In the world of 1910, most countries and regions in the world had not yet solved the problem of food and clothing. Europe was facing an unprecedented threat of war. Asia, except Japan, had all become colonies or semi-colonial and semi-feudal societies. The United States wanted to participate in the war.
However, a suitable method has not yet been found for international affairs. Southern Africa, which is also in a corner, has found another way. Technology has become the biggest hope for the rise of Southern Africa.
In the 1860s, Watt invented the steam engine and ushered in the steam age.
By the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century, Edison and Nikola Tesla fought over DC and AC, and mankind officially entered the electrical age.
As a part of the United Kingdom, Southern Africa skipped the steam age and entered the electric age. There may still be a gap between traditional fields and Europe, but it has been at the forefront of the world in emerging fields such as automobiles and airplanes. The European powers are still mired in the past glory of giant ships and cannons.
However, Southern Africa is developing faster and faster by virtue of its first-mover advantage in emerging fields.
Douglas is right. Xuanji City is the heart of Nyasaland and even southern Africa. Xuanji City now has six R&D centers, nearly 20 laboratories, nearly 4,000 scientific researchers, and two of the Northern Rhodesian Division.
The regiment is permanently stationed in Xuanji City, and the newly established Air Force headquarters is also in Xuanji City. Luo Ke would rather reduce the garrison in Little Rock City and ensure the safety of Xuanji City no matter what.
"To be honest, if you come to Xuanji City as the Minister of Agriculture, then Mr. Minister, you may be disappointed. There are no farms in Xuanji City. All our income comes from donations from Nyasaland University graduates and parents of students.
, can you believe it? Xuanji City has no tax department at all, because we are all non-profit organizations." Douglas was very proud, the Minister of Agriculture is amazing, even in front of Rock, Douglas still spoke out.
"Carlos, have you donated money to the University of Nyasaland?" Louis Botha couldn't understand this school-running model. It's incredible that a city can be maintained by donations alone.
"I donated, but my income is limited, so I only donated fifty rand." Carlos was so embarrassed, but fifty rand was actually a lot.
Prices in Nyasaland are relatively low compared to southern Africa.
A three-piece set of leather shoes produced by Itno sells for fifteen rands in Pretoria, but only twelve rands in Nyasaland. The same gold pen sells in Burundi.
Fontaine sells for 35 rand, while in Nyasaland it sells for 30 rand. The discount on weapons is even higher, a cowboy pistol produced by the Nyasaland Military Industrial Group, in Nyasaland and Rhodesia.
The selling price in the three places in the Transvaal is fifteen rand, and the selling price outside the above three places is twenty rand. If it is exported to Europe or the United States, the selling price is as high as thirty-five pounds.
Not that Africa's per capita income last year was only forty-five rand. Although Carlos's salary is high, it is already very good to be able to donate fifty rand. This is also among all the graduates of Nyasaland University.
Middle and upper class.
"Thank you for your contribution to Nyasaland University, Carlos. I still remember you. Your teacher actually wants you to stay in school. If you stay in school and continue to study, you will have a higher level of success in the future."
An achievement." Douglas actually remembered Carlos, which made Carlos burst into tears.
"What job you are doing now - Minister Botha's secretary - is very good. This is a very important position. Work hard and don't live up to the expectations of your teacher and Minister Botha." Douglas was very seductive. He was in the south.
The status of education in Africa is very high. Last year, someone proposed that Douglas should replace Yang Smuts as the Minister of Education of Southern Africa.
"I know how to do it, principal, and I will definitely work hard -" Carlos was in a mood, and there really weren't many students that Douglas could remember.
Carlos had always performed very well in school. Originally, Carlos had the opportunity to work for the Nyasaland State Government. However, some minor problems occurred during the interview. Carlos was unexpectedly unsuccessful. In the end, he had to regretfully accept the job from the federal government.
Invite.
"Don't give up your studies while working. You can find Silas. Maybe you can study for graduate school with Silas." Douglas was very enthusiastic. Louis Botta's secretary is still worth investing in.
"Wait a minute, Professor, Carlos still has a job." Louis Botha was not happy. The Ministry of Agriculture did not have many talents, and Carlos' position was still very important.
"The kind of graduate students who are not laid off will not affect Carlos' work." Douglas has a way, and this kind of thing also varies from person to person.
Xuanji City is right next to Xuanji Lake. The entire city is surrounded by mountains and rivers. There is also an artificial lake on the campus of Nyasaland University. When Louis Botta and his party passed by the artificial lake, a group of students were playing with models in the artificial lake. This
Immediately attracted the attention of Louis Botta.
A warship model is being tested in the artificial lake. Judging from its appearance, it looks very much like the British battleship Dreadnought, which was commissioned just a few years ago.
"I have said before that the optimal aspect ratio of a warship is eight to one, or 8.5 to one. An aspect ratio of six to one is too wide and is not conducive to fast navigation. Our Nyasaland navy does not need it.
Battleships need high-speed cruisers, and only cruisers can be used to their full potential." A boy wearing glasses was obviously disdainful.
"The firepower of cruisers is a deadlock. Without enough large-caliber artillery, they will be unable to fight back against battleships. Even if they encounter battlecruisers, light cruisers will be dead ends. While pursuing speed, they must also consider survivability and escort.
When a warship encounters an enemy ship, can it abandon the transport ship and escape directly?" Someone immediately refuted that there is still a market for giant ship cannons in this era.
"Battleships and battlecruisers are the main battleships. If war breaks out, German battleships and battlecruisers will not be able to pass through the English Channel at all, so battleships are definitely the wrong route. Our Nyasaland Navy should vigorously develop cruisers and submarine forces.
Or an aircraft carrier that can carry aircraft." The boy wearing glasses is very forward-looking. With these few words, he is already qualified to join the design department of the Southern African Navy.
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"What if German battleships break through the English Channel to reinforce Southwest Africa?" Someone immediately objected
"Aircraft carriers cannot install large-caliber artillery, and their speed is also very slow. If they encounter a battleship, they will not be able to escape." Battleships are everyone's nightmare.
"Submarines are just coffins. No one is willing to serve in the submarine force." This is definitely a deep-sea phobia patient.
Louis Botha listened for a long time before he realized a problem. When these students were discussing, they were talking about "Nyasaland Navy", not "Southern African Navy".
Although the shipyards in southern Africa that are capable of building warships are all in Nyasaland, and Port Edward is the largest naval shipyard in southern Africa, I am afraid it is inappropriate to say so directly.
"Gentlemen, no matter how controversial there is, the current reality is that all the warships purchased by the Navy Department are light cruisers and destroyers. The length-to-width ratio of these warships is between 8:1 and 8.5:1, so for
Any debate in this regard is meaningless. Battleships are of course very powerful, but battleships have become history and are destined to be eliminated by the times. Just like the sailing battleships of the past, aircraft carriers are the future." The student wearing glasses insisted that facts are better than facts.
Eloquence, truth is always in the hands of a few people.
"But now the aircraft carrier is only an idea and has not yet become a reality -" The rebuttal voice is actually very weak. Regarding military ideas, there are actually many ideas in Nyasaland University.
Aircraft carriers, that is, aircraft carriers, are just one of the many ideas of Nyasaland University. The Navy Ministry currently does not have a professional institution to train talents, and it relies heavily on Nyasaland University for scientific research.
The same is true for the Ministry of War. Rocket launchers were once the idea of Nyasaland University, but they have entered the experimental stage.
Compared with European countries, the artillery in Southern Africa is actually very powerful. After the Russo-Japanese War, the whole world was paying attention to the impact of the Russo-Japanese War on East Asia. Only Southern Africa noticed the mortars that appeared during the Russo-Japanese War, and then began
Research on mortars.
The principle of a rocket launcher is actually similar to that of a mortar, but it has a longer range and is more powerful. Compared with traditional artillery, a rocket launcher uses a rocket launch vehicle, which is easier to deploy, more mobile and flexible, and has more fierce firepower. It almost only lacks accuracy.
Disadvantages.
But having said that, the artillery accuracy during this period was not very accurate. Compared with rocket launchers, traditional artillery deployment time was slower, it took longer to move positions, and more well-trained artillery was needed. The advantages of rocket launchers were placed on traditional artillery.
Almost all artillery has shortcomings.
"Pittman, the aircraft carrier is no longer just a concept. The Air Force has been training on the deck of a simulated aircraft carrier a long time ago. There are two transport ships under construction at Edwards Shipyard. Do you think they are just transport ships?
?" The boy wearing glasses obviously knows more information. In terms of size, aircraft carriers and transport ships are really about the same size.
Rock once believed that aircraft carriers did not appear until World War I. In fact, Rock underestimated the wisdom of people these days. Two months ago, American pilot Eugene Ely flew a Nyasaland-produced Gale
The fighter jet took off from the completely stationary cruiser Birmingham, becoming the first pilot to fly an aircraft from a warship.
If there are no accidents, Eugene Ely will successfully land a plane on a parked warship next year. These attempts have gradually matured the theory of aircraft carriers. In 1917, the British Royal Navy built a 69.5-meter-long flight deck that can provide
The aircraft takes off from the cruiser Fury.
Southern Africa is only now starting to conduct research in this area and is already lagging behind.