Chapter 131: Adding Guidance to the Mortar!

10,000 words every day, five chapters presented; everyone's encouragement is very powerful, I will continue to work hard.

……

"Wait, I've got it!" Li Mingyuan's eyes lit up, and he quickly opened another notebook, which recorded some inspiration from when he was developing the Triangulation System.

"The guidance system for a Mortar doesn't need to be as complex as that of a rocket launcher; it only needs a simple automatic calculation and adjustment device..." He quickly added new components to the blueprint.

"With a mechanical calculator as the Hexin, combined with an anemometer, thermometer, and barometer..."

The guidance system designed by Li Mingyuan is essentially a mechanical calculator. After the gunner inputs parameters such as target distance, wind speed, and temperature, the calculator automatically computes the optimal launch angle and direction, then uses a mechanical transmission device to precisely adjust the elevation and azimuth of the gun barrel.

"In this way, even a novice gunner can complete precise shooting in a short time, no longer needing repeated test firing and adjustments."

Li Mingyuan continued to draw the details, especially that seemingly simple yet actually ingenious mechanical calculator.

It adopts a series of gears, cams, and levers, capable of quickly calculating suitable launch parameters based on a pre-determined ballistic table.

"Of course, this is only the most elementary guidance; the accuracy is still limited," Li Mingyuan muttered to himself.

"Only with transistors and a simple Computer can true precision guidance be achieved. But for the current stage, this is already a qualitative leap."

He looked at the clock on the wall; it was already three in the morning.

But he did not feel tired at all; instead, he was incredibly excited because of the breakthrough in the new design.

"Ultra-light Alloy Mortar, weight only 15 kilograms, range 4000 meters, equipped with a mechanical automatic calculation and adjustment system, accuracy increased by 50%, a 5-person operation squad can complete setup, aiming, and firing within 1 minute..." Li Mingyuan listed the product parameters, getting more excited as he wrote.

If this type of Mortar were put into use, it would greatly enhance the fire support capability of infantry units.

It is light enough to move quickly with the infantry, yet possesses firepower and accuracy far exceeding traditional mortars.

In mountain and jungle warfare, the value of this lightweight weapon will be even more prominent.

Li Mingyuan could almost imagine how this Mortar would change the battlefield landscape.

Traditionally, deploying heavy artillery in mountainous terrain is an almost impossible task, while this Ultra-light Mortar can be quickly transported to any terrain to provide powerful fire support for infantry.

"I still need to design specialized ammunition," he continued adding details to the blueprint, "adopting a streamlined projectile body to reduce air resistance; the warhead uses high-explosive material to increase single-shot lethality; the Fuse System is improved to be programmable, able to choose contact detonation or airburst detonation as needed..."

This type of programmable Fuse is another of Li Mingyuan's innovations.

Most traditional mortar shells are contact-detonated, while the improved Fuse can preset the explosion height; when the shell flies to the predetermined height, it automatically explodes, forming an airburst effect, significantly increasing the lethality against scattered troops.

Outside the window, the east had already turned a fish-belly white; the night's work was about to end.

Li Mingyuan stretched, looking with satisfaction at the stack of detailed design blueprints in front of him.

The next step is to report to the superiors, strive for resource support, and turn this design into reality as soon as possible.

"The Military will definitely like this little guy," Li Mingyuan muttered to himself, gently stroking the blueprints, "so light, yet with such power; it is simply the dream weapon for infantry."

He took out a sheet of white paper and began to write the product manual:

"Ultra-light Alloy Mortar, model XQL-82, main parameters are as follows:

Caliber: 82 millimeters

Total weight: 15 kilograms (traditional mortar 60 kilograms)

Maximum range: 4000 meters

Rate of fire: 12-15 rounds per minute

Muzzle velocity: 280 meters/second

Barrel length: 1.2 meters

Equipped with mechanical automatic calculation and adjustment system

Operating personnel: 3-5 people

Deployment time: less than 1 minute

This weapon is manufactured using a special Aluminum-Magnesium-Lithium Alloy, with a weight only 40% of a traditional mortar, facilitating rapid deployment and transfer in mountain and jungle warfare.

The equipped mechanical automatic calculation system can automatically calculate the optimal launch angle and direction based on parameters such as target distance, wind speed, and temperature, significantly increasing the first-shot hit rate.

The specialized ammunition adopts an aerodynamically optimized design, equipped with a programmable Fuse, capable of choosing contact detonation or preset-height airburst according to combat needs, maximizing the lethality against different targets."

After finishing the manual, the sky was already bright.

Li Mingyuan packed up the blueprints, locked them in the safe, and prepared to wash up before going to work.

Today he has an important meeting to report the final results of the Numerical Control Machine Tool modification to Minister Zhao.

As for this new design, he plans to refine the details for a few more days before formally submitting it.

……

The spring sunshine was mild and warm; on the land behind the Rolling Mill that used to be wasteland, several greenhouses were now particularly eye-catching.

The transparent plastic film shimmered in the sunlight, and lush green could be vaguely seen inside the sheds.

Li Mingyuan came out of the technical department with the newly organized Ultra-light Alloy Mortar design proposal in his hand, preparing to go find Minister Zhao to report.

Walking to the downstairs of the factory office building, he was told that Minister Zhao had just been there, saying he went to visit the newly built greenhouses.

"Those greenhouses?" Li Mingyuan was stunned, then immediately reacted, "He went to see my experimental field?"

Since the improvement in supplies a month ago, Li Mingyuan had opened up an experimental area on that wasteland behind the factory, nominally to solve the vegetable supply problem for the workers' canteen, but actually, he was quietly testing an Agricultural Ecological Circulation System.

This system is very common in modern agriculture, but placed in the Long Country at this time, it is simply a groundbreaking innovation.

Li Mingyuan hurried toward the backyard and saw from afar a group of people gathered in front of the greenhouses; Minister Zhao's tall figure was particularly conspicuous.

"Chief Engineer Li is here!" someone shouted, and everyone turned their heads.

Minister Zhao walked up quickly, with a rare excitement on his face,

"Mingyuan, I finally had time today to come and see this greenhouse of yours; I didn't expect... I didn't expect..."

He was so excited that he was somewhat incoherent, grabbing Li Mingyuan's hand, "Come, take me in to see it again, it's simply incredible!"

Li Mingyuan chuckled inwardly; it seems his agricultural system had caused quite a shock to Minister Zhao.

He followed Minister Zhao and a group of visitors into the greenhouse again.

Pushing open the door of the greenhouse, a warm and humid air rushed toward them, forming a sharp contrast with the cool early spring temperature outside.

The greenhouse was lush with greenery, and various vegetables were growing exceptionally vigorously.

The most eye-catching feature was a complex vertical planting system in the center, composed of multi-layered pipes and containers; various vegetables were planted above, and below was a pool where dense schools of fish swam.

"This... this is simply..." Minister Zhao pointed at the system, unable to find the right words to describe his shock for a moment.

Li Mingyuan walked forward with a smile, "Minister, this is an ecological circulation system; we call it the 'fish-poultry-plant' trinity circulation model."

"Trinity?" Minister Zhao looked around in confusion, "I only see fish and vegetables; where is the poultry?"

Everyone, please click to urge for more updates; this is really important to me. Thank you, great masters, your urging for updates is the motivation for my writing.