Another reason why the U.S. military does not pay attention to the bazooka is that this thing is not the original intention of the military's research and development at all... The military just wanted to investigate whether the rocket had value as a weapon, so it organized it casually
A "special project" with neither funding nor assistance.
Captain Skinner was a member of this project. It took his assistant less than a year to successfully test this simple shoulder-fired rocket launcher that was launched from a smoothbore tube and stabilized by a tail fin. However, it suffered from the fundamentals of the military.
If you are not interested in it, no one will care about it.
Major Johnson would know this because he had been working at Aberdeen Proving Ground.
"I believe it's not complicated, is it?" Shulka continued.
"Yes!" Major Johnson nodded: "Its structure is very simple. It is almost an iron pipe. Rockets are loaded and then launched. The disadvantage is that the accuracy is not high, so I doubt that it can play any role on the battlefield.
…”
"Can it destroy tanks?" Katukov showed little interest.
"I don't know!" Johnson shook his head. That thing was an almost ignored thing in the proving ground.
"Can you send a few samples for us to look at?" Shulka asked, "I mean, if it's convenient for you!"
Shulka tried his best to appear calm, because he knew that the more he acted like this, the more likely he would be to get it... Otherwise, if he acted too much, the U.S. military would find that this "treasure" would have difficulties in the future.
"I don't know, Captain!" Major Johnson replied, "But I can ask for you!"
"Thank you very much!" Shulka said: "I hope this will not embarrass you!"
"Of course not, Captain!" Major Johnson said: "This is what we should do as allies. We have common interests, don't we?"
After Major Johnson left, Colonel Katukov cast doubtful eyes on Shulka.
"I don't think we can put too much hope in it, Shulka!" Colonel Katukov said: "It has too many uncertainties!"
Katukov is right. Uncertain factors include whether the equipment is useful, whether the United States is willing to release it, whether it can be mass-produced in a short time, etc... As long as there is a problem with all of these, the First Guards Tank Brigade will be destroyed.
Can't count on it.
However, from Shulka's perspective, there are not so many uncertain factors, because he knows that this thing is feasible and can be mass-produced in a short time.
But of course, Shulka would not answer that way.
"Yes, Comrade Colonel!" Shulka said: "But we have no other choice now. It at least gives us a hope!"
"You seem to know something about it?" Katukov asked.
"No, I just think..." Shulka said: "We need such a piece of equipment to solve the problems we are currently facing. As mentioned before, these tanks are more suitable for dealing with enemy infantry, so who will deal with enemy tanks?
A portable anti-tank device would be a great option!”
Katukov nodded noncommittally, as if he was unwilling to continue discussing this topic.
This is understandable, because "the eight characters have not yet been written", and there is not much meaning in discussing it too much.
Shurka was a little restless when he returned to the battalion headquarters. He didn't want to go to the battlefield with these tanks, even if it was a counterattack... Once attacked by the enemy's armored division, even the 1st Guards Tank Brigade would not be able to escape the enemy.
The fate of the army's disastrous defeat in North Africa.
A phone call from Katukov half an hour later made him feel relieved.
"They agreed, Comrade Shulka!" Katukov said: "Although I don't know what that thing does, but... they promised to send us two samples, and they will also send a few technical personnel. They will
A batch of air cargo will arrive tomorrow."
"That's great!" Shulka almost jumped with excitement.
Katukov on the other end of the phone was a little confused: "It seems you take it very seriously!"
"I don't deny it, Comrade Katukov!" Shulka quickly covered it up: "I am unwilling to give up any hope!"
"Very good!" Katukov said, "Then it will be your responsibility to communicate with them. The specific time has not been determined yet, I will contact you tomorrow!"
"Yes, Comrade Katukov!"
In the evening of the next day, Shulka was boredly signing the document submitted by Maksimovich... This is the troublesome thing about being a battalion commander. If a company commander only manages the training and mission execution of a company, then the battalion commander
Things that need to be managed extend to logistics.
So there were many things that the battalion commander Shulka needed to sign.
At this time the phone rang, Maximovich took the phone and handed it to Shulka.
"Comrade Shulka!" Katukov's voice came over the phone: "Come to my headquarters!"
Shulka intuitively thought that this was the arrival of "Bazooka", so he responded, threw down a lot of documents and pushed out the door.
Sure enough, when Shulka arrived at the regiment headquarters, he saw Katukov entertaining several Americans, including Johnson, of course.
"This is Comrade Shulka!" Katukov said.
"Hey, brother!" A US military captain immediately stood up and shook hands with Shulka: "Nice to meet you, I've heard of you...'Breakout Hero', that's amazing!"
"Thank you!" Shulka could communicate with them without any difficulty because he knew English.
"My name is Skinny!" said the US captain, "I heard that you are very interested in my rocket launcher!"
"Skinai?" Shulka couldn't help but look at the young captain in front of him. They actually sent the father of the rocket launcher here?!
But nothing seems wrong. The U.S. military has not yet noticed the role of rocket launchers, so Skinny is still an ordinary Army captain at this time.
"Yes, you have heard of me?" Skinny said and laughed: "No, I am not as famous as you!"
As he spoke, Skinny took a sip of hot tea while stamping his feet and said: "It's really cold here, I should really bring more clothes!"
"I warned you!" said Major Johnson.
"But Major!" Skinner replied: "You only told me thirty-seven degrees below zero. I don't know how cold it is!"
Several people couldn't help but burst into laughter.
The relationship between American soldiers and their officers is relatively casual in peacetime.
But that's not what Shulka is concerned about.
"Captain!" Shulka said: "Have you brought your rocket launcher? I am willing to exchange it for you with a pile of cotton clothes!"
"Deal!" Skinner replied, and the soldiers laughed again.