The decisive battle against the Third Reich

The minesweeper tank was actually invented by the British, and the location was also the El Alamein battlefield in North Africa, but the British installed this device on the "Matilda" tank... The result is predictable, a good idea but a bad platform, which made it completely useless in actual combat.

Of course, if it is installed on the "Panzer III" tank, it is another matter... The Panzer III tank is not like the "Matilda" that breaks down easily.

"This thing... I mean the minesweeper tank, can it work?" Colonel Slaine asked hesitantly.

"Maybe it will work!" Colonel Olbrich was very interested in the picture: "This device is very simple, it only needs a motor to drive it, and our logistics soldiers may be able to make it in a few hours!" "And the idea of ​​using a chain on a roller to clear mines is very good!" General Stryk said: "The mines have insufficient explosive power, and it is difficult to break the chains, so it can be used all the time. Even if it breaks... we only need to hang a few more!" General Stryk and his men are all veterans. They know that the simpler the structure, the more reliable things are on the battlefield, so they were conquered by this thing at the first time. "And..." Colonel Slaine added: "It should not be a problem to use it to clear mines. The whipping of the chain will of course detonate the mines, and if the force is strong enough, it may also detonate anti-tank mines!" "Of course it must be able to detonate anti-tank mines!" Colonel Olbrich said: "Otherwise I won't let my tank do this!" "Why not try it?" General Stryk said. Then everyone turned their eyes to Rommel, who had remained silent. "Will it only take a few hours to make it?" Rommel asked. "Yes, General!" Colonel Olbrich pointed to the picture Qin Chuan drew and said, "We only need to make a frame like this to support a roller, and then remove a motor from a sidecar for driving."

"What are you waiting for?" Rommel ordered, "Make one right away... no, make three."

General Strike turned his eyes to Colonel Olbrich. This task must be handed over to the logistics troops of the tank unit, who have the tools and parts to repair the tank.

"Yes, General!" Colonel Olbrich took the task without saying a word.

"Wait!" Colonel Olbrich was about to leave when he was called back by Rommel: "This thing is now our top secret, understand?"

"Understood, General!"

Of course, this can be said to be a new weapon, and if you want the new weapon to play a greater role on the battlefield and catch the enemy off guard, then you must keep it secret.

"Sergeant, forgive my previous recklessness!" After Colonel Olbrich left, Rommel handed Qin Chuan a cigarette and asked, "How did you think of this mine-clearing tank?"

"Oh, General!" Qin Chuan was stunned for a moment, then replied, "You know, I was clearing mines on the position last night, and I was fighting in the enemy's minefield. The scene was really crazy. The enemy's shells flew towards us, but we had nowhere to hide, and we didn't even dare to hide, because you were not sure if there were mines around you... At that time, I was thinking, could there be something to help us clear mines, which is safe and fast."

"Then you thought of it?" Rommel raised the picture.

"Yes!" Qin Chuan replied, "I think it should play a role!"

"More than a little role!" Rommel said, "Although I'm not sure, but... I believe it can play a big role, Sergeant. Yes, your idea will even change the situation of the war!"

Qin Chuan knew what Rommel meant by "changing the situation".

At that time, all countries in the world were very troubled by landmines, especially in the First World War... Trench warfare at that time was almost a combination of barbed wire, roadblocks, landmines, trenches and machine guns, which made the warring parties almost helpless and fell into a stalemate.

But now, the emergence of mine-clearing tanks may represent the end of the landmine era... Of course, this is impossible. Even in modern times, landmines continue to play a role, but their role has been greatly weakened. It's just that Rommel didn't know this.

Colonel Olbrich's estimate was correct. After more than three hours, several mine-clearing tanks were tossed out, but they looked very rough... Several steel pipes welded together in a roughly triangular shape supported a roller with an iron chain, and then connected to an external motor behind the turret with a conveyor belt.

The roller was still quite good-looking, of moderate size and smooth rotation. Later, I asked and found out that the logistics soldiers had several rollers brought from Matruh for local people to thresh wheat.

"Its disadvantage is that the turret cannot turn to the right!" Colonel Olbrich said, "Because the conveyor belt blocks the space for the turret to turn, doing so will destroy the device!"

"Who cares!" Rommel said, "If we can clear the mines, it doesn't matter if we can't fire!"

Then Rommel ordered impatiently, "Let's get started!"

"Yes, General!" At Olbrich's signal, the messenger waved the flag and issued the order to start the experiment.

The first experiment was to discharge anti-infantry mines. As the tank "rumbled" upwards, the rotating drum moved forward with the chain "swishing", and then there was only a "booming" explosion, and several The anti-infantry mine was detonated very smoothly.

The officers couldn't help but let out a cheer, and Rommel nodded repeatedly with bright eyes.

But there was a problem in the second experiment on anti-tank mines... No matter how hard the chain hit it, the anti-tank mine didn't react at all, and it didn't help if the motor was turned to the maximum.

"What's going on?" Rommel asked.

"General!" Colonel Olbridge replied: "It's because the wrestling force is not strong enough!"

The pressing force of anti-tank mines is generally about 200 kilograms, but the iron chain of the roller cannot provide such a large pressing force.

This puts the mine-clearing tank into a dead end... Mine-clearing is mainly for the tank to advance quickly. If anti-tank mines cannot be eliminated, then this "mine-clearing tank" will not be of much significance.

After thinking about it, Qin Chuan said, "Why don't we add some weight to the iron chain?"

"Counterweight?"

"Yes!" Qin Chuan said: "For example, if we weld a series of small iron balls to the iron chain, the force of it falling to the ground may be strong enough!"

"What a great idea!" Albridge praised.