Rebirth of the 1980s: The Military Industry Empire

This is a battle of honor.

The old 120's gun barrel pressure is only 300 megapascals, so its power is limited. Now that we have obtained advanced L7 tank gun technology from the West, we can certainly use this technology to improve tank guns! Increasing the barrel pressure can increase the power, and increasing the barrel pressure can be achieved by increasing the volume of the propellant chamber.

Qin Yang supports the 125mm tank gun because this gun's propellant chamber volume is 13.4 liters. In fact, the 120mm tank gun's propellant chamber volume can also be increased by lengthening the cartridge case!

We must surpass Factory 960's 125mm tank gun; otherwise, how can Factory 447 hold its head up in the system?

"Lengthening the barrel and increasing the propellant chamber are the main ways to increase power."

"That's right. In this way, the power of the 120mm gun can really exceed that of the 125mm gun!"

"Exactly. Anyway, we mainly fire discarding sabot armor-piercing projectiles. The thickness of the gun barrel has nothing to do with the projectile. As long as the sabot is suitable."

The crowd began to discuss.

Old Huang revealed a smile: "The third-generation tank project is very important and cannot be rushed. The choice of caliber is even more related to the equipment needs of the troops for the next few decades. Since this is the case, then we can't rush to make a decision. Factories 447 and 960 will each trial-produce prototype guns, and we will make a choice after testing them on the firing range. Does anyone else want to try? Our army can afford the cost of this experiment."

No one spoke below.

Factory 447 is the largest gun factory, and Factory 960 is a rising star. It's enough for the two factories to compete. They know their own capabilities and won't join in the fun.

"Engineer Qin, do you have any opinions?"

"Me? I want to advise the military to save some money and only support us. However, the military probably won't listen to me. Since this is the case, then what else can I say? You'll know after the test firing. Sigh, I want to save you money, but you don't appreciate it."

This confident tone still made people feel uncomfortable. The military industry workers from Factory 447 clenched their fists. After returning, they wouldn't even celebrate the New Year; they would focus on this gun and definitely surpass Factory 960!

"Okay, then the tank gun matter is settled. Next, let's continue to talk about the engine problem," Old Huang said. "Our second-generation tanks will temporarily use mature 730-horsepower engines. Our third-generation tanks must have breakthroughs! Engineer Qin, tell us, what horsepower engine is most suitable?"

Qin Yang was no longer an outsider. Their Factory 960 was going to undertake the research and development work of the tank gun, so they were considered part of the tank industry. Moreover, Qin Yang had the most long-term vision, and Qin Yang's tone was the biggest. If they wanted to make progress in the tank industry, they should let Qin Yang stimulate the people present.

Qin Yang proposed the tank gun's specifications, and a penetration depth of 500 millimeters was a bottom line. When proposing the engine's specifications, it definitely couldn't be too low.

"Twelve hundred horsepower," Qin Yang said. "If it's lower than this horsepower, then don't call yourself a third-generation tank."

Currently, the power of the 122 series tanks can already be increased to 1,000 horsepower. However, these power systems have various problems: some need to be imported, some have short lifespans, and some are too bulky.

Now, to take another step and achieve a power output of 1,200 horsepower is even more difficult.

After all, even the old Maozi's tank engines don't have this level. Their T-80 uses a 1,000-horsepower gas turbine. By the 90s, the T-80U was upgraded to a 1,250-horsepower GTD-1250 gas turbine. After the split, the T-80UD developed by Ermao also used a 1,000-horsepower 6TD diesel engine. Only in the new millennium did they have a 1,200-horsepower 6TD-2 diesel engine, which was used on the Al-Khalid tank jointly developed by China and Pakistan.

As for Europe, currently only Germany's 1,500-horsepower diesel engine and the British's 1,200-horsepower diesel engine exist.

The Americans only use gas turbines, so let's not talk about them.

Now, Qin Yang came up and proposed this specification, which was simply ambitious and a pipe dream!

"That's right, Engineer Qin is right. A 1,200-horsepower engine is a hard indicator. This way, even if we increase the tank's weight to fifty tons in order to increase protection, we can still guarantee a power-to-weight ratio of 24 horsepower per ton," Old Zhu said.

Old Zhu didn't speak about the tank gun because he had already guessed that it was impossible for the higher-ups to directly adopt the 125mm caliber without a bidding process. However, in terms of engines, they had to forcibly raise their own specifications.

Anyway, with the transitional second-generation tank, the research and development of the third-generation tank must be upgraded by a level. If there are not high enough specifications, how can the army win future wars?

"It is possible to achieve this power specification, but the engine's volume will not be small. It will be difficult to achieve a compact power system," an expert from Factory 636 said.

Factory 636 was established in Jilin in 1948, earlier than the birth of New China. It is a long-established enterprise. In the early years, it mainly repaired diesel engines, and later transitioned to manufacturing diesel engines. It was the earliest manufacturer of military diesel engines in the country.

The 8V150 diesel engine is also their product, but they know that it is already the limit, and the reliability is still very poor. It is too difficult to continue to increase the power.

"We believe that the 1,200-horsepower specification can be achieved. By using a turbocharger on the basis of the 12150L diesel engine, we have stably increased the power to 730 horsepower. The SD150 diesel engine we trial-produced has even increased the power to 1,000 horsepower, but it is not yet mature. Next, we have the confidence to continue to increase the power to 1,200 horsepower and improve it. We plan to name it the X150 engine," said Guo Liming, an engineer from Factory 616.

Factory 616 is one of the 156 key projects in the country's first five-year plan: Shanxi Diesel Engine Factory. This factory is currently the largest diesel engine factory in the country. From the 59 tank onwards, it has been responsible for producing tank engines until now.

They are taking the route of continuous improvement, tapping the potential of the old workhorse that began to appear on the stage from the T-34 era: the famous B2 tank diesel engine.

520 horsepower to 580 horsepower, and then to 730 horsepower, these are all mature. Although the 1,000-horsepower diesel engine currently installed on the 122 tank is not yet mature, as long as it is continuously improved, there is no problem at all! It is also possible to continue to increase it to 1,200 horsepower!

"No, it can reach eight or nine hundred horsepower at most. The 1,000-horsepower diesel engine you trial-produced will definitely blow the cylinder head. As for 1,200 horsepower, it is even more impossible," Qin Yang shook his head.

Hearing the term "blow the cylinder head," Guo Liming was stunned: "How do you know?"