afterglow

Chapter 385: Fomalhaut-class aircraft carrier; tear Maginot apart?
As a special battleship designed by Dong Fangzheng with the idea of ​​maximizing the use of existing resources, it is difficult to imagine how much of a mental blow the Chenghua class will inflict on future opponents.

In terms of hull structure, the Chenghua-class cannot be regarded as a large cruiser. It is essentially a battleship that has been reduced in size and configuration, which also determines that it has good natural anti-strike capabilities.

For example, the Alaska-class large cruiser built by the United States in history was often criticized by later generations for its extremely low cost performance. The cost was as high as 70% of an Iowa-class battleship, but its combat effectiveness was not worth the high cost.

The Alaska-class has a standard displacement of 2.7 tons, which seems to be similar to the Chenghua-class with a standard displacement of 2.45 tons. However, the Alaska-class is actually an enlarged and enhanced version of the cruiser.

Therefore, her protection capabilities are not as good as those of the Chenghua class, especially the underwater protection system - its mine protection compartment is very thin, and the entire ship is double bottom except for the triple bottom for the ammunition depot.

The Chenghua class has the Ming Dynasty's characteristic Hu underwater protection system and is a Zhengerba battleship class.

The so-called Hu's TDS refers to an underwater protection system designed by materials scientist Hu Mengwei. Its main parts are consistent with the world's mainstream liquid tank-empty tank-tank multi-layer design, but it is filled with a special expanded asphalt. , which plays the role of absorbing explosion energy and buffering.

Expanded asphalt has a little elasticity and fluidity. The design of this underwater protection system is very excellent. Although the efficiency is reduced due to the limited width of the arrangement at the chemical level, it is still close to the first-class level.

As for the Yongle class, because it has sufficient width to deploy the TDS depth, its underwater protection capabilities are the only one with the same top-notch level as the Richelieu class.

她的副炮配置也相当完备，计划搭载7座双联装128㎜高平两用炮、12座双联装38.4㎜高射炮、8座四联装20.8㎜高射炮、8座单装20.8㎜高射炮。

The arrangement of the seven twin-mounted high-level dual-purpose guns is relatively unique. Four of them are symmetrically distributed on the left and right sides, and the other three are arranged in a Z-shaped shape at the rear of the hull.

According to estimates from the Ministry of War and Naval Affairs, the cost of the first Chenghua-class ship is approximately 4100 million yuan, while the cost of the second and third ships can be reduced to 3900 million yuan.

This means that the cost of one Chenghua-class destroyer is only equivalent to four destroyers, or one and a half heavy cruisers.

Moreover, it does not occupy the slipway used for the construction of battleships and aircraft carriers. It only requires a 180m slipway to start construction, and the cost-efficiency ratio is astonishingly high.

However, everything in the world has its pros and cons, and the Chenghua level also has its own shortcomings.

The first is the crowding of personnel. Even though a long forecastle ship type is adopted to increase the internal space, the length of the Chenghua-class hull is really short, and the living space of the sailors is only at the level of a light cruiser.

The second is the short range. Its maximum range at a cruising speed of 14 knots is only about 8000 nautical miles. Compared with other warships that can easily reach tens of thousands of nautical miles, it is indeed a little short.

But even for such a low-priced small battleship, its tactical and even strategic significance cannot be underestimated.

In terms of tactics, when advancing, she can lead the squadron to roam freely and participate in avant-garde battles; when retreating, she can serve as a sword-carrying guard of the aircraft carrier fleet, providing powerful anti-aircraft fire cover.

The Americans were very miserable right now, because before the Iowa class entered service, they did not have any high-speed battleships with a speed greater than 28 knots - the New Mexico class, Tennessee class, and Colorado class were all low-speed iron turtles.

However, the Heavy Patrol cannot fight against the Chenghua Class in any case. If they encounter it, they can only turn around and run away. If they dare to challenge, they will be beaten.

In terms of strategy, this will force the Americans to postpone the construction of some aircraft carriers or battleships and quickly start building a first-class large cruiser or battlecruiser that can deal with the Chenghua class.

In a sense, Dong Fangzheng will become an immortal legend in the next hundred years - he successfully cobbled together ready-made products at the lowest cost and created three gadgets that can disgust his opponents.

However, the Chenghua class can only be regarded as a specialized product. As for the regular next-generation battleship, the Ming Navy is still arguing internally, and it seems that it will not be able to make a final decision for a while.

Those in favor of the plan have ambitious plans to build a first-class super battleship with a standard displacement of 5 tons, a speed of more than 30 knots, and three triple super-large-caliber main guns.

There are two main gun options: fourteen-inch (448㎜) and fourteen-and-a-half-inch (464㎜), and two ships are planned to be built.

The opponents are firmly opposed, believing that this is going against the trend and is destined to be in vain.

The construction period of the two super battleships is probably almost enough to complete four aircraft carriers on the two slipways. It is too wasteful.

"I think it would be too time-consuming and laborious to start building a few more battleships. I'm afraid it would take three and a half years to build a large ship of [-] tons?" Luo Fu said while writing down his judgment, "But if it is A [-]-ton aircraft carrier can be completed in two years.”

"Indeed, I also like big ships, but I can't help it. The status of aircraft carriers is getting higher and higher day by day." Zhou Changfeng sighed, "It depends on the situation. If the future war situation is clear, it is not impossible to build one."

The Ming Dynasty's aircraft carriers are in a state of stable expansion, but there has not yet been a large-scale construction of the Jiaozi class, because this road is still being explored, and each class of aircraft carriers has slight improvements.

The Ming Dynasty Navy actually has a practice aircraft carrier named Qiming. She was transformed from a cruiser in the early 20s, with a displacement of only [-] tons.Because it was the first aircraft carrier, she had a lot of omissions and problems, so she was decommissioned within a few years. To this day, she has been used as a training ship in the Bohai Sea and the Black Water Ocean.

In addition to her, there are currently 6 aircraft carriers in service, including:

2 Taiweiyuan-class ships modified from the Yongyuan-class battlecruisers, with a standard displacement of 3 tons, a closed hangar, a wooden deck, and a carrying capacity of 90 aircraft;
The Tianshiyuan class built with the support of the 2 light aircraft carrier factions has a standard displacement of 1.7 tons, an open hangar, a wooden deck, and a carrying capacity of 60 aircraft;
Two Ziweiyuan-class armored aircraft carriers designed and built without interference, with a standard displacement of 2 tons, a closed hangar, an armored deck, and a carrying capacity of 2.33 aircraft.

In addition, there are several aircraft carriers that are about to enter service - three Fomalhaut-class light aircraft carriers built in accordance with the "Expanded Construction Plan for War Preparation", with a standard displacement of 3 tons, open hangars, wooden decks, and aircraft carriers. Quantity: 1.4 units.

The Fomalhaut-class light aircraft carriers are rather embarrassing. They were designed to operate in conjunction with the Yongle-class battleships and were used to provide fighter cover, reconnaissance aircraft assistance, and bomber harassment.

But they are almost completed, and the aircraft carrier has proved its independent strike power. The mode of battleship decisive battle seems to be gone forever.

The Ming Navy is also still discussing where to go with the three light aircraft carriers Fomalhaut, Riggong and Tiangang.

Afterwards, the large armored aircraft carrier converted from the Yongle-class No. [-] and No. [-] ships should be completed within [-] months.

At that time, the Ming Dynasty Navy will have a unique armored aircraft carrier with a standard displacement of 4 tons. It is expected to usually carry 80 aircraft and the maximum capacity can reach 100 aircraft.

At this time, Luo Fu suddenly let out a surprised "Oh!"

"Ke Xing, look, the Southern Army successfully captured Ren'anqiang."

"Huh? Is it progressing so fast?"

Luo Fu picked up a battle report and handed it to Zhou Changfeng who was diagonally in front of him, "It's a pity that it can't compare with our raid in Nanyang. With just two legs, no matter how fast the British run, they still have time to blow up the oil well."

The latter glanced over it, "Is there still 20.00% left? Uh... not bad, the war situation in Myanmar has settled."

Although the Annan people work very hard, their own combat effectiveness is not ideal, and Myanmar's complex terrain also greatly restricts movement.

In addition, the resistance of the British-Indian Army and the British-Burmese Army was relatively strong, and malaria was rampant. Therefore, it took the Annan Royal Army's 7 troops more than two months to crush multiple lines of defense of more than 3000 enemy troops.In total, they paid a huge price with nearly [-] deaths and more than [-] injuries, not including the large non-combat attrition caused by rampant malaria.

After this battle, the British defense line in Southeast Asia had collapsed.

The British-Indian army and the remaining British-Burmese army could only retreat westward and rely on the favorable terrain in Bangladesh to rearrange their defense lines.

The newly appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Far East Theater, Wavell, declared that he would resolutely resist and would never allow anyone to get his hands on the gems of the British Empire. The invading enemy would be dealt a devastating blow.

But in Zhou Changfeng's opinion, this is equivalent to barking - a biting dog doesn't bark. It's probably not confident to speak out like this.

Now Siam has completely fallen to the Ming Dynasty. Although they are a bit slow in sending troops, only sending one infantry division and two engineering battalions, they fully cooperate with the transportation of military supplies and also bear part of the food supply.

Most of the [-] Commonwealth army prisoners captured in the Malayan Campaign were transported to Siam, where they would take on the important task of building the railway from Siam to Burma.

In this way, if it is necessary to attack the Indu region westward in the future, having such a railway will greatly reduce the difficulty of logistical support.

The Ming Dynasty's military headquarters had long had this plan, and the Annan people also strongly supported it.

In view of the British's lack of sincerity in peace talks, the Ming court approved the plan and began preliminary preparations.

In the past, the British proposed to the Siamese to build a railway through British Burma and Siam to facilitate communication and trade, and incidentally exert influence, but the Siamese did not agree in the end.

The Ming army planned to use the draft route surveyed and summarized by the British that year to save time and start construction directly.

The Siam-Burma Railway is designed as a one-way railway with a meter gauge (1000 mm). It can run three round trips of 3000-car military trains per day, with a maximum transport capacity of [-] tons per day.

It has the same gauge as Siam's local railway track. The required materials are first diverted from Siam's inventory of rail spare parts, while private enterprise factories in Siam and Annam are responsible for subsequent material manufacturing.

The Siam-Myanmar Railway passes through high mountains and rugged jungles. The terrain is complex and construction is very difficult.

According to the report sent back by the investigation team sent by the Daming National Railway, construction started at the same time from the starting point and the end point. According to normal working hours, the construction period is expected to be 26 months.

This is the situation in the South, but in the North, a secret deal is going on in full swing.

Shuntianfu, Fengtai Railway Station.

Amidst the sound of the whistle, a 54-car train slowly left the platform, gradually accelerated, and disappeared on the northern horizon, dragging the drifting black smoke.

These 54 wagons are all twenty-ton light four-wheeled boxcars, also known as stuffy tankers, with large wooden boxes stacked inside.

The outer wooden box contains various groceries, while the inner wooden box is filled with tungsten concentrate, molybdenum concentrate, nickel concentrate, and natural rubber.

Generally speaking, gondolas are used to transport ore by railway, that is, open cars with no roof on top. Such a secretive approach is obviously... smuggling.

The German Society, which was impatient because of the shortage of rare resources, came up with this idea - Tsarist Russia is now in chaos and vying for power, so it might as well try to fish in troubled waters!
According to the agreement signed in secret, the deal reached by the two parties is:

大明向德社分批偷运2500吨钨精矿、2000吨镍精矿、1800吨钼精矿、天然橡胶700吨、奎宁6.5吨。

At the same time, a complete set of 10-type rocket launcher drawings, as well as 500 rocket launcher samples and [-] rounds of different types of ammunition are provided.

In addition, there is a complete set of drawings of Type 5 and Type B aviation torpedoes, as well as [-] torpedo samples.

The German Society provided Daming with key component samples and a complete set of drawings of the Seetakt ship-based air warning radar, the Freya land-based air warning radar, and the Würzburg fire control radar.

There are also drawings of the LG39 recoilless rifle, as well as 4 recoilless rifle samples and 200 rounds of ammunition.

Mingren thought he had made a big profit, and the Germans thought he had made a small profit. Both parties felt that they had made a profit. This can be said to be a happy transaction.

What the world doesn't know is that starting roughly one and a half months ago, the series of actions that the German Socialist War Committee ordered the People's Army General Staff to formulate has come to the final stage amid intensive preparations.

The deception operation was codenamed "Prague"; the assembly operation was codenamed "Exercise Black Forest"; the offensive plan against France was codenamed "Purple Print".

Although the German Society initially planned to liberate Eastern Europe and ensure sufficient resource supply, a considerable number of people in the War Council strongly recommended an early attack on France.

It can be said that Ernst and the upper echelons of the German Society agreed to such a bold plan after considerable psychological struggle.

Historically, the first draft of the yellow plan submitted by Chief of General Staff General Harder was almost a replica of the Schlieffen Plan during the European War 30 years ago, so that someone became furious.

Afterwards, Man Buqun and Gu Bu Shuai proposed substantial modifications, but they were resisted by the veteran generals who thought they were too aggressive.

This is why a certain person complained that the generals of the National Defense Force are pedantic old antiques.

Objectively speaking, because a large number of the old aristocratic generals from the European War period no longer exist, Deshe's strategic deployment in this regard was more advanced from the beginning.

But this kind of advancement is relative, it is just an advancement that "does not follow the rules and is not bound by the past."

We can get a glimpse of the situation from the actual deployment. According to the plan, the German army assembled a total of 200 million troops.

These include 99 infantry divisions, 6 motorized infantry divisions, 8 armored divisions, 3 mountain divisions, and a large number of independent support units.

技术兵器统共有大约2700辆坦克、3800架战机，以及2门740㎜列车炮、8门280㎜列车炮、14门210㎜列车炮、3门600㎜履带式臼炮。

They planned to attack Belgium and the Netherlands to contain the enemy forces on the northern front; and at the same time launch a surprise attack through the Ardennes Forest on the southern front.

During this period, the central line troops carried out tentative attacks on the Maginot Line, continued to exert pressure, and at the same time evaluated whether a frontal breakthrough could be achieved with the support of heavy artillery.

(End of this chapter)