Chapter 289: The idea of an iron-ribbed wooden hull ship
"It turns out that we have only built sailing battleships below the third level. While building this first third-level battleship, we are also exploring technology."
"The ship's estimated length is 70 meters, width is 16 meters, and draft is 1,300 tons."
"It has two gun decks, an estimated 70 gun positions, and an estimated crew of 500 people..."
This third-class sailing battleship is the first time that Huaxing Shipyard has built a third-class battleship.
Many technologies are still being explored, so the construction speed is very slow!
More than a year has passed and the boat is only half-finished!
However, while Huaxing Shipyard was building this third-level sailing battleship, it also started building three fourth-level sailing battleships and five fifth-level sailing battleships.
And more armed merchant ships!
Of course, this is the output when many slipways are operating at the same time!
Therefore, the shipbuilding speed of Huaxing Shipyard cannot be considered low, and can even be said to be quite impressive.
Zhu Hongyu asked.
"If we want to expand production and increase production capacity, will there be any difficulties on the part of the shipyard?"
As the war with the Qing army continues in the coming year, the Ming Dynasty will definitely need more warships and transport ships to ensure the logistics of the army.
And ensure the safety of the fleet!
Therefore, for Huaxing Shipyard, expansion of production is a must!
The person in charge of the shipyard said with a confused look on his face.
"If we expand production, there are two main problems!"
"First, there is a shortage of workers!"
"Secondly, the wood for shipbuilding is running out!"
Craftsmen who can build ships are all talents and cannot be cultivated casually.
The wood for building ships cannot be used by cutting down trees!
It also needs to be dried in the shade, which can take several years at the very least.
The reason why Huaxing Shipyard has been able to build a large number of ships in the past year is actually using the shipbuilding timber accumulated during the Spanish rule.
After the Liberation Army took over the shipyard, the newly cut trees have not yet dried in the shade!
In a short period of time, the shipbuilding timber needed by Huaxing Shipyard will definitely be in short supply.
Zhu Hongyu nodded and said.
"I'll help you find a solution to these problems!"
"In terms of labor, you should try your best to use the old to lead the new and train apprentices. Every time an apprentice becomes a apprentice, the imperial court will give a heavy reward to the old master!"
"As for wood, how is the steam drying technology researched jointly by your shipyard and research institute going?"
Zhu Hongyu touched his chin and asked.
The person in charge spoke.
"Steam drying technology has made some progress, but the quality of the wood dried is still not as good as the wood dried naturally."
“In shipbuilding, it’s okay to use it in some insignificant places, but if it’s used on the hull keel, floor plates or side plates, the quality is substandard.”
"The hull's resistance to wind, waves and strikes will be greatly affected!"
Zhu Hongyu said.
"Then use shade-dried wood where it matters and kiln-dry wood where it doesn't matter!"
While speaking, Zhu Hongyu seemed to suddenly think of something and spoke.
“How about an iron-ribbed wooden shell?”
"When building a ship, everything such as the keel, ribs, side plates, etc. are all made of steel castings!"
"In this way, the impact of drying wood on the quality of the warship should be minimized!"
The person in charge of the shipyard looked surprised and said.
"Your Highness Jianguo, throughout the ages, I have never heard of shipbuilding not using wood but steel!"
Zhu Hongyu waved his hand and said.
"When the slipway is freed up, let's test it out!"
"Calculate the weight of the required iron castings and the buoyancy of the ship, and build a warship with iron ribs and a wooden hull!"
"It doesn't matter if you didn't have it before, but you won't have it from now on!"
The person in charge of the shipyard did not dare to disobey Zhu Hongyu, so he had no choice but to obey his orders.
"I obey my orders!"
Zhu Hongyu nodded with satisfaction.
Perhaps people of this era thought it was unrealistic to build iron-ribbed wooden hull ships because the mass of steel was too heavy to float on the water.
But Zhu Hongyu doesn’t think so!
Because he knows that using steel to build ships is the general trend!
From now on, let alone iron-ribbed wooden hull ships, there will also be pure steel battleships with a displacement of 100,000 tons.
…
After finishing his inspection of the shipyard, Zhu Hongyu returned to his mansion.
This time he went out for inspection, and generally speaking he was quite satisfied.
Whether it was the various research results produced by the institute, the production efficiency of the arsenal, or the warships on the dock of the shipyard... they all made him feel very pleased.
Looking at these, Zhu Hongyu could feel that his Ming Dynasty was becoming stronger bit by bit.
The power of industry is being hatched bit by bit in his country!
Zhu Hongyu sat behind his desk and continued to review government affairs.
At this moment, there was a knock on the door.
Zhu Hongyu raised his head and said, "Come in."
With a creak, the door was pushed open from the outside.
Li Guangyuan stood outside the door and saluted Zhu Hongyu.
"The general will finally meet His Royal Highness the Supervisor!"
Zhu Hongyu raised his eyelids and said.
"Come in and sit!"
"Since when did you become so alienated from me?"
While talking, Zhu Hongyu motioned to Li Guangyuan to pour himself some tea.
Li Guangyuan is now the leader of Zhu Hongyu's Imperial Guards. Zhu Hongyu has entrusted his life and safety to his hands, which shows how much he trusts him.
Li Guangyuan chuckled, scratched his head and said.
"There is order between superiority and inferiority!"
"His Royal Highness Jianguo is the king, and I am the minister. There is a difference between the king and the minister. How dare you offend me?"
Zhu Hongyu put down the brush in his hand and asked.
"Why are you here looking for me?"
Li Guangyuan blinked and saw that Zhu Hongyu seemed to be in a good mood, so he spoke.
"Your Highness Jianguo, I heard that you knighted Mr. Wang from the research institute?"
Zhu Hongyu nodded slightly, his lips didn't move, but he clearly said "hmm".
Zhu Hongyu had a calm expression on his face, but he was making plans in his heart.
He had known that if he knighted researchers, the military would definitely have objections.
After all, researchers are only doing research at the rear, but they are fighting to the death on the battlefield.
Now that the researcher has been knighted, but they have not, their hearts must be unbalanced!
It's just that Zhu Hongyu didn't expect that the reaction of the people under his command would be so cute!
Directly introduce a representative and let Li Guangyuan come to him!
Good guy, these people are so direct, and the direct ones are a bit cute!
Especially Li Guangyuan, he dares to do such things!
Zhu Hongyu raised his eyelids, glanced at Li Guangyuan, and asked without emotion in his tone.
"Who encouraged you to come?"
Li Guangyuan's face showed an expression of "What the hell, how did you know?" and he muttered.
"No one encouraged me, I was just curious and wanted to ask!"
"snort!"
Zhu Hongyu snorted coldly, but he didn't feel dissatisfied at all.
It would be better for the people below to be more direct!
It is better to say something than to waste time by a group of people testing each other in circles!
Zhu Hongyu picked up the tea cup, took a sip of tea, and said.
"Don't come here to test me!"
"Your merits will never be forgotten, and it will only be a matter of time before you are knighted!"
"In the future, you will understand the significance of knighting Mr. Wang alone!"
After saying that, Zhu Hongyu signaled to Li Guangyuan that he could retreat.
Li Guangyuan nodded subconsciously, and then prepared to stand up and leave.