Rebirth of the 1980s: The Military Industry Empire

In recent years, the military industry has been producing at full capacity, and the number of weapons is increasing, but the quality has not improved much. Just look at the tanks; the designs from the 1950s are still in use today.

The same goes for artillery. The Type 66 howitzer is currently demonstrating its enormous power on the southern battlefield, keeping the enemy from raising their heads. However, this howitzer still uses technology from twenty years ago: the barrel is the old Russian D20 152mm howitzer, and the gun carriage is the domestically produced Type 60 howitzer carriage, with more than half of its parts being interchangeable with the Type 59-1 130mm cannon.

On the front lines, this howitzer has also exposed a large number of problems, especially its poor mobility. Harbin First Machine Building Plant accelerated the development of placing the Type 66 howitzer on a tracked chassis to form an advanced self-propelled howitzer, but it wasn't fully mature until 1983, so this weapon was named the Type 83 self-propelled howitzer.

The mobility problem was solved, but the range problem remained.

The Type 66 howitzer has enough power, blasting a large area with each shot, but its range is still a major weakness: when using ordinary shells, the maximum range is 17.2 kilometers. In the 1950s and 60s, this was considered long-range artillery, but now it is completely outdated!

Western standard 39-caliber 155mm howitzers have a range of 24 kilometers when firing ordinary shells, and can reach 30 kilometers when firing rocket-assisted projectiles!

Now, Qin Yang says he has a way to increase the range of the howitzer. Even if it only increases by three kilometers, it will bring the range to 20 kilometers, which would be a significant improvement.

"General Manager Qin, are you talking about rocket-assisted projectiles?" Zhuang Shuren asked. He couldn't bother to express his gratitude to Qin Yang. Qin Yang had once again helped them negotiate with Harbin First Machine Building Plant, and he was of course grateful, but now he was even more interested in the artillery technology.

Artillery experts have been working very hard to increase the range. When they discovered that traditional methods could not propel the shells further, they thought of adding power: adding a rocket engine to the tail of the shell. After launch, the rocket engine would ignite, propelling the shell forward, thus further increasing the range!

However, this method has its drawbacks.

"Rocket-assisted projectiles require adding a rocket engine, which reduces the amount of explosive in the warhead, resulting in reduced power and a complex structure, leading to high procurement costs. We want to use the simplest method to increase the range!"

The simplest method?

Everyone present was an artillery expert, and they were all wondering what other ways there were to increase the range.

"General Manager Qin, what methods do you have?" Even Xu Jianshe became curious.

The artillery used in their self-propelled howitzer was not developed by them, but if they could make the artillery fire further, it would mean that their self-propelled howitzer would be more popular and they would receive more orders from the military!

"Director Xu, how have you considered my suggestion?"

Xu Jianshe nodded: "Okay, General Manager Qin, if you can help us solve the engine cooling problem and also increase the range of the howitzer, then we won't compete with Factory 447 for the final assembly of the self-propelled anti-tank gun!"

"Okay, then let's talk about the engine cooling problem first," Qin Yang said. "The engine is crammed into such a small space, so normal cooling methods are definitely not going to work. Have you ever thought about installing a fan on the louvers of the engine compartment to force cooling?"

Xu Jianshe's eyes lit up: "That's right, the engine compartment has limited space and poor airflow, so the temperature remains high. If we can install a fan on the louvers, the temperature of the entire engine compartment can be reduced by several degrees. How did we not think of that?"

Qin Yang smiled. If he hadn't said it, they would have thought of it themselves in a few months. After all, in history, the engine compartment cooling problem of the 321 chassis was solved in this way. This is the advantage of a time-traveler.

"What about the shell problem?"

"We'll talk about the shell problem later," Qin Yang said. "It's so late today, shouldn't we go eat first? Director Zhuang, has your cafeteria prepared dinner for these guests?"

"Yes, yes," Zhuang Shuren nodded. "Lao Xu, take your people, let's go eat together! Old Huang, Old Zhu, are you going too?"

Factory 447, cafeteria.

Qin Yang looked at the two bottles of Prairie King placed on the table, a look of disdain appearing in his eyes: "Director Zhuang, are you looking down on us? Why are you serving us such weak wine? Where's the 'Knock-Down Donkey'?"

Prairie King's light-aroma liquor has a fresh and refreshing fragrance, with a crisp and strong taste that is stimulating but doesn't go to the head.

The 'Knock-Down Donkey' is different. This liquor has an alcohol content of about sixty degrees. A strong, young donkey would fall after taking two sips, let alone a person. However, because the liquor is strong enough, it has become a favorite of men.

"Yes, General Manager Qin is right, we'll change it now."

Fu Ansheng, who had already walked to the entrance of the cafeteria, stopped, thought for a few seconds, and then turned back.

Raising his glass, Qin Yang looked across the table: "Director Xu, you are guests from afar, so this first glass of wine is to toast you. The 321 chassis you invented will become the common chassis for our military in the future. Whether it's howitzers, anti-tank guns, or rocket launchers, they will all use your chassis in the future! To the bright future of the 321 chassis, cheers!"

"Come, this second glass of wine is to toast Harbin First Machine Building Plant. You are the number one self-propelled artillery factory! You have provided a large amount of equipment to our military and are the biggest contributor to our mechanization!"

"Come, this third glass…"

After three glasses of wine, the people from Harbin First Machine Building Plant were all passed out.

Old Huang and Old Zhu only sat aside, watching Qin Yang's performance with great interest throughout the process.

"Director Zhuang, have your people taken action?"

"Taken what action?"

"Hurry up and unload that 321 chassis, if you don't do it now, when will you?"

Zhuang Shuren suddenly felt a little confused: "General Manager Qin, didn't you say you were going to invent an advanced shell as a condition for the exchange?"

"That's not an urgent matter, your project is more urgent, are you going to do it or not?"

Zhuang Shuren felt a chill in his heart. Had he tricked the people from Harbin First Machine Building Plant?

"What if they wake up?"

"Too bad!" Qin Yang said. "If they have the ability, let them come to the capital to find me. This cumin lamb is good, is there any more? Bring another plate!"

That night, the military train left Prairie City and headed east.

An extra green-skinned carriage was attached to the train, and Old Zhu and Old Huang were both on board. They looked at Qin Yang with extremely strange expressions.

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

"General Manager Qin, your position is already not low, you can't trick people, you have to keep your word," Old Zhu said.

"How am I not keeping my word?" Qin Yang said. "I only said I was going to invent a shell with a longer range for them, did I say I would give it to them immediately?"

Find a regular gun carriage, which is generally used for test firing.