In an office on the third floor of a classical building in the center of Berlin, Guderian, the director of armored forces and commander of the 2nd Armored Division, was sitting on a chair looking at the latest confidential documents sent to him, examining the contents with the strictest eyes.
The reason for this is because this is an initial design plan for a '35-ton new tank' submitted by Krupp!
The entire initial design tank adopts a conventional layout, with a total weight of 35.5 tons and a crew of 5. The body armor is composed of vertical main side and rear armor. The thickness of the main armor is 80 mm, and the thickness of the side and rear armor is 29 mm and 25 mm. They are all Y-shaped. Composite armor composed of armor steel + carburized hardened steel, the actual protection of the main side and rear armor reaches 110 mm, 40 mm, and 35 mm respectively.
The turret armor and the car body armor have the same design, both are vertical armor, with actual protection capabilities reaching 130 mm, 50 mm, and 35 mm respectively.
From the appearance, this tank looks like an enlarged version of the Panzer IV tank. It has nothing outstanding but is mature and reliable.
Guderian didn't care about Krupp's adoption of the Panzer IV tank's appearance design. In many cases, maturity and reliability are far more important than novelty.
The artillery system is developed by Rheinmetall, which is developing a new 48-caliber 75mm tank gun. According to Rheinmetall's report, this tank gun has the performance to penetrate 70mm of homogeneous armor at 1,000 meters and 97mm at 500 meters. , enough to meet the firepower indicators proposed by Guderian.
The power system uses a Maybach gasoline engine with a total power of 580 hp and a unit power-to-weight ratio of 16.3 hp/ton. The power structure layout is a gearbox in the front and the engine in the rear, connected through a transmission shaft to output power.
The suspension system was required to be simple, reliable and easy to maintain. Krupp did not use the spring-balanced suspension of the Panzer IV tank, but chose the Christie suspension.
This is a suspension system designed by American engineers. It consists of independent cylindrical coil springs connected to large-diameter road wheels to achieve travel and buffering force, and is suitable for high-speed travel of tanks.
Krupp made certain improvements based on the original design. It arranged six pairs of road wheels, with the driving wheels placed in front. The diameter of the road wheels was 850 mm, and the track width reached 42 cm. This made the acceleration and top speed not only meet the design specifications, but the ground passed The safety and off-road performance have also been greatly improved.
The key is that the overall structure is simple, reliable and easy to maintain, which meets the requirements of the Director of Armored Forces.
Of course, nothing is perfect in the world, and there are gains and losses. The disadvantage of the Christie suspension is that it takes up a larger space in the car body and reduces space utilization.
good.
Guderian nodded with satisfaction. Compared with the shortcomings of this suspension, it brought more advantages, which were enough to make up for these shortcomings.
"Overall, this tank is quite satisfactory and meets my design specifications. Unfortunately, due to the requirements of stability and reliability, it is a little conservative and not as radical as Henschel's." Guderian looked at this Krupp version thirty The initial design plan of the five-ton tank is thoughtfully evaluated and evaluated.
"Extreme Spiritual Chaos Jue"
Henschel's initial design was submitted yesterday, and it was the one that moved Guderian.
The firepower systems are all Rheinmetall's new 48x diameter 75mm tank guns. The power system uses Maybach 580 HP + torsion bar suspension. The most outstanding thing about Henschel is the use of the sloped armor used in the main armor belt of naval battleships. design concept.
Yes, sloped armor.
The Henschel plan has the 85 mm normal line of the upper front armor tilted at 60°, and the 75 mm normal line of the lower front armor tilts at 55°. According to the mathematical calculation results, the final protective power of the upper front armor and the lower front armor of this design reaches terrifying levels respectively. 234.6mm and 181mm.
This is a full 234 mm of armor protection. Guderian racked his brains and couldn't find any tank gun that could pose a threat to it.
Can't find it at all!
Compared with Krupp's mediocre vertical armor plan, the actual protection power of only 110 mm is really far behind the 234.6 mm protection power of Henschel's plan.
The difference between the two is almost double.
There is no doubt that the engineers at Henschel Company are crazy and radical. When Guderian saw this sloped armor design yesterday, his heartbeat couldn't help but accelerate a bit, and he almost couldn't help but finalize the plan.
The concept of tilted armor design is actually not new. As early as the development process of naval warships, naval battleships of various countries have used this concept early to improve warship protection.
Of course, it is undeniable that Henschel brought sloped armor from battleships to tanks for the first time.
The review of Krupp's plan was completed, and now a question faced Guderian.
Who to choose?
Among Henschel's group of genius engineers who were like madmen, Guderian had to choose one of them and hand it over to Mustache, the steady and reliable King Krupp.
Henschel's radicalness can bring unprecedented terror protection to the new thirty-five-ton tank, but at the cost of potential risks and instability. Since there has never been a tank with a tilted armor design in history, Guderian did not Anyone who dares to make a rash decision will be a sinner because it takes a lot of money and resources to produce a new type of tank. If the tank he builds is unreliable.
Krupp's stability allowed this 35-ton tank to quickly move from drawings to production and enter military service. Although the 110 mm protection is far less exaggerated than the Henschel plan, it is also capable of resisting the firepower of tanks of the same period. More than enough.
Guderian took out the Henschel plan from the drawer and stared at the initial designs of the two companies. He was quite troubled and kept thinking.
"It's hard to make a choice, it's really hard to make a choice... However, when it comes to Y-shaped armor steel, counting the time, it seems that the Titan cargo ship has arrived."
"Dong dong!" At this moment, a crisp knock on the door sounded.
Hearing the knock on the door, Guderian immediately came to his senses, put the two plans in the drawer, and then said: "Please come in."
Opening the door, a young officer quickly entered the office, came to the table, raised his hand and saluted: "General Guderian, top secret emergency call."
"Arrange a car for me immediately and go to the high command." Guderian took the message and read the content. Suddenly, he stood up suddenly, with a hint of ecstasy in his eyes, and ordered to the young officer.
This top-secret message was none other than the Y-shaped armor steel he had in mind.
The scheduled transaction has been completed, and Attaché Bohr is flying to Germany with the Y-type armor steel formula and technical information.
This news is really important.
"Yes!" The young officer left quickly without hesitation.
After the young officer left, Guderian put away the top-secret message, took a deep breath, and prepared to formulate the next wording. Suddenly he remembered something, looked at the drawer, and then took out two initial design plans for the new tank.
Since he can't make the decision, let someone who can make the decision come.
…
In the morning, Yu Hua, who had been out all night, quietly returned to Tsinghua University, where the blockade had been lifted again when the situation in Peiping eased. The Japanese's "not to expand the situation" and retreat caused the tension in Peiping to drop suddenly. Many universities in Peiping basically lifted the previous blockade. , quickly arrange things for students to go home during the holidays.
Due to the Marco Polo Bridge Incident, whether it was National Tsinghua University, which was the first to launch university admissions, or universities such as Peking University and Nankai University, the summer vacation for students has been postponed. This is why there are still many students in Tsinghua University, except for a few whose families are in Peking. Students, most non-local students have not left school yet.
After returning to school, Yu Hua did not go to the Mechanical Engineering Laboratory to find Professor Zhuang for the time being. Instead, he went straight to the Nuclear Physics Laboratory. Today was the 11th and tomorrow was the day he agreed to go to the base area. He had to arrange some things.
The introduction to military and civilian guidance and German-made mechanical processing equipment need to be handed over to the organization through the identity of Ma Jia Zhang San.
"This should be the last time I use the identity of Zhang San. If I continue to use it, I'm sure there will be an accident and I will need to use a new vest." On the way back to the laboratory, Yu Hua silently thought about Zhang San's vest and continue to use it. It is not appropriate and there is no need to put yourself in a dangerous situation in order to pursue some unrealistic sense of vanity.
It's time to give up on Zhang San's vest.
I haven't thought of a name for the new vest yet, but that's not important. Yu Hua shook his head gently, thinking about what to do next.
I have to go home later and make proper arrangements for Xu Rui, Xu Xue and Yuanyuan.
Yuanyuan is young, so it would be best to leave her to the care of the organization. As for Xu Xue, this girl has already learned medical skills from Mr. Tan. According to the future development, leaving Peiping and going to the base area is the best choice. I have to ask Xu Xue what she thinks.
As for Xu Rui...
Life assistant, bodyguard, intelligence collector, a person similar to a housekeeper in the future, this is Yu Hua's new positioning for Xu Rui. As his growth rate is getting faster and faster, Xu Rui's original position as a scientific research assistant has been abandoned by him. There is no way, Xu Rui Rui couldn't keep up with him.
Of course, if Xu Rui is willing to join the army to fight against the Japanese invaders, he will not stop him.
In addition to family matters, Master can't be careless. If he has to go there, he has to quit his job as Professor Zhao's assistant.
Basically these things, not much.
Back at the nuclear physics laboratory, Yu Hua walked in and was about to go upstairs when suddenly Zhao Zhongyao appeared.
"You kid, I looked for you everywhere, and I didn't see anyone in the cafeteria." Zhao Zhongyao, who was looking for someone when he saw Yu Hua, breathed a sigh of relief and said quickly.
"Uh... Professor, I went to the library to look up information." Seeing this, Yu Hua scratched his head and responded, "What's the matter?"
"Professor Hua asked me to tell you that the school will issue an emergency notice soon. The examination for government-sponsored students studying in the United States with Geng Geng Scholarship in August will be postponed to November. The location will not be in Nanjing, but in Changsha." Zhao Zhongyao's face was serious, his eyes were Looking at Yu Hua, he informed him of the latest news.
November, Changsha.
"Thank you, Professor." Yu Hua was moved when he heard these words and quickly thanked him.
"Thank you. Also, I have a rumor that the school is planning to move to Changsha. This time the schools moving south include Peking University and Nankai University." Zhao Zhongyao lowered his voice and his words were particularly solemn.
Three schools moved south.
The historical Changsha Provisional University, the predecessor of Southwest Associated University, is here.
"Moving south?" Yu Hua understood that Zhao Zhongyao's rumor was by no means unfounded. The Southwest Associated University in history came from the three northern and southern universities of the Qing Dynasty that moved south to Changsha to form the Changsha Provisional University, but the time was slightly earlier.
It is understandable that the time point is advanced. After all, it is not unusual for him, the butterfly, to decipher the red secret and let Nanjing make the decision to move the three schools southward earlier.
"After you hear this, please don't spread the word to avoid adverse effects. News of the southward migration should appear soon." Professor Zhao Zhongyao reminded.
"Student understands, professor, the student has something to say..." Yu Hua nodded to note it down, looked at Zhao Zhongyao, and said softly with a firm face.
Hearing this, Zhao Zhongyao asked doubtfully: "What's the matter?"
"The student may have to leave, and I can no longer serve as your assistant." Yu Hua bowed, bowed, and expressed his thoughts frankly.
Yu Hua couldn't do such a thing with sincere words and no intention of deception. He did it without saying goodbye.
"Ready to leave?" Zhao Zhongyao was startled when he heard this. Looking at Yu Hua, who was full of respect and showing etiquette in every aspect, he opened his mouth and wanted to say something to stay, but no sound came out when the words reached his throat.
There was a brief silence at the top of the stairs.
There is no such thing as a feast that lasts forever. Zhao Zhongyao knew very well that there would be such a day, because Yu Hua's talent was there. As long as he was moving forward, there would be a day when the eagle spread its wings.
The difference is to be expected.
However, Zhao Zhongyao did not expect to come so early.
Zhao Zhongyao did not ask why Yu Hua was leaving, nor what Yu Hua was going to do. He stared at Yu Hua and asked with concern as a gentleman: "Have you thought about it?"
Yu Hua nodded seriously: "I have had a great time studying and living with you during this period. Thank you, Professor, for letting me feel the charm and world of nuclear physics. If I have the opportunity in the future, I will definitely study nuclear physics with you. I I believe in your idea of atomic nuclear energy weapons and antimatter weapons, this is also the direction of nuclear physics that students have been preparing to study."
"Okay! By the way, wait a moment." Hearing this, Zhao Zhongyao took a deep breath and nodded.
After saying that, he turned around and walked to his office.
Yu Hua had no choice but to stay where he was. Soon, Professor Zhao Zhongyao came out of the office again, holding a light yellow letter in his hand.
"This letter was originally intended to be given to you before you went to the United States, but I think it is better to give it to you now. Take this letter, go to California, go to Caltech, and find Robert Andrew Millikan. He will Give you a chance." Zhao Zhongyao came to Yu Hua, glanced at the already written recommendation letter in his hand, smiled, and put it in front of Yu Hua.
He had written this letter of recommendation a long time ago.
"Student thanks the teacher for his kindness." Yu Hua was moved in his heart. He accepted this letter of recommendation from a top Nobel-level physicist, bowed and expressed his gratitude.
"I'm waiting for you in the field of atomic and nuclear energy weapons research. Go and do your work and don't worry about me." Professor Zhao Zhongyao smiled and waved his hand, mentioned a future goal, then turned and left.
student union. ——Yu Hua looked at Professor Zhao Zhongyao’s leaving figure and said silently.
Atomic nuclear energy weapons, referred to as atomic energy weapons, is one of the long-term goals, but it is definitely not now.
Yu Hua carefully collected the recommendation letter and went upstairs.
There is no doubt that this letter of recommendation signed by Zhao Zhongyao can be called an epic item in the academic field. Every student is eager to have it, eager to have it.
As a student, Yu Hua knew very well that the value of this letter of recommendation was no less valuable than Professor von Kármán’s business card or Professor Solomon Lefshetz’s postcard.
Zhao Zhongyao majors in physics, von Kármán majors in aerodynamics, and Lefshetz majors in pure numerical topology. They are three different fields. With what the three big guys have given them, Yu Hua can basically go to any school he wants to go to. School.
Also, never forget the Cambridge behind your master.
Unknowingly, it seemed that I had entered a world that I had never imagined, a world that I could only look up to.
"Keep up the good work, Yu Hua..."
Yu Hua thought for a while and exhaled gently. His eyes were clear and pure, with a gleam of light.
Outside the laboratory, the sky is blue and the sun is just right.
PS: Two chapters combined into one, totaling more than 7,000, wake up and continue rushing.
