Rebirth of the 1980s: The Military Industry Empire

"Don't know?" Old Zhu was somewhat speechless. How could you say you don't know? Isn't this your project?

However, looking at Qin Yang's expression, he probably really didn't know.

After all, Qin Yang has always been very busy and may not have been involved in these projects. Perhaps he really didn't know.

"President Qin, why don't you call the person in charge of this project over, and we can discuss it together? After all, now that we have the engine, we need to coordinate how to install it in your armored vehicle."

Qin Yang nodded, "Okay, I'll make a call. By the way, who is in charge of this project?"

Everyone looked at each other. President Qin, you don't even know who's in charge?

A few minutes later, Qin Yang returned, "They've already built a prototype of the transmission system and are planning to build a chassis to install it on and test it out. Now that we have the engine, I'll have them send the chassis over so we can install it and try it out. It just so happens that we're all involved in armored vehicles here and have experience. If there's anything unsuitable, we can offer some suggestions."

Chassis!

The so-called chassis is the frame with the engine, gearbox, and axles installed. The entire vehicle can move, but there's nothing on the outside in terms of appearance.

If we were to categorize them, chassis can be roughly divided into two types: with a frame and without a frame.

Off-road vehicles, trucks, etc., generally have frames that run from front to back. All the main components are installed on the frame, and the vehicle's stress is also achieved through the frame. The outer shell is also installed on the frame. This type of vehicle body does not bear stress, so it is also called a non-unibody chassis.

There's also another type where the vehicle has no frame, and all the parts are installed on the body. The body shell has to bear all the force, which is also called a unibody chassis.

This structure is simple, so it is often used in cars. As long as the sheet metal of the engine compartment is made thicker, it can withstand the tension. At the same time, the body is also relatively light. SUVs derived from cars are also this type of body, so they are scornfully called pseudo-off-road vehicles by many people. Of course, these people also seem to ignore a simple fact: people who buy this type of car are not going out to off-road, but just want a large seating space.

Those with frames are also called hardcore off-road vehicles, which can withstand the impact of rough roads, but the body is high and the center of gravity is high. In the past, the Prado was known as the rollover king, and it only got better after the vehicle stability system was introduced.

In addition to these two types, there is also a hybrid type, represented by the Cherokee. This type of car does not have an obvious frame and looks like a unibody, but two long strips of steel plate are added to the bottom of the car, running through the front and rear. These two thick steel plates bear the original function of the frame, making the body more rigid, so the Cherokee can also off-road. This is also known as a semi-unibody.

What about armored vehicles?

Wheeled armored vehicles evolved from trucks, so, in theory, they should be like trucks and have frames. But in reality, because wheeled armored vehicles have to consider mine protection requirements, the steel plate at the bottom of the vehicle is also thick enough. It can be said that the thickness of the steel plate is not necessarily smaller than the frame! The entire vehicle chassis is the frame! Therefore, wheeled armored vehicles generally do not have frames.

However, wheeled armored vehicles transplanted from truck technology still need to use a large number of automotive components.

The first type of wheeled armored vehicle manufactured in China was the Type 64. This vehicle transplanted a lot of the technology from FAW's CA-30A off-road truck, such as the front steering system, which used a tracking ball joint steering system. The structure was simple, strong, and reliable. The entire powertrain was from the CA-30 truck, inheriting a series of defects such as transmission system tremor and shifting gear grinding. It was even once rejected by the troops.

However, looking at the wheeled infantry fighting vehicle of Factory 960, it can be found that although it was said that they had the experience of Mercedes-Benz trucks, and developed a wheeled infantry fighting vehicle on Mercedes-Benz trucks, in fact, they didn't use much technology.

The most famous thing about Mercedes-Benz trucks is the variable section frame, but infantry fighting vehicles don't need a frame, and use a unibody. Mercedes-Benz trucks are also famous for their rear axles. The Mercedes-Benz rear axle with the three-pointed star logo is considered a representative of reliability. However, Factory 960's product does not use central transmission, but their own unique side transmission system!

In terms of engines, although there are Mercedes-Benz imported engines, the power of this engine is not large enough. On the other hand, we have pumped up the Steyr engine to 490 horsepower.

In this way, it seems that there is no inheritance from Mercedes-Benz trucks at all, and it is completely independently developed!

Although what they are doing has nothing to do with Mercedes-Benz heavy trucks, Factory 960 still did it. After all, they have to consider the military. Whatever the military needs, they have to build it!

Since the chassis did not have an engine, it could not be driven directly. It was placed in the back of a Mercedes-Benz heavy truck and directly carried over. When everyone saw the four large off-road tires on the chassis, they all cast excited glances.

Eight wheels! This is the first wheeled armored vehicle with eight tires in China!

In the beginning, the Type 64 wheeled armored vehicle was just a product that was simply upgraded from a car chassis. Simply put, it was sticking sheet metal on the outside of a truck. The engine was also front-mounted. Although it was called a wheeled armored vehicle, in fact, it was more appropriate to call it an armored truck.

The distance between the rear dual wheels and the front wheels was very large, so the off-road performance was generally poor. It only solved the problem of having something or nothing. Relying on the space of the truck, it could seat more than thirty people.

After 1969, the military proposed the development plan for second-generation equipment, including medium tanks, light tanks, amphibious tanks, armored personnel carriers, etc. Under this plan, the 523 armored vehicle began to be developed.

This vehicle was mainly wheeled, referring to the BTR-70 as a reference object. However, in that era, this wheeled armored vehicle was obviously impossible to develop successfully. After more than ten years of research and development, many problems were encountered, and the project was eventually abandoned. Only a six-wheeled Type 92 wheeled armored vehicle was developed on the basis of the 523 armored vehicle.

However, the finalization was after the 1990s. Now, the army's wheeled armored vehicle project is still far from being realized, and we can only look at the products of Factory 960 in front of us!

On the side of the vehicle, there is a row of four huge off-road patterned tires, which looks very spectacular. The thick off-road tires are full of power, and special devices can be seen on the wheel hubs.

"Is this equipped with a tire central inflation and deflation system?" A technician said, "This device is not easy. Factory 960 is too amazing. They have figured out this device!"