Rebirth of the 1980s: The Military Industry Empire

When Qin Yang returned to the grassland, it was already mid-May. The naval battle in the South Atlantic continued fiercely. Qin Yang didn't know how much change adding ten anti-ship missiles would bring to this war. He was just a arms dealer and made a quick buck.

This matter couldn't be overdone, and other countries, especially Britain, couldn't know about it. As long as it could create problems for Britain and make the British lack confidence when negotiating the return of the territory in the future, that would achieve his goal. As for the others, he hadn't thought about it for the time being.

He couldn't take care of so much either.

Factory 617 was still busy, with large numbers of 69 tanks being produced, creating a unique myth of the 1980s. In the production workshop for third-generation tanks, there were also some people working hard.

"So fast?" When Qin Yang saw the tank chassis, he said in surprise, "The tracks are already being installed. This progress is too fast, isn't it?"

The production steps of a tank chassis are not complicated: welding the chassis, drilling holes, painting, installing torsion bar suspension, road wheels, and track rollers, installing the tracks, installing the engine, and then installing various accessories.

Now, the first few steps had been completed.

The chassis was wide, with six pairs of road wheels below, plus the track rollers. The temperament of a war machine was already showing. As long as the tracks were installed, it would be intimidating just from the appearance.

At this time, two double-pin tracks were laid in front of the chassis. Workers were attaching steel cables to the chassis, planning to use the steel cables to pull the heavy chassis slowly forward onto the tracks, and then hook the rear of the tracks onto the drive sprocket and continue pulling. The tracks on both sides would be installed in place, and then the pins would be put on, completing the work of putting shoes on the tank.

In the field, disassembling and assembling tracks was definitely a physical task. After all, the tracks of this type of tank were composed of 85 track plates, and one track weighed 2.1 tons. In the factory, with the help of various equipment, labor could be made easier.

What Qin Yang saw first was the side of the chassis, which was quite satisfactory, domineering and mighty, and would also be among the top ten tanks in the world in the future. But when he walked to the front of the chassis and saw the unique V-shaped structure on it, he immediately shook his head.

"Whose idea is this?" Qin Yang asked, pointing to the structure.

"Mine." Wang Ming, the engineer in charge of tank armor protection research and development, said, "What's wrong? Is this design not good? Our previous tanks had the driver's compartment on the left side, so we couldn't do this kind of design. Now that we've changed to a center driver's compartment, we can completely transplant the excellent design of the T-72. This V-shaped splash guard is very useful when the tank is wading."

That's right, this design is called a splash guard. The old Maozi's tanks have had it since the T-64, and they have been inheriting and developing it.

The bottom of the V-shape was welded to the very front of the chassis, and the opening of the V-shape just protected the central driver, so that when wading, this structure could divert water to both sides, so as not to get into the driver's compartment.

At the same time, in order to increase the strength, several horizontal bars were added inside the V-shape, which could prevent the shell from hitting the front armor and causing a ricochet to hit the lower part of the turret.

"General Qin, we think this design is very good, so we took it over." Old Zhu said, "Do you think there is a problem?"

Of course there was a problem. The Appearance Association used this to belittle our tanks, saying they were imitations of the T-72!

He nodded: "If we do this, how will we install additional reactive armor in the future?"

Everyone immediately reacted. Wang Ming patted his head: "Oh, really, how could I forget this? According to our plan, the tank armor protection will be gradually upgraded, and additional armor will have to be hung on it in the future. The outside must be flat. Let's get rid of this thing!"

"No need, since it's welded on, let's use it first. Anyway, this first prototype is mainly for testing the engine."

"No, it still has to be cut off. It must be consistent with the subsequent prototypes, so that it will be convenient for the military parade."

"Military parade?" Qin Yang asked in surprise, "Our tanks are going to participate in the military parade?"

Although he knew that everyone was looking forward to this kind of tank participating in the military parade, it wasn't that fast, was it?

Now they had just developed the first prototype. Could they make it to the military parade in two years? What if something went wrong then?

Qin Yang raised his head and looked at the slogan hanging in the workshop: Fight for a hundred days, and the third-generation tank will leave the workshop! He was a little speechless.

"That's right, the army is trying its best to fight for it. As long as our tank can complete the test before the military parade, they will let us go on stage. Even if there is only one, it must walk in the forefront of the entire army to show our momentum."

Qin Yang shook his head helplessly: "Launching satellites, exaggerating!"

"If it were before, we would definitely not be so rash, but it is different now, General Qin. With your help, our third-generation tank will definitely be able to complete the research and development as soon as possible." Old Zhu said, "We have confidence in you."

"Hoist the engine and gearbox over and prepare to install the power pack!" Zhang Baozhong shouted loudly, "Every second counts, don't waste time!"

Okay, Zhang Baozhong is here too.

Qin Yang looked over, and the power pack was slowly coming under the hoisting of the crane.

"This is the second prototype made by Factory 616, and it is installed together with the side transmission of the T-72 tank imitated by our tank factory to form a power unit. This will be convenient for field repairs in the future. It is the experience absorbed from Western tanks." Old Zhu introduced from the side.

The idea of a power unit is indeed good. This is also the difference between the East and the West. The East pays attention to people adapting to equipment. It doesn't matter if the tank is small. Just find some short people to drive it. It doesn't matter if the inside is bumpy and hits the head. Just wear a helmet.

The West pays attention to equipment adapting to people. The inside must be comfortable, the space must be large enough, and the maintenance must be simple. The overall hoisting of the engine is of great significance.

"It's a pity that our engine is longitudinally placed. When we improve it in the future, we will change the engine from longitudinal to transverse, so that our chassis can be shortened by half a meter and reduce one or two tons of weight for protection." Qin Yang said, looking at the layout of the engine.

Western engines are all longitudinally placed, that is, the axis of the engine is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tank. Because the Western power pack is square, there is no problem with this arrangement. The Eastern tank engines have always been transverse, because it is a V-shaped 60-degree cylinder angle, and the engine is long. Placing it horizontally can save length.

On the third-generation tank, placing the engine vertically is also a compromise. When it came to the 99A tank, with the hydraulic transmission system, it was changed from longitudinal to transverse, reducing the length of the chassis.

The engine was hoisted in place, and various pipelines and drive shafts were connected. Everyone was busy.

Where is Xiao Qian? What has she been doing here recently? Qin Yang looked around.

A pretty figure ran in from outside, panting.

"Brother Yang, I just received the latest news. A fierce naval battle has broken out in the South Atlantic. The invincible aircraft carrier has been sunk!"