After Zhang Wanhe heard Wang Xuexin's idea, his first reaction was the same as that of the chief of staff, and he asked the same question: "Can this... be done?"
But after thinking about it, Zhang Wanhe nodded slightly and said: "Maybe it can really be done, the rocket can spin in the air by itself, and it can fly with anything!"
This is what is said.
The reason why the ghost cannon has a short range is because the projectile will not spin in the air if the barrel is not rifled.
However, the rocket thruster can spin in the air relying on the thrust of the rocket, so it can eventually reach a long range with its own stable halo.
"Why don't we consider whether we can change it first?" The chief was a little anxious. He asked a few questions in quick succession: "Let's clarify a few questions first: Are there ghost cannon shells in the arsenal? If so, how many are there? If it can be changed
, how long will it take?”
These are the basis for modification. If there are no ghost cannon shells, or the modification is difficult and time-consuming, this plan will be rejected directly.
Zhang Wanhe thought for a while and replied: "Ghost cannon shells have been in production, and there are more than two hundred rounds at least now! If this can be done, it will not be difficult at all, just weld the ghost cannon warhead to the rocket thruster
Just one piece! Rocket thrusters are also readily available. If we hurry up and adjust them, it can take as little as a few hours or as long as half a day, and more than two hundred artillery shells can be converted into rockets!"
The commander couldn't help but be overjoyed and immediately ordered: "Then don't think about it! The arsenal will temporarily postpone the retreat and immediately try to convert the ghost cannon shells into rocket launcher shells!"
"Yes!" Zhang Wanhe responded, got up and went to make arrangements.
It is indeed not difficult to modify, because the original rocket is produced in two parts and then welded together...the front end is the blasting part, and the rear end is the rocket engine.
Modern rockets are integral and streamlined, which can reduce friction with the air and increase range.
The Eighth Route Army did not have such advanced technology, so they could only use the simplest method to produce it. Unexpectedly, they accidentally produced a universal rocket thruster.
At this time, if you want to change the ghost cannon shells into rocket shells, all you need to do is weld the ghost cannon warhead to the rocket thruster.
If there is any trouble, it is that the calibers of the two are somewhat different. The ghost cannon is 70 mm, and the rocket thruster is 107 mm. The joint between the two needs some transition processing to prevent the shell from having too much resistance.
.
However, this was not difficult at all. The hardware expert welded a circle of angled iron sheets onto the projectile body, and it soon became a whole piece. It was small at the front and large at the back, and it looked a bit like a space rocket.
Then the explosives, propellant and fuze were installed, and a modified rocket shell was assembled in just over half an hour.
After a test shot, there was a "swish" sound and it hit Lao Gao, and it actually hit 6.5 kilometers.
It’s not surprising that this shell can hit farther, because its caliber is much smaller, its charge is smaller and it is lighter. It can achieve a higher muzzle velocity under the same thrust, so it can fly farther.
Needless to say, its shortcomings are that a smaller charge means less power.
But there's no way around it.
The "ghost cannon" was mostly used by the Eighth Route Army to hit artillery towers.
If this was used in a face-to-face confrontation with the Japanese artillery on a regular battlefield... the range of one kilometer is not as good as the mortar in the hands of the Japanese!
Basically, it was only for the purpose of being suppressed by the Japanese.
It would be more practical to convert it into a rocket launcher shell.
After the test firing was successful, the commander was extremely excited and ordered the modification at full speed.
More than two hundred rockets!
This not only solves the problem of rocket launchers raiding airports, but also partially solves the problem of troops having no available artillery.
So the workers in the arsenal immediately started intense modification work.
Zhang Wanhe only said to Wang Xuexin: "Xiaobei Dongbei, although this change can temporarily produce a lot more artillery shells, I'm afraid that in the event of a fight... we have to pay attention to the accuracy."
Wang Xuexin understood what Zhang Wanhe meant.
The previous rockets had undergone some testing and even experienced actual combat. Artillerymen like Laojiu had already mastered some rules of rockets, but now they suddenly changed to this modified artillery shell with different weight, resistance coefficient, etc., and it only flew
I'm afraid it will be different again.
But at this time, it is better to use rockets than no rockets.
What's more, veterans like Laojiu are going to fight at the airport, and the ones using these rockets are novices who have never fought anything before, so aren't they all the same?
If I had known earlier, I should have sold this kind of artillery shell to the Jinsui Army, at least it would have been more powerful!
Wang Xuexin felt a little regretful. Why didn't he think of doing this in the first place?
After solving the problem of artillery shells, other matters will be arranged by the chief of staff.
Wang Xuexin couldn't help him much, so he hurried back to Zhaojiayu after asking for instructions.
As soon as Wang Xuexin returned to the army, the soldiers surrounded him with a "hurrah", and they rushed forward one by one and said:
"Company Commander, you are back!"
"I heard that we are going to retreat this time? How can we retreat before the war starts?"
"We still have a lot of land like this, all left to the Japanese?"
…
Deputy company commander Xie Baoqing came up and explained: "Company commander, the regiment commander did not explain the situation clearly, he only said to be ready to retreat! The soldiers have been guarding Zhaojiayu for so long, how can they withdraw at the drop of a hat?"
As he said this, Xie Baoqing looked toward Ergou's grave at the back of the village. He had previously said that Ergou would watch him fight the Japanese, but now he was retreating. He felt bad.
"Let's put it this way!" Wang Xuexin explained: "All our fortifications are facing the east, such as tunnels, mines, etc. But now...the Japanese no longer attack from this side. They first repel the Jinsui Army and then go around.
If we attack from the flank while bending, wouldn’t it be inappropriate for this fortification?”
When Wang Xuexin said this, the soldiers all understood, but they were still unconvinced:
"Company Commander, are we going to retreat to the mountains to fight guerrillas?"
"If we keep withdrawing like this, where should we stop?"
"We can't keep withdrawing like this, right?"
Listening to these words, Wang Xuexin felt a little strange. Shouldn't Li Yunlong make it clear to the soldiers first?
At least we should hold a meeting to explain the situation clearly!
What Wang Xuexin didn't expect was that although Li Yunlong was preparing to retreat on the surface, he was secretly eager to organize a special team.
In fact, Li Yunlong had been organizing this special agent team before.
But it’s not so much about organization as it is about selection and planning.
And this is still a difficult problem, because at this time, the Independent Regiment only has more than 800 people. To select a hundred elite soldiers from these 800 people will almost crush the Independent Regiment.
But now it’s impossible not to organize...
So many bullets, a hundred Jin-made submachine guns!,
The troops don't think they have enough firepower. Where are the weapons?