I'm playing whack-a-mole in Siberia

Chapter 235 You are already dead

George has great confidence in the Cossacks, but Ivanov, a real Cossack, is somewhat less confident.

George knew what a true Gurkha was like.

The Gurkhas were indeed extremely cruel to deal with Indian kings and ordinary people. In the Amritsar massacre in 1919, Gurkha mercenaries used machine guns to fire at peaceful demonstrators for an hour. Thousands of Sikhs and Hindus died violent deaths.

During the two world wars, the British army indeed recruited Gurkhas to participate in the war, and about 20 Gurkhas enlisted.

But the performance of the British army in both world wars was lackluster, and Gurkha's record was indeed not very eye-catching.

Oh, that’s not right either.

Of the 20 Gurkhas who joined the British army, 4.5 died in the battle.

In terms of fighting spirit, Gurkha is indeed well-deserved.

As for the results——

Just haha.

What worries Ivanov is that the Cossacks can only maximize their combat effectiveness on horseback.

The Cossacks in Aceh are all infantry.

As cavalry, Cossacks could defeat Napoleon's invincible light cavalry.

As infantry, Cossacks performed less well.

"If that doesn't work, can we bring over some war horses?"

Ivanov was able to capture the Dutch colonial servants with ease.

Fighting Gurkha, Ivanov still lacks confidence.

This is the most elite army of the Empire on which the sun never sets——

Ivanov subconsciously brought the Royal Navy's superiority over the navies of other countries to Gurkha.

"This side is either a mountain or a sea. Is it useful to have a war horse?"

Yankov's experience is still richer.

In order to strengthen the strength of Aceh's guerrilla war, George sent half of the newly formed scouts to Aceh.

"What then? The Royal Navy plus the Gurkhas—"

Ivanov's mouth was bitter.

Although Antonov and Yuri didn't speak, they both looked earthy.

"It is impossible for the Royal Navy to directly participate in the war, so what we are facing are just some Indian civilians."

Yankov deliberately blurs the distinction between Gurkhas and Indians.

This is actually not too much.

Even if there were elites in Gurkha, the British would definitely not send their elite troops to Aceh to fight for the Dutch.

The advantage of the Gurkhas lies in their loyalty, hard work, and fearlessness in fighting. Some Gurkha troops in the British army spent their entire regiments and entire battalions, and then continued to rebuild.

As for combat effectiveness.

Unlike the Cossacks, the Gurkhas have received military training since childhood. Their only advantage is that they live in mountainous areas and are better at mountain warfare.

The vast majority of Gurkhas are so poor that they have no money to buy equipment or even supplement nutrition. Their natural conditions are definitely not much better.

So Yankov was right. What the Dutch hired was really just a group of farmers.

At most they were Gurkha farmers.

Until World War I, authentic British lobster soldiers were still lining up to be shot.

Yankov didn't believe how strong the Gurkha's combat effectiveness was.

Regular lobster soldiers could not defeat even the Boer militia in the Second Boer War.

Coincidentally, the Boers are descendants of the Dutch.

The Lanfang Sultanate had just defeated an expeditionary force composed of pure Dutch.

Based on the way the Dutch trained their army, even if the Dutch hired Cossacks, they would not be able to defeat the servant army of the Lansha Sultanate.

After Yankov came to Aceh, he streamlined the troops of the Lansha Sultanate again. In the end, only 3000 people stood out and became the official troops of the Lansha Sultanate.

Not to mention reaching the level of the Oak Division, the combat effectiveness of these 3000 people is not much different from that of the Guards, and is stronger than the local troops of the Russian Empire.

The combat effectiveness of the troops is not the most important, the key lies in command.

With George's 16-character goal in mind, no matter how many Dutch come, Yankov is confident that he will bring down the Dutch and eat them alive.

"Tell Li Sha to be ready to retreat to the mountains at any time. If the Dutch launch an attack, we will retreat."

Yankov didn't care about the gain or loss of one city or one place. If the Dutch wanted to occupy Aceh, then they would do it.

“Where are the people in Aceh?”

Antonov was worried that the tragedy in Lanza would happen again in Aceh.

“Those who are willing to leave with us can follow us, and those who are unwilling to leave, let them be as they please.”

Yankov did not care about the lives of the Acehnese people at all, and Russia did not lack people.

Compared to the bitter cold land of Siberia, Aceh, which has three crops a year, is like paradise.

If the Chinese who are good at farming are allowed to operate these plantations in Aceh, Yankov does not need to expand. The land in Aceh alone can provide sufficient raw materials for Vladivostok.

This matter cannot be rushed. The Dutch must be hurt first before they can accept this reality.

George was even less anxious. The Vladivostok Shipyard built a submarine and gave George a huge surprise.

George didn't know when the submarine showed up.

However, during the American Civil War, submarines had been successfully used in actual combat and achieved results on the battlefield.

On the night of February 1864, 2, the Confederate submarine "Henry" sank the Union warship "Housatonic" with a mine, which was the submarine's first victory.

Almost at the same time as the Civil War broke out, countries around the world intensified their research on submarines.

In 1863, France built the submarine "Diver" that used compressed air as power. The submarine was 42.67 meters long and had a displacement of 420 tons.

In 1866, the British built the "Nautilus" submarine, which used battery power for propulsion, with a speed of 6 knots and a range of about 80 nautical miles.

In September 1880, even the Qing Empire built its first submarine "underwater machine ship".

The "Whale" submarine manufactured by the Vladivostok Shipyard has a displacement of only 120 tons. Like the "Nautilus", it uses batteries as power. It has a speed of 4 knots and an endurance of about 30 nautical miles.

Compared with the submarines of Britain and France, a major innovation of the "Whale" is the use of elevators that enable the submarine to dive while maintaining longitudinal stability.

This technology is very meaningful and is considered a milestone in the history of submarine development.

Interestingly, this technology was not developed by the Vladivostok Shipyard, but was obtained from the American "Fenian Brotherhood".

The "Fenian Brotherhood" was an organization established by the Irish with the purpose of fighting against the British and promoting Irish independence.

The Russian Empire is not a character that only takes beatings but does not fight back. After Britain forced the Siberian Fleet to abandon Jeju by seizing Jumun Island, the Russian Empire got in touch with the "Fenian Brotherhood" and then purchased technology from the "Fenian Brotherhood" on the pretext of purchasing technology. The Brotherhood” acquired elevator-related technology.

The Russian Empire did not pay much attention to submarines. After purchasing the elevator-related technology, it was shelved and did not take action.

After Alexeyev took office, Zalinsky, a naval technical officer who knew elevator technology, came to Vladivostok, and the "Whale" was born.

"The 'Whale' still has a lot of shortcomings. The speed is not fast enough, the range is not far enough, and there are no weapons installed on the boat, so it cannot be used for attack——"

Zalinsky was sad that Alexeyev's evaluation of the "Whale" was "rubbish" and meaningless.

The Vladivostok Shipyard spent 1.2 rubles to build the "Whale".

This money is not much, but it is already the limit of the shipyard.

If Zalinski wanted to continue building submarines, he would need to apply for financial support from George.

"It's not a problem to have no attack power——"

George's thinking perspective is completely different from Zalinski's.

Vladivostok will not face a war in the short term, and it is meaningless whether it has attack power or not.

If Zalinski really builds a submarine with attack power, it probably won't be George's turn. The three major fleets will definitely eat up the submarine.

What is Aceh’s biggest weakness?

Logistical support.

Although the "Whale" has no attack power.

But it can be used as a transport ship.

George's requirements are not high. As long as the "Whale" can deliver ten to eight tons of bullets to Aceh at a time, let the Dutch attack it slowly.

In this case, a submarine carrier that can match the "Whale" will be needed.

Oh, that's not a problem either.

The transport ship can be directly transformed into a submarine mothership.

"You need to change your thinking and find a way to increase the carrying capacity of the 'Whale' - ha, 'Whale', this name is really appropriate."

George decided to send a telegram to Tesla later and ask when his generator would be successful.

“But if the submarine cannot be used for attack—”

Zalinski was confused as to why George wanted a submarine that couldn't be used for attack.

"This is not a problem you should worry about. You only have one goal, which is to make the submarine safer and have a greater carrying capacity. The speed does not need to be too fast, and the endurance does not need to be too far. Thirty to fifty nautical miles is enough. Is there any problem? "

George's request was easy for Zalinski, not to mention easy.

It doesn’t require speed, endurance, or attack power——

Then what else is there to study? The "Whale" can already meet George's requirements.

"How many people know about the Whale?"

George must have blocked the news.

"Quite a lot."

Zalinski was embarrassed. In order to build a submarine, he had begged many people.

"Hmph, every one of them has no sense of confidentiality at all!"

George was dissatisfied. What was the point of building a submarine until everyone in the world knew about it?

"The news was released to the outside world that the Whale hit the ice and sank during its trial voyage, and all personnel involved died."

George was ruthless and willing to die.

Zalinsky was dumbfounded. Even if he didn't give a reward, wouldn't he even be given honor?

"From now on, you are the director of Research Institute No. 367, specializing in submarine technology research. Are you still an officer of the Siberian Fleet - oh, you are dead and no longer an officer."

George will definitely not treat Zalinski badly. There will definitely be a reward, and he will give it now.

There will be honors, but not now.

Only when Vladivostok's submarine becomes a blockbuster can Zalinsky become famous.

Until then, Zalinski will have to endure the loneliness.

(End of this chapter)