzer is the main support firepower of the German division.
The maximum range is 10671 meters, the shell weight is 14.97kg, and the maximum rate of fire is 7 rounds per minute.
Its performance is not as good as the American M2 105mm howitzer.
The American M2-type 105 howitzer has a maximum range of 11,160 meters, a shell weight of 14.98 kg, and a maximum rate of fire of 16 rounds per minute.
The number of gunners for both types of guns is 8.
However, the weight of the American M2-type 105 howitzer is as high as 4,600 kilograms, and this big thing needs to be towed by a truck.
The German LEFH18 howitzer weighs only 3,050 kilograms and can be pulled by two or three mules or military horses.
Although both 105 howitzers are not suitable for mountain guerrilla warfare, compared with the American M2 105 howitzer, this German 105 howitzer is obviously more suitable for the Eighth Route Army.
Moreover, in terms of performance alone, the performance of the LeFH18 howitzer is good, enough to compete with the Japanese Type 91 105mm field howitzer.
But it was unable to cope with the Japanese field heavy artillery. But then again, the Japanese First Army did not have many field heavy artillery. The Japanese field heavy artillery was generally equipped with Class A divisions.
Li Yunlong was looking through the binoculars at this time, his face full of surprise, and his mouth almost watered down.
When he saw the big guy like the 105 Howitzer, it was like seeing a beauty, and he couldn't take his eyes away immediately.
If the boss hadn't named Li Yunlong to accompany the head of the headquarters to greet the production line, Li Yunlong would definitely be receiving the goods at his usual place.
Li Yunlong was not the only one who couldn't take his eyes away. The eyes of all the heads of headquarters were also fixed on the 12 howitzers.
Although none of the leaders had ever seen the howitzer hanging, which resembled a listening plane, but that thing, no matter how surprising, belonged to someone else.
This howitzer was obviously provided to the Eighth Route Army through Li Yunlong's channel, and it soon belonged to the Eighth Route Army.
Therefore, the eyes of all the leaders are almost all focused on the howitzer.
The transport planes and helicopters flew over the top of the Huangyadong mountain with a buzzing roar, and completely disappeared from sight.
The leaders first whispered to each other, with excitement and shock in their eyes, and then all the leaders looked at Li Yunlong in unison.
Although Captain Li was quite thick-skinned, he felt panicked when so many leaders were staring at him.
Which of the brigade commanders, division commanders, bosses and chiefs of staff could not easily manipulate him?
"Li Yunlong, why didn't you report this howitzer battalion?" the brigade commander asked, "You don't want to create a howitzer battalion, do you?"
Commander Li hurriedly explained: "Brigadier Commander, fellow chiefs, I really didn't know this beforehand. This must be a surprise given to me by Brother Chen. With my relationship with Brother Chen, it's not surprising that he suddenly surprised me. After all, he used to do it often
Surprise me."
"Are you telling the truth?" the brigade commander was doubtful.
"The truth!" Li Yunlong nodded quickly, "If you don't believe it, Brigadier, you can ask Brother Chen yourself."
Anyway, Brother Chen won’t even be able to find anyone if he doesn’t contact you big leaders.
What to ask?
The brigade commander wanted to ask a few more questions, but the roar of planes sounded in the sky again.
There are also a lot of helicopter noises.
Li Yunlong pointed to the sky and said: "Commanders, look quickly, another plane is coming."
At that moment, Li Yunlong fired another red flare.
The leaders quickly raised their heads and looked into the distance. Dozens of Dragonfly aircraft carrying large machines were flying towards them.
In addition to dozens of Dragonfly aircraft, there are also more than a dozen large transport aircraft.
Everyone was refreshed, the production lines for mortars and smokeless gunpowder were here!
These dozens of Dragonfly aircraft flew to the open space in the Huangyadong Valley, lowered the machine tools and equipment in the air, and then quickly flew away.
Transport planes drop densely packed airdrop boxes.
In just a few minutes, the open space in the valley was filled with large machine tools and equipment.
Some of those airdrops landed in the valley, and some fell at the foot of the mountain.
This situation attracted many people from the arsenal to watch, and everyone's eyes widened when they saw this scene.
After the boss ordered the soldiers of the cavalry company to collect the airdrops, the leaders walked quickly towards the valley, and Li Yunlong quickly followed.
When they got closer, looking at the dozens of machine tools and equipment placed on the ground, all the leaders looked very satisfied.
At this time, Cheng Mingsheng, director of the Huangyadong Arsenal, heard the report and came with a group of technicians.
The head of the headquarters had notified the arsenal before coming, so the arsenal was prepared, but not many people knew about it.
At present, the arsenal has 2,000 people, more than 40 machines and equipment, and more than 20 machine tools.
Factory director Cheng Mingsheng is a top student who has studied abroad and graduated from the Electrical Manufacturing Department of Waseda University in Japan. He is known as an expert gun maker.
"Chief!" Cheng Mingsheng saw that all the heads of the headquarters were there, so he quickly came over with his technicians and gave a military salute.
The boss returned the salute and said with a smile: "Director Cheng, this is the mortar and smokeless gunpowder production line that Commander Li Yunlong bought for your arsenal."
Wow... There was a loud crash all around, and Director Cheng's eyes suddenly widened, and his eyeballs almost fell off.
"Mortar and smokeless powder production line?"
"Commander Li Yunlong did it?"
The headquarters called last night and didn't say anything about the production line. They just said they were coming to inspect.
This surprise was simply too great.
Director Cheng and the technicians rushed in front of the machine tools and equipment. Looking at the brand-new machine tools, they couldn't take their eyes away.
Li Yunlong saw the howitzer as if he were a beauty, and these technicians saw the machine tools and equipment as if they were beauties.
"Director, come and see, this is a high-power diesel generator!"
"There are three!"
A technician was exclaiming loudly, and Director Cheng ran over to take a look. He looked so excited that he couldn't help crying.
Currently, the Huangyadong Arsenal only has one generator with a power of 10 kilowatts, which can only provide partial lighting.
Insufficient power is also an important reason that restricts the productivity of arsenals.
However, Chen Feng had already considered this, so he provided a complete production line, including generators, machine tools, equipment and gun steel.
Even the initial diesel fuel has been prepared for the arsenal.
Three 500-kilowatt diesel generators are enough to meet the daily needs of the arsenal production line.
Even the production efficiency of other items such as grenades, grenades and rifles will be greatly improved.
In addition, there are complete sets of equipment such as beaters, gelatinizers, sheet rolling machines, and slicers for the production of smokeless gunpowder.
The machinery and equipment for the production of mortars and artillery shells include steam engines, lathes, planing, drilling, punching, cutting, chipping and more than 40 machine tools.
In addition, there are 80 tons of gun steel for making 3,000 mortars.
Now an entire production line for mortars and mortar shells was activated.
The National Army's Fifty Factory, which copies French 60mm mortars, only produces 100 mortars per month. However, once the Eighth Route Army's arsenal mortar production line is established, it can produce 150 mortars per month.
Factory elder Cheng was in tears but looked excited. He led the technicians to Li Yunlong.
"Thank you, Captain Li!"
Director Cheng gave a military salute.
The technicians behind them saluted one after another and shouted in unison: "Thank you, Captain Li!"
Thousands of arsenal personnel who were watching saluted Li Yunlong in unison, shouting loudly: "Thank you, Commander Li!"
Li Yunlong quickly raised his hand and returned the gift.
Immediately, Li Yunlong looked solemn and said loudly: "Comrades in the arsenal, you are welcome. This is what I, Li Yunlong, should do. If we all produce more mortars and artillery shells, we will be able to kill more Japanese soldiers on the front line. Let us divide our work and work together to fight for it." Drive the little devils out of China as soon as possible!"
Bang bang bang!
The personnel in the arsenal applauded Li Yunlong one after another.
Li Yunlong and the heads of the headquarters also began to applaud.
Director Cheng Da said: "Captain Li is right. We must produce more mortars and artillery shells. Is that right?"
"Yes!" As soon as Director Cheng finished speaking, an overwhelming response came out.
There was light in everyone's eyes, their expressions were determined, their energy was directed in one place, their minds were thinking in one place, and they concentrated their efforts.
"Move the equipment into the cave!" Director Cheng waved his hand, and the personnel in the arsenal rushed to the equipment.
The heads of the headquarters who saw this scene looked extremely satisfied.
The cavalry company commander walked up to the boss and chief of staff and gave a military salute: "Report to the commander! The supplies airdropped are basically diesel and steel."
"Yes!" The boss nodded solemnly, "mobilize the soldiers and ordinary people to collect the diesel and steel as soon as possible. Not even a single airdrop material is left behind, and carry it to the warehouse."
Li Yunlong took out a stack of paper and handed it to Director Cheng: "This is a list of machines, machine tools, diesel and steel, as well as operating instructions for machines and machine tools. Each equipment has them. You should be able to find them if you look for them."
"Captain Li, thank you so much." Director Cheng looked excited. He grabbed Li Yunlong's hand and shook it twice before taking the list and reading it.
A combat staff officer said to the boss: "This assistance is one-time. We will have to find a way to solve the problem of gun steel and diesel by ourselves in the future."
"There are 3,000 guns of gun steel, so you don't have to worry about not having enough gun steel within a year and a half." The boss nodded, "The key is diesel."
The chief of staff asked: "How long can the diesel aid this time support the operation of the production line?"
"About 2 months." Li Yunlong said.
The boss said categorically: "Then mobilize all efforts to produce diesel, and we must ensure that the production line cannot be shut down."
"You can spend money to buy some from the Jinsui Army and the Central Army." The division commander said, "But the price is a bit expensive, and gold must be used, but when good steel is used on the blade, I think it is worth it."
In fact, democrats from all walks of life and their overseas Chinese donated military supplies to the Eighth Route Army.
Some of them are supplies such as diesel and gasoline. However, the secret transportation lines of the Eighth Route Army cannot bear such a huge material transportation task. They can only go through the Kuomintang-controlled areas. However, if you go to the Kuomintang-controlled areas, you will be cheated by the Kuomintang. By the time the supplies arrive at the front line, there will be no left. How much.
"It's not difficult to solve this problem." Li Yunlong said, "I continue to do business with Brother Chen. I can get diesel from him, and he delivers it directly to my door."
"Okay!" The boss nodded, "But we can't rely entirely on assistance, we have to be self-reliant."
Then, the boss looked at the chief of staff: "From today on, let the comrades on the hidden front collect as much intelligence on diesel as possible. Once the intelligence is confirmed, order the combat troops to grab it!"
This chapter has been completed!