Opening game, American Tycoon

Chapter 1201 The Peak of Empire Technology ([-]rd update, please subscribe)
"Of course it's a battleship!"

In the office of the Naval Administration Department, Wang Zhensheng, the founder of the "Giant Cannon Era", answered directly to the director's question.

"But it can be understood in this way—it is both a battleship and a cruiser! It not only has the heavy armor and powerful artillery of a battleship, but also has the high speed and long-distance cruise capability of a cruiser."

If Emperor Zhu heard Wang Zhensheng's words, he would definitely think of "Battle Cruiser".This warship was developed from the armored cruiser, but it is essentially a high-speed battleship.Compared with the battleships of the same period, the battlecruiser has slightly thinner armor and weaker firepower, but the speed gained by sacrificing part of the armor endows it with extremely high tactical value.

"A battleship and a cruiser? It's almost the same as the Linhai-class armored cruiser?"

The Linhai-class armored cruiser is an armored cruiser designed by the Imperial Navy on the basis of the Nanhua-class battleship. It has slightly thinner armor and weaker firepower, but it is very fast. The reason why this armored cruiser was built is because of the empire's vast overseas Colonies need to be defended.

"Almost, but why, after the Linhai class, didn't we build new armored cruisers?"

Wang Zhensheng asked himself and answered.

"In the final analysis, it is because after the "Youzhou class" entered service, its speed reached an astonishing 21 knots, even faster than the Linhai class. In fact, to a certain extent, the "Youzhou class" is a kind of collective battle A new type of warship with the firepower and armor of a ship and the speed of a cruiser, but we didn't realize it."

Wang Zhensheng began to snap his fingers.

"What do the Imperial Navy need to consider when designing warships? First, they must participate in fleet decisive battles. Therefore, battleships are needed. Second, the Empire also has vast colonies that need to be protected, and the sea routes need to be defended. This Cruisers are needed. Because of this, when designing, the Navy always puts forward requirements on speed and endurance. It is also at the request of the Navy that we designed the "Youzhou-class" combat ship that combines the strengths of both , even when designing the "Huizhou class", the speed of 21 knots is the most basic technical requirement, and this speed is the mainstream speed of cruisers in various countries at present. In fact, starting from the "Youzhou class", the battleships we built Ships are actually high-speed combat ships, that is, battle cruisers."

Lu Anda frowned, what does Wang Zhensheng mean?Are you saying they never designed a combat ship?

"Director, it can be said that since then, we have inadvertently ushered in a new era. The era of battle cruisers, of course, this is also under your auspices, Director. and a new type of warship with a perfect combination of speed,"

Is this a compliment?
This is definitely flattering, but it is also telling a fact.When Wang Zhensheng flattered the director, he did not forget to emphasize his previous point of view.What is it called?This is called flattery and facts.

"But times have changed now. What we need is a faster battlecruiser. After all, 21 knots, even 22 knots, cannot meet the combat needs of the Imperial Navy. After all, our enemies, they Similar warships are also being built.”

In the past, the United Kingdom led the trend of warships in the world, but after the "Youzhou class", it is the empire that leads the flow of warships in the world.

"After the "Youzhou class" set off a 21-knot revolution, all countries in the world have increased the speed requirements for combat ships to more than 20 knots. Under such circumstances, the "Huizhou class" has no advantage at all at 22 knots. Not only do we need more powerful firepower, but we also need a faster speed, a speed of more than 25 knots! If possible, it should reach 27 knots, which is the requirement of the Imperial Navy for the new generation of cruisers."

"That's a cruiser!"

Deputy director Ding Shangdong said directly.

"Our largest steam engine can't provide such a speed."

A battleship with a speed of 25 knots, thank goodness he can think of it.Don't look at just increasing the speed of three or four knots, but the requirements for steam engines and boilers have increased by more than one level.

"Why use a steam engine? Since we already have a steam turbine, we should use a steam turbine, which is smaller in size and stronger in power, and can be used as the power of a new generation of warships."

Wang Zhensheng said straightforwardly.

"Now a new era has come, new ship design, new guns, new steam turbines, they are combined - new warships, since you have entered a new era, then we have to take the legacy of the old era Abandon them all and use a brand-new sea force to welcome the arrival of the new era. If we want to defeat the Royal Navy, we must maintain an overall technological lead!"

In fact, the Imperial Navy has always been aggressive in adopting new technologies.Because the Imperial Navy knows very well who their enemy is - the British Royal Navy. The Royal Navy is not only a powerful opponent, but its navy's technological development is also very rapid. If everyone stays at the same level, then the Imperial Navy It's hard to beat the British.

Therefore, the Imperial Navy has always hoped to form an advantage over the Royal Navy through technological advantages. This kind of thinking has been maintained since the establishment of the Imperial Navy until now, and this has become a tradition of the Imperial Navy-good at adopting new technologies.

And this is also the fundamental reason why the Imperial Navy can maintain the pinnacle of technology-it is because it actively adopts the latest technology, thus repeatedly maintaining its technological leadership.

"When the Royal Navy was arguing about the advantages and disadvantages of fire-tube boilers and water-tube boilers, we really chose water-tube boilers with more complicated technology. The same is true for triple-expansion steam engines. It is through this preemptive advantage that we In the past twenty years, we have guaranteed our leadership in offshore technology, but now, our technological advantage is being exhausted a little bit. Based on this, we need to regain our advantage! With the maturity of steam turbine technology , I believe that we can not only build more powerful battleships, but also that steam turbines will ensure that the Imperial Navy's ship technology will always remain at the leading level!"

Do you need another reason?
There is no need for other reasons. For the Imperial Navy, the reason is just "to ensure that the technology of the Imperial Navy's ships remains at the leading level" is enough.

Soon, the report of the Admiralty Office recommending the use of steam turbines was sent to the Admiralty. At the joint meeting of the Admiralty, facing the temptation to regain the world's leading level, the generals of the Admiralty almost immediately made a decision. selected.

After all, in the past few years, they have enjoyed a lot of technical bonuses, and everyone is like this. As long as they take advantage of something,

At the end of the meeting, Admiral Lin Yuehu carefully read the report again, and then said.

"The only problem is whether the current steam turbine technology can meet the needs of the Imperial Navy. I hope it will not be the same as the water tube boiler. It needs to be run in for a few years."

(End of this chapter)