Regarding the future development of the Military Industry Bureau, issues of a strategic nature cannot be ignored.
Li Qiang stood beside him, waiting patiently.
After a long time, the old leader finally put down the entire plan report. With his eyebrows stretched and thinking, he took out a specially supplied version of People's Brand cigarettes from his jacket pocket, took out one cigarette, and then took out a matchbox.
"Hey..." The sound of burning cigarettes came out.
After taking a deep breath and blowing out the white smoke, the old leader felt his mind clear and his thoughts clear.
Holding a cigarette in his right hand, the old leader turned to look at Li Qiang, who maintained a military posture, and asked his own question: "There is no problem with the plan report overall. The detailed indicators need to be discussed and determined in depth. What is the opinion of your Military Industry Bureau?"
"Everyone held a positive attitude at the meeting," Li Qiang replied.
"Can this indicator be achieved? Is it too high?"
"If we use the traditional open-hearth steelmaking method, we may not be able to achieve it within ten years. However, because of the oxygen top-blown converter technology, it is very easy to achieve this goal. The current designed annual steel output of Sanchagou Steel Plant is about 35,000 tons.
It is necessary to build a new 5-ton oxygen blowing converter to achieve the design output of 87,000 tons per year, and the total of the two furnaces will reach 122,000 tons." Li Qiang answered seriously.
Advances in science and technology have led to explosive increases in productivity.
For traditional steelmaking based on open-hearth furnaces, it is a terrifying figure to achieve an annual output of 100,000 tons. This can only be achieved by building a large-scale open-hearth furnace with a scale of 300 tons, and there are even more supporting basic steelmaking facilities.
There are countless examples. It is almost impossible to build a steel plant with an annual output of 100,000 tons in the land of China.
But with the birth of oxygen top-blown converter technology, everything changed.
There is no need for a large-capacity open-hearth furnace, complicated steelmaking steps and basic steelmaking facilities. Only a 5T-level oxygen top-blown converter is needed to achieve the design output of 87,000 tons. In addition to the original 2T-level oxygen-blown converter,
The total design output has reached 120,000 tons.
There is no pressure to achieve this target within five years.
"So can the supporting facilities and personnel for steelmaking keep up?" the old chief continued to ask.
"No problem. In terms of steelmaking supporting facilities, the machinery manufacturing industry can produce supporting equipment that meets the requirements. In terms of personnel, we currently conduct 24-hour cycle production in four shifts. Half of each shift is veteran and half novice to accumulate experience in steelmaking production.
, in order to train workers’ professional steelmaking skills and achieve internal self-circulation.” Li Qiang answered again.
After hearing this well-founded reply, the old leader nodded. The design output is the design output, and the actual output is the actual output. The two cannot be confused.
Seeing the old chief's expression, Li Qiang felt slightly relaxed. Fortunately, he had done his homework before coming.
"Let's talk about the new 155mm howitzer project. Why did you think of developing a howitzer with a larger caliber?" The old chief changed the topic and talked about the most attractive key in the entire plan report, with a hint of curiosity in his words.
: "Also, why is the caliber set at 155 mm? This caliber parameter is not common. This is the first time I have seen it."
The caliber of artillery around the world usually adopts the British standard. Deutsche Rheinland's caliber is set at 150 mm, and the Soviet artillery caliber is set at 152 mm. This 155 mm caliber is not common.
"Old chief, the 155mm howitzer is actually a legal standard. The French M1917 howitzer uses a 155mm caliber. The lethality and range of this artillery are better than 150mm and 152mm calibers."
Li Qiang explained: “When the United States participated in World War I in 1917, it had no experience in participating in large-scale wars, so it was not equipped with large-caliber heavy howitzers. It had no choice but to purchase the Schneider 1917 155mm howitzer from France. This artillery became the first in the U.S. military.
A 155mm caliber howitzer."
"It turns out that I am ignorant. The French are indeed the best in artillery." After hearing the origin, the old chief understood the origin and couldn't help but curiously asked: "What about the range and power of our 155mm howitzer?
How is it?"
It can be said that a hundred flowers are blooming in the field of artillery. Each country's artillery has its own characteristics, but if we want to talk about who has made the greatest contribution to the development of artillery, it is only France.
Because France is the originator of modern artillery. The world's first 75mm modern artillery was invented by the French company Schneider.
Li Qiang looked embarrassed: "Well... we have just decided on a name temporarily, and we haven't discussed the specific performance yet."
"Then I would like to make a request on behalf of the headquarters. The range and power of the new 155mm howitzer should exceed that of the 150mm howitzer equipped by the Japanese army. It should be as light as possible. It should still be pulled by a single Red Star tractor to meet the needs of field mobility." The old leader looked serious.
Make performance requests on behalf of headquarters.
"Yes, I've written it down." Li Qiang nodded seriously and quickly wrote down the performance requirements for the new 155mm howitzer.
Taking the Japanese Type 96 howitzer as the target, all performances must be surpassed, so as to have objective weapon performance advantages.
The old leader didn't say much. His voice changed and he talked about another matter: "Let's talk about the construction of Ansai Arsenal, the reasons, plans and goals."
"The reason is that eggs cannot be placed in one basket. Secondly, Liushugou is too small, and the available land area can only meet the current military production needs, but cannot meet the needs of large-scale weapons and equipment manufacturing in the future."
Li Qiang first gave the reason, paused, and continued: "The Ansai Arsenal is divided into phases one, two and three. It mainly produces various types of artillery. It is expected to be completed within five years. After the construction of the third phase is completed, the Sanqi type forced
The annual output of anti-aircraft guns is 5,000 units, the annual output of Sanqi-type 105 mm howitzers is 1,000 units, the annual output of 40 mm anti-aircraft guns is 2,000 units, and the annual output of 155 mm howitzers is 100 units."
"The overall goal is set too high, set at half."
After listening to what Li Qiang said, the old chief took a puff of cigarette, thought carefully, and said seriously: "We must do a good job in protecting the Ansai Arsenal. The security department is divided into a battalion, focusing on air defense, taking into account both light and heavy firepower. It's yours."
command."
"Yes." Li Qiang's heartbeat accelerated when he heard this, he took a deep breath and nodded quickly.
The size of the security department is a battalion?
He had never thought about this situation.
"What do you think of the deepening reform of the Military Industry Bureau?" the old chief asked again.
"I unconditionally support deepening reforms, separating R&D and manufacturing, establishing corresponding design bureaus and arsenals, and adopting professional operations. This is the most formalized model. This is what the Soviet Union did." Li Qiang said seriously.
"Don't use the title of design bureau. The level is too high. For now, let's call it the research institute. This will facilitate daily management. The research institute should be directly affiliated with the highest scientific and technological group. In order to improve research efficiency, the director of the research institute must have the resume of a member of the highest scientific and technical group.
, those who are capable are at the top and those who are mediocre are at the bottom.”
The old leader gave instructions: "Institute personnel should have a high living standard, three meals a day, and meat and milk every three days. They do mental work, and they need to eat mental food."
"Yes, I have written it down."
Li Qiang nodded heavily.
"The Military Industry Bureau is not responsible for grain production. The headquarters logistics will handle it. Your task is to produce agricultural tractors and fertilizers to ensure large-scale land reclamation work."
The old chief said: "That's all I want to say for now. When the meeting approves the implementation of the plan, then talk to me about the selection of light weapons. You can tell me your views first."
"For a long time, our troops have used a variety of light and heavy machine guns, which can be regarded as products from all countries. The bullets are not interchangeable with each other, and the logistics supply is extremely inconvenient. The machine gun parts are not interchangeable with each other, and battlefield maintenance and repair are very difficult. Therefore, I want to take this opportunity to unify
The system will systematize machine gun models and bullets, thereby reducing logistical pressure."
Li Qiang looked serious and explained his thoughts: "Battlefield seizures alone are not enough. This will seriously affect the combat effectiveness of the troops. Secondly, establishing a machine gun system will help improve the firepower of front-line troops. Czech style decentralization to squads, Maxim decentralization to squads, etc."
Company, the imitation M2 machine gun is decentralized to the regiment. With this combination, the machine gun firepower of the front-line troops will be greatly improved. Together with the 60mm mortar and the 120mm heavy mortar, it will objectively form a weapon performance advantage over the enemy."
The words fell and remained silent.
The old leader didn't speak. He slowly exhaled a puff of smoke and fell into thinking.
Li Qiang's thinking was correct. The light and heavy machine guns equipped by the troops all depended on capture. There were various models and types, and bullets and parts were not interchangeable. These factors objectively affected the combat effectiveness of the troops.
It is not feasible for the troops to go out and fight against the enemy for a long time and rely entirely on battlefield captures.
Only by standardizing weapons and equipment and unifying ammunition to reduce logistical pressure can the rear base areas produce weapons and ammunition on a large scale and fully supply the frontline troops.
After thinking for a moment, the old leader nodded and agreed with Li Qiang's idea. Although the advanced performance of weapons cannot be the decisive factor in war, it is an important influencing factor.
Weapons and equipment with advanced performance can objectively and significantly improve the overall combat effectiveness of the army. This is an indisputable fact.
There is no doubt that the machine gun firepower system of Czech light machine + Maxim heavy machine + imitation M2 heavy machine can greatly improve the firepower of frontline combat troops. Apart from being expensive, there is nothing wrong with it.
"How long will it take for the new Czech and Maxim to be put into production?" the old chief asked immediately.
Li Qiang responded: "If nothing else happens, the Czech-style 30-round curved magazine and 75-round drum magazine will be completed by the end of this month, and prototypes of the two machine guns will be produced by the end of November at the latest, and they will be ready after passing the weapon performance test." Finalized mass production.”
The current time is mid-October, and there are still forty days before the end of November. It is already the fastest time to complete the surveying, mapping, imitation and sample gun processing and manufacturing within this time.
"Okay, don't worry about the prototype gun. We need to do a good job. We need to make a batch of curved magazines and drums as soon as possible and send them to the front line to participate in actual combat and see the feedback from the front line troops."
Hearing this, the old leader nodded, suddenly thought of something, and then changed the topic and immediately asked: "By the way, what is the development status of the 120mm heavy mortar? According to feedback from the front line, the main casualties of our army come from The Japanese Type 92 infantry gun, Type 41 mountain cannon, and Type 37 mortar were unable to suppress these two Japanese artillery pieces due to their short range."
Type 92 70mm infantry gun, Japanese brigade-level support firepower, with a maximum range of 2.7 kilometers and a total combat weight of 212 kilograms.
Type 41 75mm mountain gun, Japanese wing-level support firepower, with a maximum range of 6.3 kilometers and a total combat weight of 540 kilograms.
The two types of artillery have high accuracy, long range, high power, and light combat weight. They are very suitable for mountainous operations. In repeated battles on the inner Great Wall defense line and Yuanping areas, they caused heavy casualties to front-line troops. The Type 37 60mm mortar Since the cannon has a range of only 1.5 kilometers, it cannot suppress the opponent.
Frontline troops urgently need 120mm heavy mortars that can suppress two Japanese artillery pieces.
"The design drawings of the 120 mm heavy mortar have been accepted and have entered the prototype gun manufacturing stage. The prototype gun will be out by the end of this month at the latest." Li Qiang knew the importance of this mortar and immediately replied.
As a company-level support firepower, the 60-gun's main opponents are the Japanese light and heavy machine guns and grenade launchers. It can compete with the Type 92 infantry cannon, but it is powerless against the Japanese Type 41 75mm mountain cannon.
The 120mm heavy mortar debuted as regimental support firepower. It was mainly used against various Japanese 75mm mountain field guns. Its caliber exceeds 45mm and its range is as high as 5 kilometers. Its combat weight is so high that even Li Qiang cannot imagine it. 174 kg, firing a high-explosive bomb weighing 15 kg, damaging an area of up to 56×28 square meters.
The caliber, power, maneuverability and range are in a balanced and perfect state. Although the 5-kilometer range is still insufficient, it is not impossible to smooth out this range gap on the real battlefield.
Because this mortar is too light. It is 38 kilograms lighter than the Japanese Type 92 infantry gun and more than 100 kilograms lighter than the current mainstream 120mm mortar in the world. As a regimental support firepower, 120
The comprehensive attributes of the mm heavy mortar perfectly fit the Eighth Route Army's light combat concept and are extremely suitable for mountainous operations.
To be honest, Li Qiang could not imagine what the structure of Yu Hua's head was like that could design such a lightweight and excellent 120mm heavy mortar.
"That's good, we must hurry up. We need both quality and efficiency. The frontline troops are waiting for your 120 mm heavy mortar." The old leader heard that the prototype gun would be out by the end of the month. He nodded with confidence and said seriously.
Li Qiang nodded: "Understood."
"That's it for the time being. You go back and take charge of the work first." The old chief immediately issued an eviction order and said with a smile: "I didn't make lunch here, go back and eat."
"Yes!" Li Qiang nodded, turned and left.
After Li Qiang left, the old chief muttered these words carefully, turned his eyes to the report on the table, and read it again.
…
"I just went to the artillery regiment. The four red peony howitzers were neatly arranged. It was really spectacular. The barrel was very solid and the muzzle was thicker than my arm. It was really pleasing to see. Our artillery was very
Well, our artillery is also good, with excellent professional skills and excellent quality."
"You should take a look first. This is the plan and small arms selection report proposed by the Military Industry Bureau."
"This plan is very good, but each indicator needs to be discussed carefully and the indicators should be formulated according to one's own situation. I personally support it. I have no objection to this light weapon model. The curved magazine and drum of the Czech machine gun can improve the continuity of firepower and make up for the shortcomings.
, the reduced weight of the Maxim heavy machine gun is more suitable for troops to carry in combat, and both are excellent machine guns. The box gun is also the pistol we are most familiar with. Troop commanders use it easily, and the standardization of weapons and equipment and the unification of ammunition will improve the combat effectiveness of the troops.
It helps a lot, we can capture it and be self-sufficient.”