Rebirth of the 1980s: The Military Industry Empire

At the gun range, behind the testing area, Qin Yang and Yang Zhenhua sat together on a pile of dirt, chatting while listening to the sounds of gunfire.

"Qin, you are truly amazing. The 69-3 tank has been tested at our range for months, and the accuracy problem hasn't been solved. You solved it as soon as you arrived," Yang Zhenhua said excitedly to Qin Yang. "You are a military industry genius! The gun you designed has no problems during testing. It's just a matter of going through the process, and it will be finalized soon."

Qin Yang smiled: "I was just lucky."

"Lucky?"

"Yes, I was bluffing that foreigner. I saw him glancing at the barrel from time to time, and I knew there was something strange. If the barrel is generally okay, then it's probably the thermal sleeve that's not up to par."

Yang Zhenhua stared at Qin Yang for a few seconds, and not finding any signs of guilt, he could only give up trying to get to the bottom of it.

"Speaking of which, it's strange. Since the British decided to sell us the tank gun, why would they cause such trouble?"

"Their purpose is to try every possible way to trick our tanks into going over there to be their targets," Qin Yang said. "If our tanks go over for testing, they will definitely create a misfire incident to see how durable our tanks really are."

Yang Zhenhua felt a chill in his heart: "Aren't the British very familiar with the data of the T-54 series tanks?"

"That's right, they are very familiar with the performance of this tank. Although our 59 tank is similar in appearance to the T-54, it uses our own rare earth armor steel, which they have never been exposed to. They don't know much about the protection of our tanks, so they want to take this opportunity to test it out."

Back then, when Factory 617 was just established and the tank industry was just starting, the Soviets left, and everything had to be done by ourselves! The Prairie Steel Plant was based domestically and developed special rare earth armor steel, which was unique in the world. As for its protection, it was a mystery.

In fact, the British didn't need to be so anxious. The Iran-Iraq War had already broken out. Next, our tank factory would be running at full capacity, selling a large number of 69 tanks to them, which would be galloping on the battlefield. A large number of tanks would also be destroyed. By then, they would know how poor the protection of this tank was, and it could be penetrated by the L7 tank gun!

"The foreigners have bad intentions," Yang Zhenhua said with emotion: "I was originally grateful that they exported the L7 tank gun technology to us, which solved our urgent need…"

"That's right, this project is helpful to us, but for them, it is already outdated technology. They will not give us advanced technology."

The L7 tank gun was launched by the British Royal Ordnance Factory in 1959. Although it was widely used as a NATO standard tank gun, the British themselves didn't use it much. Their Chieftain tanks had already been replaced with 120mm tank guns, which had a larger caliber, longer range, and greater power.

In actual combat, this tank gun had destroyed tanks 3,000 meters away, which shows how powerful it was.

Germany also developed a 120mm smoothbore gun, which replaced the L7 and became the NATO standard tank gun. The Western world's tank guns have begun to move towards a 120mm caliber!

"Yes, now we have a big gap with the West. We can only improve our technology through procurement, but in the future, if we want to continue to improve our technology, we still have to be based on independent research and development. We can't import the most advanced weapons by introducing them," Yang Zhenhua also said with emotion.

"Yes, fortunately, the foundation of the L7 tank gun is solid. As long as the barrel remains unchanged and the shells are continuously improved, the armor-piercing ability will continue to increase. According to our habits, patching and mending, we can use it for at least thirty or forty years."

"Just improving the ammunition can make it last for thirty or forty years?" Yang Zhenhua opened his eyes wide.

Qin was talking too outrageously! However, thinking of Qin Yang's recent performance, he accepted it. Since Qin said it, then it's no problem!

His gaze looked into the distance and was attracted by a 212 car. The car drove to the vicinity of the two, and a familiar person came down.

The two stood up suspiciously and greeted him.

"Mr. Smith?" Yang Zhenhua said curiously: "Why are you here?"

"I have already heard about Qin's deeds. He is a very powerful person. I admire him very much and want to make friends with him," Smith said, looking at Qin Yang: "Please forgive my negligence in the thermal sleeve of the barrel. Please rest assured that similar things will not happen again in the future."

Qin Yang was extremely curious. What's going on recently? It's fine that Xu Zhiqiang changed his mind so quickly, but this foreigner actually discovered his conscience? It shouldn't be!

"Qin, what do you think of the war that just broke out?" Smith continued to ask.

"Yes, that's right!"

"On the first day of the war, Iraq did not concentrate its forces to attack Iran's key departments and did not destroy Iran's military power. This is the biggest mistake. What do you think?"

"Yes, that's right."

Qin Yang spoke eloquently, and Smith nodded in praise. When he had already begun to form a habit of thinking, Qin Yang suddenly changed the topic: "Although you provided the L7 tank gun, you didn't provide us with the advanced armor-piercing rounds, right?"

"Yes, that's right!"

After answering, Smith suddenly realized: He had been tricked!

"Qin, what I just said…"

"Although we have not established an alliance relationship, your leaders have publicly stated that we have a common enemy. Now, is this how you treat us? Providing low-end tank guns and unwilling to provide us with the most advanced armor-piercing rounds?"

Yang Zhenhua couldn't interrupt at all. Listening to the two of them talking gibberish, even the translator couldn't translate it accurately and in a timely manner. Now, seeing that the atmosphere of the conversation between the two had suddenly changed, Yang Zhenhua asked the translator: "What were they talking about just now?"

"The British did not provide us with the most advanced armor-piercing rounds."

"Qin, I think you still have misunderstandings about us. What we provide is the most advanced armor-piercing round, which is enough to penetrate the front armor of the T-72 tank! I can swear!"

"But the threat we face is not just the T-72, but also the T-64!"

If you look at it from the model number, the T-64 is more ancient and seems to have lower performance, but in reality, of course, it is not the case. The T-72 tank was developed as a low-end tank to make up for the insufficient number of T-64 high-end tanks! Of course, in the end, it was taken over by the then unknown tank designer Kartsev to start a new stove, and the ending was a happy one.

The T-64 is a high-end product with thicker armor and requires ammunition with stronger armor-piercing capabilities. After the T-64 tank was replaced with a gas turbine, it became the famous T-80.

The specific value of protection is still top secret. The West developed a 120mm tank gun to destroy this tank.