Comrade, Your Ingredients Are Too Complicated

August 15, 1941, Taiyuan Weapons Experimental Site.

Today is the day when the scientific research slot of the previous stage is unlocked. Early in the morning, Huanghe invited the big guys to the shooting range outside the city to observe the power of the new weapons.

The guards with guns and the tightly guarded security posts on the commanding heights all prove that this testing site is extremely confidential.

At the target position, political commissar Zhu, who had returned with the infantry experts, was leading the soldiers to set up artillery positions.

Although this man has not been exposed to new artillery for some time, no one will doubt that he is one of the most professional artillery commanders within the Eighth Route Army.

After all, he was a top student at Krasin Artillery School. When he graduated that year, he got the highest score in his class in both written examination and live ammunition shooting.

The term "able in literature and martial arts" was almost tailor-made for Political Commissar Zhu.

When he learned that the big boss came to Taiyuan for a physical examination with the deputy division commander, Huang He did not hesitate to invite him to test the gun.

"Director Huang! We meet again."

"I never expected that the conditions at the headquarters would be so good. There are four types of standard mortars of various calibers. When will a batch be shipped to our Shandong base area? They are all armed with the Eighth Route Army, so we can't be biased."

"We can start the first round of test firing in five minutes. You can rest aside for a while."

"Okay! Good job!"

After a brief exchange of greetings, Political Commissar Zhu returned to the artillery position to continue the unfinished work.

The busy scene at the experimental site aggravated the curiosity of the deputy commander-in-chief. He walked silently to the vicinity of the prefabricated position, ready to get closer to see what kind of surprises Huanghe had prepared for everyone.

"hiss"

"It's such a thick pipe. It should be 120 mm by visual inspection."

"To be honest, this is my first time to have close contact with a large-caliber mortar. The visual impact is not that strong."

Hearing this, the deputy general staff officer and his party also gathered around.

That's right, today's protagonist is the "Brand Mle 1935 120mm Mortar" unlocked by Huanghe using the scientific research slot.

Seeing the heavy gun equipped with a two-wheeled gun mount, as well as the thick barrel and huge and heavy shells, the bosses all showed excited expressions.

Compared with it, the 81mm mortars currently in service in the army are like underage child labor.

Such an evaluation is not entirely unreasonable. After all, 120mm can be regarded as an enlarged version of 81mm in a sense. The two have many similarities in design concepts and details.

Although Brand's original intention of designing this gun was to add a support weapon to regiment-level infantry units.

But on the North China battlefield, the emergence of the 120mm mortar can be regarded as a dimensionality reduction strike. Both its power and range are at the level of heavy artillery.

After all, the current offensive firepower of the Eighth Route Army and the North China Front is still dominated by 75mm barrel guns.

The enemy does have a 105mm howitzer, but it is a weapon only equipped at the division level.

What's more, the Japanese have lost air supremacy. Now every gun is a treasure that is difficult to replenish. They will not be used unless it is absolutely necessary.

After the troops have 120mm mortars, the artillery system at the level of the Eighth Route Army has begun to take shape, and its strength can be said to have taken a big step forward.

Facing the fiery gazes of the big guys, Huang He walked behind the mortar and began to introduce various basic data.

"Theoretically, this gun can be used as an enlarged version of the 81 mm mortar."

"Its total combat weight is only 249 kilograms, and it can be dismantled into three parts during travel. The heaviest gun body does not exceed 90 kilograms."

As soon as these words came out, countless combat possibilities floated through the brigade commander's mind.

The weight of 90 kilograms can definitely be easily carried away by the Eighth Route Army at this stage, and it is very suitable for plain operations and mountain operations that require mobility.

What's more, the Brand 120mm mortar also has rubber tires and can reach a speed of 60 kilometers per hour when pulled by a truck.

"Its maximum range is 7,500 meters, and the theoretical rate of fire is 10 to 12 rounds per minute. The shell weighs 17 kilograms and has a killing radius of 34 meters."

Compared with the French original products, the models provided by Awakening Yonghu System have been slightly modified. Not only was it equipped with quite advanced sighting equipment, it also had an increased range of 500 meters.

The above data once again caused the big guys to exclaim.

Although everyone present has seen the big world, everyone's reaction is not unusual. The main reason is that the performance of Brand's 120mm is really incredible.

The current Republic of China is not incapable of producing mortars with a caliber exceeding 120 mm. The Fengtian Arsenal and the Guo Preserved Fifty Factory even made large 150 mm tubes before.

Unfortunately, due to reasons such as materials and workmanship, the above-mentioned weapons are inferior in range and other indicators, and their performance is often only about 70% of imported products.

As a product of a long-established artillery powerhouse and the work of the founder of mortars, even the original version is far more powerful than Sud's equipment of the same period.

After all, both weigh more than 280 kilograms, and their ranges are only 5,700 meters and 6,000 meters.

The basic data of the new cannon made the brigade commander's eyes light up again.

"Is it a range of nearly eight thousand meters? It's really an enlarged version of the 81 mm mortar."

"This seventeen kilogram shell must have three kilograms of powder. It's really a good thing."

Although the muzzle velocity of the mortar is not high, its powerful power is definitely not inferior to the Japanese 105 howitzer. Ordinary civil bunkers are definitely one shot at a time.

The Type 92 infantry artillery and the Type 94 mountain artillery can only be beaten while hanging in the face of heavy pressure.

If there had been such a thing in the Hundred Regiment War, the soldiers' results would have been greater, and the corresponding casualties would have been reduced.

"What's the specific power?"

After having the data, everyone present was more looking forward to the upcoming test launch.

Caliber and weight of shells are just numbers after all. As practical bosses, they want to see specific combat effects.

When the deputy general staff asked this question, political commissar Zhu had already completed the erection of the artillery position. A few kilometers away, a civil fortification served as a target.

"Everyone, the live-fire test is about to begin."

After finishing speaking, the soldiers of the artillery company began to do the last inspection before shooting. They raised the barrel of the gun and then lifted out the heavy shells for later use.

"Report!"

"Preparations are complete and can be fired at any time!"

"good!"

Political Commissar Zhu used the portable communicator to confirm that the distant targets were in place, and all staff had evacuated the scene.

"Everyone, the intended target is a semi-buried civil bunker four kilometers away."

"The target bunker was built according to the Japanese standard structure. In order to test the performance of the 120 mm mortar, the comrades also strengthened the fortification to a certain extent."

"It has three layers of crisscrossed pine beams on the top, and multiple wooden support columns on the bottom, which can protect it from direct hits from multiple 81mm mortar shells."

"let's start."

The deputy commander said.

Political Commissar Zhu ran to the gun emplacement and personally directed the soldiers to aim.

Today is the first time the artillerymen have come into contact with large-caliber mortars. The performance of the new weapon is unfamiliar to everyone. In order to live up to Huang He's trust in him, he decided to take action himself.

After confirming that it was correct, Political Commissar Zhu signaled everyone present that he was about to open fire.

"boom!"

The muzzle fireworks bloomed, and the ground was shaken up with a circle of dust.

A moment later, there was a huge explosion in the distance, followed by fire and smoke.

"Missed the target, the impact point was fifty meters to the right!"

After hearing the impact point of the artillery shells reported by the observation post, Political Commissar Zhu adjusted his shooting at Zhu Yuan without changing his expression, and then asked the artillery crew to prepare for loading.

For a new cannon, it is normal for the first shot to miss, and there is nothing to make a fuss about.

Fifteen seconds later, another round of artillery was ejected from the chamber and flew towards the target fortification.

Political Commissar Zhu is indeed a top student who graduated from the artillery school. He has mastered the use of this gun in just one test firing, and the second shell hit the bunker accurately.

With the help of telescopes, everyone watched as an almost invisible black spot penetrated into a semi-buried civil bunker in the distance. Then smoke rose, along with soil and debris scattered in all directions.

In an instant, all the big shots, including the deputy commander-in-chief and deputy general staff officer, were all boiling.

The blasted wood chips and dust all proved that the solid civil bunkers in the distance were completely destroyed.

One shot into the soul!

If the opposite side is really an enemy position, then the shelling just now has killed more than a dozen Japanese soldiers and a solid fortification.

"What a shot!"

The deputy commander couldn't help but applaud, the explosion just now was definitely a feast for the eyes.

"It's indeed a good shot."

The deputy general staff officer also nodded in agreement. Everyone was very satisfied with the power of the 120mm mortar. With such brutal attack weapons, the Eighth Route Army's combat effectiveness will inevitably rise to a higher level.

While everyone was sighing, Political Commissar Zhu took a portable communicator and began to report a detailed battle report.

"The shelling just now completely destroyed the internal structure of the fortification. There is absolutely no one who can withstand that shell."

Although they saw the bunker collapse with their own eyes, the serious internal damage still surprised the big bosses, and they immediately walked towards the artillery position.

······

After the test firing, Huang He followed the bosses to the office of the test site.

In addition to taking a look at the new weapons, there is another big thing to draft today. That is to establish the Artillery Academy of the Eighth Route Army and elect its first principal.

Nowadays, troops at all levels have successively installed three French mortars, 50, 60 and 81. In addition to the 120mm mortar to be installed in the second half of the year and the 75 Miss that will be transferred to the regiment level, the Eighth Route Army's artillery has begun to take shape. .

The current situation seems perfect, but there is a problem gradually emerging.

That is, the training speed of artillery is far less than the production of new weapons. If this continues, the army will be in an embarrassing situation with a large number of equipment and people waiting for it.

In order to speed up the training of artillery cadres and vigorously develop the artillery of the main force, both the border region and the Eighth Route Army headquarters believed that it was necessary to establish an artillery academy in Shanxi.

In the deputy commander-in-chief's original plan, he was planning to let the artillery director of the 129th Division serve as the principal.

After all, Director Zhao has seniority and has followed the troops through snowy mountains and grasslands. He is a veteran who has grown up from the grassroots level step by step through military exploits.

When fighting on the Dadu River, if he hadn't killed three fire points with three rounds of artillery shells, the soldiers would have suffered heavy casualties.

Although his educational level is somewhat low, he is more successful because of his rich practical experience and extraordinary talent. In today's special period, Ye Luzi's speed may be even faster.

However, the deputy general staff officer had his own ideas. Director Zhao was indeed the artillery master of the 129th Division, but he spent most of his time manipulating mortars.

If it was the previous Kuhaha period, it would be understandable to let the other party serve as the principal. After all, the army only has mortars at its disposal most of the time.

But now, in addition to mortars of various calibers, the Eighth Route Army also has 75mm barrel guns and Red Arrow self-propelled rocket launchers. Even in a year or two, it will be equipped with a 155mm large-tube howitzer.

At this moment, the artillery school needs a founder of systematization, modernization and theory.

From a strategic perspective, Political Commissar Zhu, who graduated from the Krasin Artillery School, is the best candidate for the principal. The position suitable for Director Zhao should be the head of the training department of the school.

After everyone arrived, the deputy commander signaled Huang He to close the door, and then said straight to the point:

"Xiao Zhu, the border area and headquarters have an important task for you."

"I am planning to establish an artillery academy in Yangquan. After many organizational discussions, the superiors have decided that you will be the first principal."

"Except for the teaching materials that you need to compile yourself, all teaching aids are handled by the military industrial zone in the southeastern Shanxi base area. I have only one request for you, and that is to start classes as soon as possible! Cultivate the first batch of graduates as soon as possible!"

It is the bounden duty of soldiers to obey orders. After hearing the deputy commander-in-chief’s arrangements, political commissar Zhu immediately stood at attention and saluted and replied:

"yes!"

"Promise to complete the mission!"

Although Political Commissar Zhu agreed happily, there was still a trace of hesitation in his heart. On weekdays, he is mainly responsible for presiding over the overall coordination work of the Shandong Anti-Japanese Base Area. There are many things that cannot be separated from him.

For example, most of the national troops behind enemy lines in Shandong are Yu Xuezhong's troops from the Northeast Army.

Due to the existence of Political Commissar Zhu, the Shandong Eighth Route Army and the Northeast Army have always maintained good cooperation, and there have been almost no friction incidents between the two sides.

If he comes to Shanxi and becomes a principal, it is very likely that his previous efforts will be in vain.

Seemingly sensing the other party's concerns, the deputy general staff officer said very considerately:

"We left you and Lao Xu in Shanxi, and we must have thought about who to send to Shandong to take over."

"Don't worry, the headquarters will not keep you in school as a teacher. Desperate War Fox asked me to give you a message. He said that there is an artillery marshal in the north, so you will definitely be the artillery marshal of our Eighth Route Army in the future!

"Besides, as the principal of the Artillery Academy, it's certainly not too much for you to arrange a few practical training sessions for the students."

"Okay! It's better to be respectful than to obey!"

Looking at the two people enjoying themselves, Huang He said silently in his heart:

"Principal Zhu, there is no shortage of artillery in the army now. You no longer need to go to the battlefield to seize weapons in person. The current situation is very good, and no enemy has the right to let you go to the battlefield in person!"

Another difficult person to calm down