Chapter 271

Zhu Lao (per glossary). We are not named. Tank gun is generic. Chamber pressure is generic.

Our old 120mm gun is named; our new 120mm gun; the vertical metal extruder is named. Gun barrel and chamber pressure are generic.

This batch, the prototype gun, superiors, the military, and the standard tank gun are all generic terms.

The German Leopard 2 tank gun is named. Chamber pressure is generic.

Their data, the propellant chamber, and chamber pressure are generic.

Qin Miao (per glossary). Our 120mm tank gun, the German tank gun, propellant technology, chamber volume, and internal chamber pressure are all generic.

This simply cannot be compared!

Layperson, caliber, and shells are generic terms.

Shell head and propellant are generic.

Our tank gun is also 120mm caliber; propellant technology, power, and chamber volume are generic. The early old 120mm gun and the current new 120mm gun are named.

For us, tank gun performance, depending on taking medicine, such a large chamber, being unsuitable for tank mounting, and the anti-tank destroyer are all generic.

Shells, the front being the same, the rear size differing greatly, and NATO-standard tank gun shells are generic.

Western is generic.

What you mean, caliber for us, and already small? are generic.

Qin Miao said: 'For tanks, caliber is justice! Since our gun barrel's chamber pressure and propellant technology can't match the West, why not increase caliber? Even increasing just five millimeters will greatly boost its potential compared to the 120mm gun.'

The muzzle is circular, and power relates to caliber quadratically. After all, the rear gas pushes the shell forward; the effective area is the gun's cross-section; with equal pressure, a larger area yields greater force.

If tank gun power is insufficient, just increase caliber! The Russians have always done it this way.

'Comrade Qin Miao, we are now... choosing a Soviet-standard caliber, wouldn't that...?'

Before Luo Dacheng could finish speaking, Qin Miao interrupted: 'Of course not—having the same caliber doesn't mean they're interchangeable.'

Later, Zhu Lao, after comparison, overruled opposition, chose the 125mm caliber; at the time only the Soviet Union used it, so he faced much criticism, even jokes about whether he intended to use Russian shells directly on the battlefield.

Of course not!

Same caliber, but the rear chamber volume differs; the shell simply won't fit.

Although the caliber is all 125mm, our chamber pressure far exceeds that of the Russian tank gun! Later, the Type 99 tank's muzzle kinetic energy exceeded the Russian T-72's by 45%, and even exceeded the US M1 tank's 120mm tank gun by 30%.

Speaking of power, our Eastern 125mm gun is number one in the world.

'Yeah, this also relates to chamber size. San Shui, you mean we should increase the chamber volume?'

'Correct—just slightly increase the chamber volume compared to the Russians'; no need to be huge, otherwise later when our propellant technology improves, that large chamber would be wasted and would also affect internal turret space.'

The Russian 125mm gun's chamber volume is 13.4 liters, while our Eastern 125mm gun's chamber volume is enlarged to 13.6 liters; the size difference is small, so we can also fit the disc automatic loader from the T-72.

'Hmm, if we use a 125mm gun, could we also use an automatic loader?' Zhu Lao's eyes gleamed.

'Yes! Separate-loading ammunition and a disc automatic loader can also reduce turret volume, matching our previous style.'

Western turrets are large, with an ammunition rack at the rear holding about twenty shells, making manual loading easy and the turret easy to balance front-to-rear; the drawback is large size and heavy weight.

We Easterners have always followed the Soviet line: low hull, compact turret, the disc automatic loader suits us best.

'Exactly, same as we thought, but... we previously didn't dare to confirm it outright; now, with your words, our confidence is greater; after we go back, we'll report to the superiors.'

What?

Indeed, Zhu Lao has spent his life making guns; in later years he also advocated the 125mm gun; now he certainly has this idea, but because he's been aligning with the West these past years, he lacks confidence.

Now, with Qin Miao's support, Zhu Lao can confidently propose this project.

No need to say more—the Ha Gong Da 155mm gun is number one in the world! Now, tank guns should also learn from their experience.

The engine is taking shape, the tank gun has been decided, so…… Zhu Lao is full of confidence for the future.

'Comrade Qin Miao, what pipe should we construct next?'

At this moment, the vertical metal extruder finished extruding this gun barrel; next we need to change the mold and produce for Qin Miao.

'Outer diameter about 500mm, inner diameter about 300mm, length about 4m is enough...'

Director Luo exclaimed again: 'Such a pipe, wouldn't it weigh over five tons?'

The gun barrel blank is just over a ton, but now we actually need to make over five tons!

'If we don't have such a large blank, we could make it in sections and then weld them together...'

'No problem, we have that big.' Director Luo said: 'Any other requirements?'

'It would be even better if one end could be made pointed during the extrusion process...'

This requirement, Qin Miao also doesn't know if it can be met; after all, the vertical metal extruder is for making pipes, not for special shapes.

Director Luo furrowed his brows.

'Lao Luo, Comrade Qin Miao's assigned task—if it can be done, do it; if not, we must find a way to accomplish it!'

'Yes! Factory Director Zhao, we guarantee to complete the task!'

Molten iron splashed, steel flowers glittered, the machine rumbled, a night passed, and finally the big piece Qin Miao needed came out!

Front pointed, rear a standard cylinder; looking at it, it's like a rocket, but this huge iron lump needs a crane to move, showing how heavy it is!

'Comrade Qin Miao, what's next?'

The front has welded fixed fins, the rear uses movable fins, the middle is packed with explosives, and the tail is equipped with our control system and fuze…