Rebirth of the 1980s: The Military Industry Empire

To realize a two-person tank, there are only two possible solutions: one is to have a commander, driver, and intelligent gunner. In modern terms, this is called an automatic target search, tracking, and firing system, which can be abbreviated as commander/gunner + driver type.

The other is to have a commander, gunner, and intelligent driver, which in modern terms is called an automatic driving system, abbreviated as commander/driver + gunner type.

Compared to the two, the former is definitely easier to experiment with.

When the Americans were developing the MBT-70 main battle tank, they planned to use an automatic driving system to move the driver into the turret. However, this tank ultimately failed to be developed.

The old Maozi's T-724 tank moved the three tank crew members into the hull and adopted a remote-controlled turret firing method. Although it is not yet a two-person system, it is already very close to a two-person driving tank.

Therefore, from the perspective of later implementation methods, it is more realistic to adopt the commander/gunner + driver method.

Qin Yang has the experience of later generations, so he is very clear about these things, while Old Zhu relies entirely on his own experience to reason. The fact that he can come to the same conclusion is enough to show Old Zhu's vision.

"President Qin, it seems that you also agree with this technical route." Old Zhu said, "Although we can't see hope for the time being, since you agree, there will definitely be a day when it is realized."

"Yes, Old Zhu, this route is more stable. I believe that we will definitely realize this technology in the future." Qin Yang said, "Old Zhu, you must take care of your health and live for several decades, and you will definitely be able to see it with your own eyes."

"Several decades?" Old Zhu smiled: "Okay, I will definitely work hard. If that day really comes, then the tank will undergo great changes."

"That's right. At that time, tank technology will undergo another revolution." Qin Yang said, "Our turret will no longer need people inside. Such a turret can be made very small, which can save a lot of weight, and the weight saved can be added to the armor in the front, thereby increasing the armor's protection. As for the tank gun, we can also increase the caliber, such as 140mm."

Tanks, firepower is king. The East has always believed this and has always done so. When Europe was still using 105mm guns and only new-generation tanks began to use 120mm guns, the East had already begun to use 125mm guns and also had the world's largest chamber, which could be stuffed with more propellant, thereby giving the muzzle greater kinetic energy.

However, this is not enough. If development continues in the future, the tank gun will have to continue to increase in caliber.

To what extent should it be increased?

Qin Yang directly came to the conclusion: 140mm.

Back in Lao Ba, Qin Yang once used the next-generation tank gun to fool the Americans, but here, he wanted to seriously discuss it with Old Zhu.

"Are you saying that the armor-piercing capability of our existing 125mm tank gun will not be enough?" Old Zhu asked.

"For us, the armor-piercing capability of the 125mm tank gun can meet our needs for a long time. After our repeated upgrades, the maximum armor-piercing capability of this tank gun can exceed one meter. However, to be prepared for a rainy day, we do need to reserve stronger tank gun technology. The energy of a 140mm tank gun is twice that of a 125mm tank gun, which can naturally provide stronger armor-piercing capabilities."

One meter of penetration depth! Old Zhu still couldn't imagine it at this time, but since Qin Yang said so, it would definitely be possible in the end!

If a 125mm gun can do this, what about a 140mm gun? Will the penetration depth increase to two meters? When that time comes, how should the tank's armor develop?

"Of course, that's a matter for the future. Now, to improve armor-piercing capabilities, the best way is to increase the caliber. Not only us, but other countries will definitely research larger-caliber tank guns."

In these years, countries have been developing tank guns with larger calibers. For example, Germany and Switzerland jointly developed a 140mm verification gun, which was planned to be installed on the Leopard 2. The Americans developed a 140mm gun and installed it on the M1 chassis. The French Leclerc tank also planned to install a 140mm gun. It can be said that if the Red Empire had not disintegrated, later generations of tanks would have been running around with 140mm guns long ago.

"I'm afraid the shells would be very large," Old Zhu said.

"That's right, the shells will definitely be larger, which means that the existing autoloader may not be easy to use. After all, our carousel autoloader has certain limitations."

Currently, domestic tanks and Lao Maozi's tanks all use carousel autoloaders, and they will continue to use them for a long time. The structure of this carousel autoloader is simple, the operation is stable, and it can also reduce the volume of the turret, but it has a congenital defect: the length of the equipped shells is limited!

After all, if the shells are too long, the carousel will get stuck.

The East's autoloader is more advanced than Lao Maozi's, and can only load armor-piercing projectiles with a length of 750mm at most. Any longer than that won't work. Under this limitation, the maximum penetration depth that can be achieved is only one meter.

What about the West?

The West has always taken the route of complete rounds. The penetrating rod can be directly poked to the bottom of the propellant. At the same time, because the shells are too long, they are generally loaded from the rear of the turret. The human loader extracts shells from the rear of the turret, while the automatic loader automatically extracts and loads shells from the rear of the turret.

When it comes to 140mm guns, rear loading is a better choice. Long shells can be stuffed into the rear of the turret, but they can no longer be installed on the carousel, otherwise that carousel would be super large.

"Are you saying that we have to develop rear loading?" Old Zhu quickly reacted.

"That's right, rear loading," Qin Yang said. "This way, longer shells can be accommodated. At the same time, if the ammunition detonates, it can be directly detonated in the rear of the turret, minimizing damage to the crew in the front."

The West's rear loading promotes that they have a pressure relief device. Once detonated, it will directly explode outside, but in fact, this is just a dream. If it is going to explode, the people inside shouldn't think about running. At least the people in the turret will definitely die.

Now, with the two-person driving system, the crew is in the front and the shells are in the turret in the back. Even if there is a detonation, even if the turret is blown away, as long as there is a solid enough baffle behind the crew compartment, it can still be blocked.

Old Zhu nodded: "That's right. If we do this, the turret will definitely be very huge, but it can also balance the weight of the cannon in the front."

The West's large turrets are also for balance. After all, there is a barrel in the front, and then a rear loading in the back, so it is balanced. It's nothing on flat roads, but if you want to turn the turret and move the barrel upwards on a slope, it takes more force, and you may not even be able to turn it.

The previous small barrels were nothing, but when the caliber develops to more than 100mm, this problem becomes prominent. If it develops to 140mm, it will definitely be heavier. How strong should the turret's drive motor be?

"Of course, this is just my personal guess. Perhaps there is a better way." Qin Yang said. After all, no 140mm gun tank has been in service in later generations, so he is just imagining.

"Yes, we should study it carefully. However, with the firepower getting stronger and stronger, I'm afraid the armor won't be able to defend against it."