Rebirth of the 1980s: The Military Industry Empire

Installing an engine on a towed howitzer!

This statement stunned everyone, but Christian, who had come along, nodded and said, "That's right. In Europe, installing auxiliary engines on large-caliber towed howitzers is already a trend."

The first to install an engine on a cannon was Sweden. After the Cold War, in order to compensate for its shortcomings in large-caliber artillery, Sweden decided to purchase ready-made ones from the outside and then investigated the American M109.

However, after the investigation, they were not satisfied. The price of this self-propelled howitzer was very high. Both the procurement and operating costs were unacceptable to them, and the performance was not good: the rate of fire was not fast.

Therefore, they decided to develop towed howitzers themselves. However, in order to improve the mobility of towed howitzers, they compared the relatively expensive self-propelled artillery with the cheap but less mobile towed artillery and decided to combine the advantages of both: install an auxiliary power unit equipped with an engine to ensure movement, evacuation, and post-launch survivability.

Self-propelled artillery has to carry the cannon around, requiring an expensive chassis and independent operation, while the tractors for towed artillery can do other things, serving multiple purposes with one vehicle. They don't even need to consider the cost of the vehicle, as the troops need vehicles anyway.

However, towed artillery lacks mobility, so why not just install an engine on the cannon! However, this engine has very little power and can only allow the cannon to move forward at low speed, mainly for entering and exiting positions. Usually, it still needs to be towed by a vehicle.

This doesn't add much to the cost, but it significantly improves mobility, so it is welcomed by many countries. After the Swedes did this, other countries followed suit. The FH70, jointly developed by the UK, West Germany, and Italy, also installed an APU.

The Swedish FH77 was put into production in 1977 and continued until 1984, after which it began to be exported. Therefore, the East does not currently know that the West has this equipment.

Looking at this parasol, everyone should know which country's specialty it is.

Qin Yang had already thought of this solution.

The problem with the 155mm gun is not too big, but this 203mm towed howitzer is really too bulky. Without an engine, it would be really difficult to handle.

Moreover, installing an engine is not only for entering and exiting positions, but also for driving other components, especially a simple semi-automatic loading machine. After all, the shells of the 203mm howitzer weigh a full 101 kilograms. It's okay for the loaders to carry them from the ammunition box to the cannon, but it's not easy to lift them into the breech. If you're not careful, even if it just falls and hits your foot, it will definitely be a comminuted fracture.

This auxiliary power also provides energy to drive the semi-automatic loading machine! In this way, it reduces the physical exertion of the artillery, and the rate of fire is also increased. At the same time, since it is only a semi-automatic loading machine, the structure is simple, and the cost will not increase too much. This is definitely the best solution.

"However, you are the first to install a semi-automatic loading machine on a cannon. I wish you success," Christian continued.

"Thanks," Qin Yang continued to introduce to the group of shocked officers.

"This type of cannon is most suitable for use in cities. Once you encounter a target that needs to be attacked in a city, you can use the cannon to bombard it. At this time, the advantage of the cannon having its own engine is displayed. It can drive over by itself. If it is a trailer, it may not be easy to enter and exit the position."

In fact, for long-range attacks, you can use rocket launchers, cruise missiles, or fighter jets to bomb. The use of large-caliber artillery is indeed not very great. However, in urban warfare, large-caliber artillery is definitely a weapon for demolishing houses.

There's a sniper on the other side? Okay, then blast all the buildings on the other side to the ground!

Even if it is a skyscraper, a 203mm shell can knock it down. If it is a 155mm shell, it may take several shots, and the building is crumbling, but it just won't collapse.

If you encounter sturdy reinforced concrete fortifications, you need large-caliber cannons to clear the field.

The big powers all have it, of course we have to have it too, and it has to be even more advanced!

While speaking, the cannon had completed its connection with the front tractor, which looked a bit unique.

"This is equivalent to our tractor towing a cargo box," Christian said. "Now, I will show you the performance of our tractor head."

He glanced at Qin Yang and gritted his teeth: "President Qin, would you like to try it out?"

Qin Yang drives very aggressively and dares to do all kinds of dangerous maneuvers, but precisely because of this, he can better demonstrate the excellent performance of his vehicles.

Qin Yang nodded: "Okay, I'll try it."

The roar of the engine sounded, Qin Yang drove the tractor head and started slowly, very smoothly, completely different from last time. He drove forward a section, and then saw a three-meter-wide passage between two Steyr trucks in the open space not far away.

So, he drove steadily over, and then turned the steering wheel sharply. With a sharp turn, the tractor head began to circle with the cannon. When the muzzle of the cannon was aimed at the passage, he stepped on the brakes and put it in reverse gear.

Twisting left and right, the front of the car was disorganized, but the cannon was almost parallel to the Steyr on both sides, and kept drilling inside.

Everyone originally thought that Qin Yang was going to park the car side by side, but unexpectedly, he continued to back up and left the two cars.

A minute later, the muzzle of the cannon was exposed from the center of the two car heads. Qin Yang actually completed the turn, reversed, and reversed the cannon again in the small space at the rear of the two cars!

Beautiful, well done!

Qin Yang first demonstrated the flexibility. After all, this cannon is too long, and the troops have serious concerns about the flexibility of the cannon. Now, the cannon drills back and forth in the gap between the two cars, fully demonstrating that there is no problem with flexibility.

After these are done, it's time to test the mobility.

"Okay, not bad, this tractor can completely meet the needs of the army!" Old Yang was very satisfied: "First purchase a batch for use in the military parade. Next, when our own factory is built, we will continue to purchase in large quantities!"

"Your choice of our Mercedes-Benz heavy truck is the most sensible!" Christian also relaxed and continued to introduce the advantages of the Mercedes-Benz heavy truck.