afterglow

Chapter 564 The Unexpected Magnetron; Who is Erwin Rommel?
Ah! After going around for a long time, I finally had to pay more!
The rather unhappy inspection team complained about the shrewd philistinism of the French, completely forgetting that the Ming Dynasty was the same during the European War for more than 20 years.

But at that time, it was the Russians who suffered the most - due to rapid military expansion and huge losses, Tsarist Russia, with limited production capacity, was looking for weapons and equipment everywhere, even if the Ming court deliberately raised the price, they still held their noses and admitted it.

"Your army needs to fight in places with complex terrain, such as hills, jungles, and farmland. Ordinary armored vehicle designs cannot meet the requirements. I sincerely recommend them. Their excellent performance meets the value." A manager of Panhard Company followed suit.

"It's too expensive." Li Zhijie brought up his previous purchasing experience and tried to bargain. "The eight-wheeled heavy armored vehicle we ordered from the Germans is 40% cheaper than yours!"

"No, dear guest, I know there is a saying in China that 'cheap goods are not good'." The manager said calmly:
"Do the German armored vehicles have 60mm frontal armor? A heavy machine gun can penetrate their works; do the German armored vehicles have a 25mm cannon? A light tank is enough to make them panic and escape; the German armored vehicles Can they move in the muddy jungle? The Ardennes forest is enough to trap them."

Admittedly, these words are somewhat dismissive, but they do have a certain degree of persuasion.

The Panhard 201 armored vehicle uses a very interesting swinging turret - the tank gun is integrated with the upper part of the turret and connected to the lower part of the turret through a trunnion.

This design has two major advantages: first, it can install more powerful artillery; second, it is convenient to arrange the automatic loader.

Nowadays, there is obviously no automatic loader, so the only benefit is the first.

The running mechanism of the Panhard 201 armored vehicle also has great advantages. The two pairs of retractable steel wheels with anti-skid teeth significantly improve the off-road capability and passability in complex terrain.

The person in charge of the company's factory said humorously: "Dear general, don't you wish there were more good things like this to deal with the enemy? If the British and American patrols encounter them, haha, then they can only pray for God's blessing. ”

This stage is a level that all major powers can reach. Even the Ming Dynasty, which started late, is about to catch up with Britain and the United States.

Multi-cavity magnetrons are a milestone in the history of radar development. Early magnetrons did not have considerable power, so the intensity of the electromagnetic waves they emitted was limited, and the detection distance was not much further than the visual distance.

"About 2500 million francs. But if you are willing to order 150 units, we will give away the production license, which is free of charge."

Due to financial constraints, London decided to provide this result to the United States in exchange for financial and industrial support. The relevant team arrived in New York six months ago and transferred the result to General Electric Company and Bell Labs.

Just this year, British physicist Lord John Randall and his colleagues invented the multi-cavity magnetron, which greatly increased the output power by setting up multiple resonant cavities. It can be said to be an unprecedented achievement.

The existing Type 4 wheeled armored vehicles have a 4× layout. Although auxiliary wheels are added to improve passability, such a stopgap measure is destined to be inferior to eight-wheeled armored vehicles.

In addition, several other groups of the inspection team also made their own gains, the most important of which was the purchase of a multi-cavity magnetron and several design drafts from the state-owned Alcatel Electric Company.

From Zhou Changfeng's personal point of view, the status of wheeled armored vehicles used by reconnaissance troops is very important. The stronger, the better. Their strength can determine the upper and lower limits of a force at the same time. It is very important. There is nothing better than timely and reliable intelligence. It puts the commander at ease even more.

After much hesitation, Zhou Changfeng decided to purchase a small amount.

"In that case, why don't we choose to make our own?"

He pointed at the neatly arranged armored vehicles and said calmly: "The unit price is 530,000 francs. This price exceeds my expectations, so we only order twenty units and require them to be shipped in February next year."

In view of the fact that the Panhard Company group refused to let go, Zhou Zhangfeng resorted to persuasion and left with the inspection team.

"Time, effectiveness. General, we have spent many years combining the swing turret and the retractable wheel structure. How long does it take you to reverse engineer and start manufacturing? 18 months or 24 months?"

This was definitely an unexpected surprise. Zhou Changfeng had long thought that only the British had mastered this technology. He never expected that the French also had it, although it was only a rougher prototype.

Not to mention armored vehicles, he even advocated the development of the next generation of light tanks, specifically for reconnaissance, in an environment where the development potential of light tanks was generally not optimistic.

The two parties kept bargaining, and Panhard Company did not want to make any less money, insisting that these knowledgeable people would eventually agree.

The improved version is equipped with a redesigned large turret and a SA37 47mm tank gun, which is very powerful.

Zhou Changfeng was silent for a while and asked: "What is the price of the complete technical information?"

After a lot of tossing, both parties took a step back, and finally settled the deal - ordering 50 Panhard 100 armored vehicles at a unit price of 201 francs, including a full set of drawings and technical information, and a bonus vehicle that is still being tested. improved prototype vehicle.

However, the technological breakthrough has arrived.

Historically, the multi-cavity magnetron has even been described by later historians as "the most valuable thing ever brought to our shores".

With both technology and endless financial support, it is not unusual for British and American radar technology to advance by leaps and bounds since then.

The multi-cavity magnetron discovered by the Ming Dynasty military inspection team at the French Alcatel company included a 5kW test product and several 6kW, 7.5kW, and 10kW design drafts. In fact, they were almost the same as those of their British counterparts.

However, due to the change of government and the messy internal affairs, Alcatel's management has changed several times. Hundreds of plans and projects are at a standstill. The multi-cavity magnetron has been shelved for half a year due to lack of funds.

Zhou Changfeng and others felt as if they had found a treasure, and they did not hesitate to randomly purchase some irrelevant electrical equipment to hide their eyes from others. At the same time, they tightly sealed the magnetron test products and design drafts they had obtained.

After learning of the importance, Xu Hexiang sighed in surprise: "Such an important thing has been ignored. The whole country in France is really confused and in a mess. It's really...sigh that it cannot be disputed."

"Zhou Taizhao, since this is a good thing, why not leave first? In case they come back to their senses and regret detaining it." Li Zhijie suggested seriously.

Zhou Changfeng nodded and gave decisive instructions: "Without further delay, set off immediately and let a few reliable people return home now!"

"Yes, I'll take care of my humble duty right away." An attendant immediately accepted the order with clasped fists.

In the evening of that day, the five members of the inspection team took a flight overnight and left Paris, heading straight to the northeast...

Interestingly, Zhou Changfeng suddenly recalled the story he heard when he traveled back in time to his former student days - the unintentional discovery led to the birth of the microwave oven.

Four or five years after the end of the war, Percy Spencer, an engineer from Maine who was working at Raytheon, noticed that a piece of chocolate in his pocket had melted for no apparent reason. It was finally determined that this was caused by a radar device he was studying. From this, he unexpectedly discovered the thermal effect of high-power microwaves.

Percy-Spencer tried to input the microwaves generated by the magnetron into a closed metal box, thereby creating a high-density electromagnetic field. When food is placed inside, the temperature will rise rapidly.

Zhou Changfeng believed that the examples he recalled were very feasible. If the war was not tense in the future, he could make a casual move at any time, and the microwave oven would have been born in China a few years earlier.

The Ming Dynasty military inspection team's short visit to France also came to an end. After making good contact with the German Society, they immediately set off for the Western-French border.

As for the foreign mission, they will stay for a few more days to discuss the details of the foreign trade agreement with the French Society.

For safety reasons, the Germans suggested taking the southern route, because the northern route would be attacked by British and American aviation every two days. The group headed south and took a train equipped with a special VIP carriage to Toulouse. After a short rest, they transferred to a military train and continued southward, finally crossing the border.

Many members of the delegation were happily chatting about their "affairs" they had had over the past few days. Listening to their boastful words, it seemed as if the overseas assignment, which should have been serious and solemn, had turned into a group tour.

For ordinary overseas Chinese from the Ming Dynasty, the most common choices among the major powers are the United States and France.

The former, as a country of immigrants, naturally does not hesitate to absorb the population. As for the latter, because France is a traditional land-based country with a long history, many of its habits are closer to China. Moreover, due to the population problems caused by the European War, the government of the Third Republic did not object. We are even happy to see young immigrants from outside the country fill the vacancies.

Overseas Chinese who do not have inferiority complex or inferiority complex can be said to be very popular and are a good type of spouse.

Because "Zhou Changfeng" had personal experience, Zhou Changfeng was deeply touched by this.

It was a cloudy day in the morning on October 10, and the sky was so dark that it seemed like a heavy rain would fall at any time.

"...the forward troops were only 30 kilometers away from Venice. They captured at least 2 enemies and captured many artillery and trucks abandoned by the enemies; in the Alps, Bolzano's enemies wisely chose to give up, and the glorious warriors The attack will continue, the Italian army is being routed..."

The radio played the news broadcast by the Berlin Broadcasting Station, and the military train entered the Barcelona train station amidst the sound of the whistle.

After three years, Zhou Changfeng once again came to this ancient city. The neat and uniform grid layout was impressive.

Li Zhijie said with a smile: "I can see that Zhou Daizhao was deeply touched by this place."

"Hey, three years have passed in the blink of an eye. Time really flies by. It's not for nothing."

Zhou Changfeng looked around with his hands on his hips, and a crane immediately brought back his remaining memories - at that time, a large number of weapons and equipment sold by the Ming Dynasty were shipped quickly after being unloaded at the dock, and were loaded onto the train here.

What surprised him later was that Chrissy's figure suddenly appeared among the people who came to greet her, so that at first he thought he had made a mistake.

"Didn't you go to Budapest?"

"It's over. It's just a stupid informant paid by the British." Chris replied nonchalantly.

An informant tried to flee after his identity was exposed, but was eventually captured in Budapest. He passed on a large amount of valuable intelligence, including the airport's dispatch status and combat readiness, and even planned to steal identification codes.

The General Investigation Bureau set up a temporary investigation team to investigate the matter, and Chris was among them, which is why she hurried to Budapest some time ago.

If the Ming Dynasty military inspection team was just sightseeing in the German and French societies before, now it is really working.

The inspection group was immediately divided into multiple groups. Army and Air Force officers went to various combat units respectively, while senior staff officers from the Metropolitan Governor's Staff Office went to visit the Southern Army Headquarters.

Although Zhou Changfeng had spent some time in the staff office of the Metropolitan Governor's Mansion, his experience as a staff officer in a large corps was still insufficient.

Observing the methodical staff work process of the Southern Group Army Headquarters inspired him a lot. He found that the staff classification he designed for the Luxun amphibious command ship was still flawed and the efficiency was obviously lower.

It's a pity that the Lu Xun, which ran aground on the beach, has been scrapped and has been expelled from the Ming Navy. A new amphibious command ship is being refitted.

On November 11, Zhou Changfeng and a few members set out for the front line.

Everyone, including Li Zhijie and Chris, believed that this was too dangerous. Artillery bombardments and air strikes were repeated every day on the long front between the German and American armies, and reconnaissance teams continued to infiltrate each other's positions. It could be said that murderous intent was everywhere.

However, such reasons obviously cannot dissuade Zhou.

Two small Fi-156 liaison planes flew slowly at low altitude, and finally landed at an airstrip behind the battle line - it was said to be an airport, but it was actually a large flattened open space.

Zhou Changfeng opened the hatch and jumped out, and asked casually: "Which unit is this? The 12th Mobile (Motorcycle) Division or the 4th Mountain Division?"

"Twelfth Mobile Division."

"Who is the teacher?"

After thinking for a moment, Chris translated the name into Chinese and hesitated: "It should be Major General Alvin Longmel."

"Oh, let's go to the division headquarters first...wait a minute," Zhou Changfeng suddenly felt something was wrong, stopped, and asked doubtfully: "Erwin Longmel?"

Seeing his reaction, it was Chris's turn to be puzzled, "Do you know him?"

"Uh...I think I've heard of it."

Zhou Changfeng is not sure whether this is the same person, maybe it is a deviation in the transliteration of the name?

Everyone took two Type 82 off-road vehicles and drove straight to the division headquarters on the dirt road.

There were two deep ruts on the dirt road, which looked like they had been run over by heavy trucks.

Along the way, trucks or ambulances transporting the wounded kept approaching, and three-wheeled motorcycles driven by signal corpsmen kept coming from behind to speed up and overtake.

The division headquarters of the 12th Motorized Infantry Division is a large semi-underground shelter, covered with camouflage netting and thick and dense branches and leaves, with several whip antennas and inverted V antennas erected high up.

However, the division commander himself was nowhere to be seen in the division headquarters, only the busy staff officers.

"Where is your teacher?" Chris glanced around and asked in German.

A lieutenant colonel put down his war chess putter, raised his hand in salute, and replied: "He is at the forward observation post, at this time every day."

Chris turned around and informed Zhou Changfeng of the situation.

The latter raised his hand to look at his watch and waved decisively: "Then let's go to the front line too!"

(End of this chapter)