The rise of a great power: starting with military industry

Chapter 82 Self-Propelled Anti-Aircraft Gun

The production workshop and Liu Tao’s exclusive laboratory.

In the laboratory, there are three 1954-style anti-aircraft guns that have been assembled.

The 1954 anti-aircraft gun is a Soviet imitation of the Bofors anti-aircraft gun, known as the 1939 anti-aircraft gun, with a caliber of 37 mm. In the 50s, my country obtained a full set of information on this weapon, and in 1954 it finally successfully imitated the first domestic anti-aircraft gun.

Although the 1954 anti-aircraft gun was later improved to increase the firepower density and the twin-mounted 1965 anti-aircraft gun was developed, the 1954 anti-aircraft gun is still the most widely equipped in the troops.

In addition, there is the Type 59 anti-aircraft gun, which is an imitation and improvement of the Soviet KC-19M2 100mm anti-aircraft gun. It is used to deal with air targets at altitudes below 12000 meters. It can also shoot at ground and water targets. The trial production of the anti-aircraft gun began in 1958. The sample gun was produced in the same year. It was put into small-scale production in 1959 and was not finalized until 1963 when it was tested at the national shooting range!
Liu Tao chose to manufacture the 1954-type anti-aircraft gun because Panshan Machinery Factory had only a complete set of information on the 1954-type anti-aircraft gun.

At that time, Panshan Machinery Factory could produce two Type 1954 anti-aircraft guns every year.

A cannon is a cannon, and it is much more complicated than a gun.

Even if Liu Tao spent a whole day with all the parts available and relying on the help of the system, he could only make one Type 54 anti-aircraft gun.

At this time, Liu Tao was assembling the fourth Type 54 anti-aircraft gun.

Although the weather outside had turned colder, with the temperature at night around ten degrees, Liu Tao was still sweating profusely.

Finally, the fourth Type 54 anti-aircraft gun was assembled.

Liu Tao placed his hand on the gun, and a virtual panel appeared:
[Item: Type 54 Anti-aircraft Gun]

【Manufacturer: Liu Tao】

[Item Level: LV1 (0/10)]

[Upgrade Points: 1200]

[Item status: intact, analyzable]

Manufacturing a Type 54 anti-aircraft gun can provide Liu Tao with 300 upgrade points, which is much more than the upgrade points for manufacturing firearms.

After all, anti-aircraft guns are cannons and are much more complicated than firearms.

"System, upgrade!" Liu Tao said silently in his heart.

"Host, please choose the upgrade direction!"

The virtual panel already displays upgrade directions such as range, weight, volume, stability, accuracy, life, caliber, and materials.

Liu Tao made a comprehensive selection without hesitation.

Brush brush brush~~
Tiny rays of light flickered.

The Type 54 anti-aircraft gun in front of us has undergone obvious changes, and it can even be said that it has undergone earth-shaking changes.

When Liu Tao looked at the virtual panel again, the data had changed:
[Item: Self-propelled anti-aircraft gun]

【Manufacturer: Liu Tao】

[Item Level: LV10 (not upgradeable)]

[Upgrade Points: 100]

[Item status: intact, analyzable]

刘韬再看具体性能指标，有效射程6000米、有效射高5000米、口径35毫米、理论射速为550发/分、火炮的方向射界为360°，高低射界-5°~+85°，炮管寿命5000发。弹种有燃烧榴弹、曳光燃烧弹、穿甲燃烧爆破弹、曳光脱壳穿甲弹等。

"System, analysis!" Liu Tao used all his last upgrade points for analysis.

Suddenly, electronic design drawings were formed and appeared on the virtual panel.

In less than a second, the entire set of self-propelled anti-aircraft gun information was complete, including the dimensions of each component, material formula, processing technology, etc.

Liu Tao took a deep breath. The amount of information was 10 times that of the self-propelled anti-aircraft machine gun he had developed before!
There was so much information that Liu Tao looked bitter. To turn it into paper documents, his hands would be sore and his eyes would be exhausted.

The first time he hated it so much, there was no computer graphics.

"This self-propelled anti-aircraft gun must be like the 'Cheetah' to achieve the maximum effect. Although it can be operated now, it lacks maneuverability and is not equipped with radar." Liu Tao shook his head slightly, making a crackling sound, and his body moved slightly, without any joy on his face.

Firstly, the design data is so huge that he won’t be able to develop any other weapons until the Spring Festival.

Secondly, this is only the first step in a long journey, and there is still a lot to do to develop advanced self-propelled anti-aircraft guns.

His goal is to develop an anti-aircraft weapon that is the same as the 'Cheetah' self-propelled anti-aircraft gun, or even have performance that surpasses the 'Cheetah' self-propelled anti-aircraft gun!
Among contemporary self-propelled anti-aircraft guns, the most outstanding one is undoubtedly West Germany's "Cheetah" self-propelled anti-aircraft gun. Since its birth, it has been famous all over the world and is praised as the anti-aircraft gun system with the most superior tactical and technical performance, the most complex structure and the highest cost. It has created a new era of self-propelled anti-aircraft guns with the "three-in-one" of firepower, firepower command and control, and power supply.

The 'Cheetah' self-propelled anti-aircraft gun was designed and finalized in 1973. It caused a sensation around the world as soon as it was launched, and caused a stir in the military field around the world.

Its powerful firepower, superb maneuverability and advanced fire control system made it hailed as a medium and low altitude air defense weapon on the battlefield as soon as it was born.

Liu Tao also believes that this type of self-propelled anti-aircraft gun is the development trend in the next few decades. High-altitude air defense will be left to missiles, while medium and low-altitude air defense will be left to self-propelled anti-aircraft guns and anti-aircraft machine guns, forming a powerful air defense firepower network.

Turn off the lights and leave the production workshop.

He drove the jeep home. It had become his means of transportation. After all, it only took 10 minutes to drive to and from get off work, but it would take nearly an hour to ride a bicycle. Even if there was a special bus, it would still take minutes.

When I got home, there was only a dim light in the living room and everyone else was asleep.

Liu Tao went upstairs quietly, took a shower, washed his hair, and felt much better.

He came to the balcony and looked around. Most places were dark, but the lights were still on at the factory.

Even now, Panshan Machinery Factory still adopts three shifts.

Thanks to the workers' high enthusiasm, the goods for delivery to Egypt are now fully prepared and will be officially shipped tomorrow and transported to Yangcheng Port.

In fact, it won’t be long before all the goods for Jordan can be prepared in about a month, and all foreign trade orders can be completed before the Spring Festival.

This is also due to the increase in production capacity of Panshan Machinery Factory, which is much higher than the previous production capacity in Iraq.

Liu Tao will be heading to the capital in a few days. In addition to seeking help from the Fifth Ministry of Machine Building, he also wants to see if he can find some more orders.

The white-robed tycoons in the Middle East are targets, as are the black uncles in Africa, Latin America and even the subcontinent.

In addition to the weapons and equipment produced by Panshan Machinery Factory, see if we can also sell other arms, such as the inventory of other military factories in the past.

Most people probably don’t know how many weapons and ammunition China has produced in the past nearly thirty years, but Liu Tao knows that the number must be extremely astonishing.

In preparation for Operation Red Dragon's Roar, only one-sixth of the weapons and ammunition prepared were used, and the weapons and ammunition used were less than one-tenth of the national ammunition reserves.

(End of this chapter)