Rebirth of the 1980s: The Military Industry Empire

"Old Zhu, what are you doing here?" Zhang Wanhe was stunned.

"I've been here for the past few days," Old Zhu said. "I've been with Engineer Qin the whole time. But you, why aren't you properly doing research at Heshuling? What are you doing here?"

Zhang Wanhe's anger vanished instantly: "Old Zhu, so you're the one leading this armor-piercing shell project? If I had known you were in charge, I wouldn't have said anything. I heard that Leader Pan…"

"No, I'm not in charge of this project. Engineer Qin is leading it single-handedly! He has opened my eyes these past few days and shown me how capable he is," Old Zhu said. "Old Zhang, what's wrong with you? Leader Pan has seen me here. Didn't he tell you?"

Zhang Wanhe seemed to understand something. That Leader Pan had ulterior motives!

"960 Factory has developed advanced armor-piercing shells, solving the urgent problems of our tank units. Shouldn't we support them? In your eyes, is there only our 201 Institute, and no army or country?"

"Of course not, I just…" Zhang Wanhe was rendered speechless by Old Zhu's question and lowered his head in shame.

"Old Zhu, they didn't mean anything by it. They were just provoked by others," Qin Yang said. "They're here on official business. The higher-ups have assigned them the task of installing L7 guns on 59 tanks. They're afraid they won't be able to complete it and wanted to ask me for help. For your sake, I have to help. Engineer Zhang, Engineer Zhuang? Am I right?"

Help? Engineer Qin's words made the two of them feel ashamed.

The two had been provoked by Leader Pan and originally wanted to come here to embarrass Qin Yang. Now, Qin Yang was even giving them a way out, and they couldn't help but feel grateful to Qin Yang.

Hmph, next time I see that Leader Pan, I'll give him a piece of my mind!

"This work really does need Engineer Qin's help. The technicians responsible for researching the installation of the L7 tank gun on the 69-3 tank have all gone to participate in the tests. They originally spent a month working with the British to complete the installation. Engineer Qin, you say you can complete the installation in two days. I, Old Zhu, have to open my eyes and see it," Old Zhu said, seeing that the conflict had been resolved. He was very happy and continued to talk about work matters.

"That's right. It did take a long time back then. Engineer Qin, do you have a way to complete the installation in two days?" Zhuang Shuren also brought his thoughts back to work.

Today is the 26th, and there are only four or five days left until National Day. If the installation is completed in two days, wouldn't it be possible to present a gift to the leaders before National Day?

"Of course. The L7 tank gun has good adaptability. As for why it took so long for the original one, you might as well ask the British. They're here on a business trip. Are we giving them subsidies based on the number of days?"

A chill ran down the spines of several people: So that's how it is!

"Since Engineer Qin is already confident, then let's not delay. Coordinate tonight and send the tank and gun here. Tomorrow and the day after, we'll use two days to install the tank. When the British sabot arrives, we can test it," Old Zhu arranged.

"Okay."

The two accepted the task and left. Qin Yang sent the two to the door with a smile and then looked at Old Zhu beside him.

"Old Zhu, thank you for appearing in time."

"Thank me for what? Those two should be thanking me. If I hadn't appeared in time, they would definitely be in trouble now," Old Zhu said, finishing the matter. Then, he thought of something else: "Engineer Qin, two days is very tight! What are your specific plans for the modification?"

"Just modify it, it's very simple. Let's talk about it tomorrow. Old Zhu, let's go eat."

Early the next morning, amid the rumbling sounds, a Type 59 tank drove off a trailer.

"Report, the first squad of the second platoon of the third company of the * * Tank Regiment of the Capital Military Region is ordered to bring a tank to accept modification! Tank squad leader Zhang Yong!" The short tank soldier raised his right arm and saluted Old Zhu and the others.

"Thank you for your hard work, squad leader Zhang. Next, everyone help to dismantle the tank gun!"

Zhuang Shuren and Zhang Wanhe also came over. Looking at the people around, they asked in surprise: "Engineer Qin, aren't you calling the factory workers?"

The sabot sent from the UK has arrived, and today we can assemble the armor-piercing shells!

Robert and the others were all in Workshop No. 5. There were several more boxes beside them. After opening them, there were shiny sabots inside.

"Saddle-shaped sabot!" Looking at the things inside, Old Zhu was very emotional: "This thing is too precise!"

When China was developing the 100mm smoothbore gun, it also developed fin-stabilized discarding sabot armor-piercing shells. However, China's armor-piercing shells were the most primitive. The sabot used was a disc fixed in the center of the penetrator to seal the propellant gas. The penetrator was also made of ordinary tungsten carbide, which was completely incomparable to the armor-piercing shells made by Qin Yang.

"That's right, it's not easy," Qin Yang said. "However, this kind of sabot has good sealing performance and can add nylon sliding bands. It's also easy to separate after it goes out, making it the best choice for rifled guns. Come, let's install it next."

"Qin, are you going to install it manually?" Robert asked curiously.

In the UK, ammunition production is now fully automated. Only the most skilled master craftsmen dare to manually load shells, and even they can't guarantee accuracy. Qin Yang is actually going to install it manually. Will it work?

"Not to mention shells, we can even rub out mushroom bombs by hand!" Qin Yang generously picked up a penetrator: "Everyone, look carefully, this penetrator doesn't have a steel sleeve."

Robert nodded: "Yes, these sabots of ours are also produced according to the size without a steel sleeve."

These sabots were also specially made to match the penetrator without a steel sleeve. Even if Qin Yang wanted to cheat, it was impossible.

"However, how do you stuff it in?" Old Zhu looked at the sabot and then at the penetrator. He guessed that a hydraulic press would be needed.

"Yeah, how do you stuff it in?" Qin Yang muttered, then aimed the penetrator at the tail of the sabot with his left hand, and raised a sledgehammer with his right hand.

"Qin, are you actually going to use a sledgehammer? No, that will damage the precise sabot!" Seeing Qin Yang's movements, several people's expressions changed, and Robert tried to dissuade him.

Bang!

Qin Yang had already smashed down with a sledgehammer, and the sabot broke into two halves in response.

Qin Yang just used the penetrator as a chisel and smashed the sabot in the center of the gap, turning the sabot into two halves!

"Robert, don't you know that this thing is in two halves?" Qin Yang asked with a smile.

Of course they knew, but they didn't know if Qin Yang knew, so they wanted to use this method to make Qin Yang look foolish!

When the sabot is manufactured, it is made into two or three petals. Therefore, the penetrator can be placed directly inside, and then the sabot is turned into a whole with a band or hoop.

Some sabots have threaded holes in the center that fit tightly with the threads of the penetrator, and some are fixed directly with screws.

In this way, inside the barrel, the penetrator and the sabot are always a whole. After flying out, under the huge air resistance, the sabot will separate, leaving only the penetrator to continue flying.

The British machining process is not for show. The contact surface between the two halves of the sabot is machined very smoothly, so that the molecular force between them is absorbed during transportation. Now, Qin Yang used a hammer to smash it open.

"Okay, success, let's install it next." Qin Yang skillfully fixed the penetrator to the sabot, then assembled the sabot and stuffed the whole thing into the cartridge.

The penetrator is nearly half a meter long. After the installation is complete, only the tip is exposed outside. The sabot is poked in front of the cartridge, and most of the penetrator is buried in the propellant. This is also the benefit of a complete armor-piercing shell. If you want to further improve the armor-piercing performance in the future, you have to increase the length of the penetrator, and the longest can poke all the way to the back of the cartridge.

Everything was installed manually, the efficiency was very slow, and Qin Yang didn't put too much effort into it. He almost chatted and worked at the same time. After five armor-piercing shells were assembled, the day passed.