Chapter 2453 The Best Infantry Artillery 1
Chapter 2453 The best infantry artillery 1
"In fact, since the beginning of the war, there has been a problem that has been plaguing the German Army, that is, we lack a light howitzer that can be used in mountain combat. The French call their 75MM rapid-fire gun a universal gun. But You and I both know that this kind of artillery is just a small cannon suitable for horizontal shooting. The left and right firing range is very narrow. To move left and right more than 150 mils, you need to readjust the gun mount and reset the brake pads. Moreover, the elevation angle of the gun is also very limited. .”
"The Bavarian Army has prepared an 88MM field gun. We shortened the barrel and adjusted the gun mount. Using a double-open gun mount, we achieved a good horizontal shooting range and a larger design angle. It has a longer range and a more curved gun. ballistics, and lighter weight. Our 88MM field gun is even 200KG lighter than the French 75MM rapid-fire gun, less than 1.3 tons. But this weight is still too heavy and not suitable for use by mountain troops. And whether it is France Whether the human 75MM rapid-fire gun or our 88MM field gun is actually not suitable for mobile operations of troops below the regiment level." General Kariput said.
"Yes, what you said makes sense. The weight of medium-caliber artillery on the battlefield today is too much. Under normal circumstances, the problem of 75MM artillery is not serious, but if it is an island landing operation, it will be a big problem. So. What we mean is to design a new lightweight artillery. So far, our design work has been completed and has been put into small batch production." Marshall asked: "Are you interested?"
"The new 75MM gun? How heavy is it?" Caliput asked.
"The range is more than 7 kilometers and the weight is no more than 700 kilograms. It can be disassembled into nine parts. It can be easily transported using livestock." Marshall said with a smile.
"It doesn't exceed 700 kilograms? It has a range of more than 7 kilometers? Such an artillery is really worth visiting and studying." Caliput said with some surprise.
"Relevant matters can be arranged this afternoon, but to be honest, apart from some 75MM light artillery for the Marine Corps and mountain warfare troops, our regular army does not plan to equip too many light howitzers." Marshall said.
The Americans are not stupid. They naturally know that the performance of their new light howitzers is very advanced, but they are still willing to let the Germans see it. One of the important reasons is that the Americans believe that the role of the new era light howitzers is already very small. For regular army units, the division-level equipped 105MM howitzer is the lower limit of firepower. Regiment-level troops can be supported by division-level artillery. Troops below the battalion level can fully use mortar firepower. Therefore, after the Americans saw the 75MM The existence of light artillery is very useless, but because this time we have to deal with the Japanese, the troops have to fight on islands and mountains, so we must prepare some ultra-light artillery. In this case, this 75MM ultra-light artillery called M1 Only light artillery can be launched.
And just that afternoon,
General Caliput and his party saw the M1 75MM artillery that the Americans were mass-producing in small quantities, and this artillery was very similar to the historical 1927 M1A1 light artillery. In fact, for light artillery, the artillery itself is not a problem. After all, regardless of the industrial technology level of the United States or Germany, it is not difficult to build a good light artillery. The most difficult thing is the gun mount! In fact, isn't the so-called transcendental significance of the French 75MM rapid-fire gun due to the control and withdrawal system?
The biggest advantage of this new American light howitzer is the gun mount and reset system!
"Your Excellency General, look here. Generally speaking, the hydraulic retreat device and reset device of a rapid-fire artillery are independent. But in order to reduce the weight of the artillery and make the structure more compact, we combined these two components into one First, look at the barrel structure of the lower part of this artillery, which is composed of a retraction barrel, a working liquid and a retraction rod. And we can also adjust the length of the recoil seat of this artillery. When the artillery fires horizontally, We increase the length of the rear seat to ensure the stability of artillery shooting. When shooting at a large angle, we can reduce the length of the rear seat to prevent the rear of the gun from touching the ground. Because of this design, we can reduce the entire combat weight of this artillery It is controlled under 700 kilograms and can shoot up to a range of more than 9,000 yards at a 45-degree shooting angle!" Marshall personally introduced this 1915 M1 75MM light howitzer to the Germans!
"In order to facilitate mountain operations and transportation without motorized vehicles, this 680KG artillery can be easily disassembled into 9 parts, which can be transported by mules and horses. If vehicles are used, we will provide them to your country A quarter-ton truck or even a Jeep can easily tow a 75MM light howitzer around," Marshall said.
"This is definitely the best value infantry support weapon I have seen during this visit. Simply speaking from the design of light artillery, your country's artillery has reached the pinnacle level. I think that even the Imperial Army There is also a need to introduce it." After several test firings, General Caliput did not hesitate to praise him.
"I don't think there is any problem with the introduction or export of technology." Major General Marshall said.
This actually reflects the different needs of the German and American armies. In the long run, the U.S. Army does not have much military pressure. Although the top U.S. officials have considered the possible unhappiness with the Germans in the future, the Americans have absolutely no intention of directly sending millions of troops to fight the German Army like Britain and France did. A life or death. The size of the U.S. military is limited. Therefore, they can assign more vehicles to their troops. With vehicles to ensure mobility and supplies, the U.S. Army naturally prefers artillery with larger caliber and longer range. Therefore, the 75MM light howitzer is just a transition for now. The main force of American light artillery in the future will be the 105MM class howitzer!
But it is different for the German army. In the future, the German Army will face the Soviet Union, a giant in terms of army size, and will need to face the British Expeditionary Force and the US Army. The establishment of the army is so large that even the huge industrial system of the German Empire is difficult to describe. After all, in addition to the army, the Germans face greater pressure from the air and sea. Therefore, the German army needs some more cost-effective equipment. A weapon that doesn't waste too many resources but can provide some advantages! For example, range advantages and accuracy advantages.
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