Chapter 464: Tank Units

Through actual testing, even the most rudimentary tanks currently available can achieve significant results when facing the relatively simple defensive works and small bunkers found on the battlefield.

Although casualties are inevitable once on the battlefield, the nature of these casualties varies greatly depending on the scenario. When conducting defensive warfare, as long as one relies on favorable terrain or constructed defensive works, casualties can be effectively reduced.

Conversely, when an army attacks enemy fortresses and bunkers, it often pays a heavy price in casualties.

The enemy can hole up inside their fortresses and bunkers, while the attacking side has virtually no cover in front of them, leaving soldiers completely exposed to enemy gunfire and artillery.

This is a problem that can be well-resolved by tanks. First and foremost, the tank itself is a powerful weapon for offensive warfare.

Whether it is machine guns or rifles, they are of no use against a tank. The 75mm artillery mounted on the tank can also effectively destroy the enemy's simple defensive works and small bunkers.

As long as the tanks can be the first to break through the enemy's defensive lines, the following infantry can approach the enemy's positions under the cover of the tanks, clearing these positions with fewer casualties and greater speed.

Current tanks are not without their flaws. The first is that they are too cumbersome, and their speed of movement on the battlefield is not fast.

Current armored units cannot achieve the effect of the blitzkrieg seen in World War II; given the current speed of tanks, advancing the front line by several dozen kilometers a day is already quite good.

Of course, even if Spain possesses tanks, it would not be so extravagant as to use tank units on a large scale when pushing the front line.

These tanks serve more as a trump card, to be brought out when front-line troops are deadlocked or at certain critical counter-attack nodes, striving to deal the enemy a fatal blow.

As for the issue of tanks being unable to breach large bunkers and fortresses, this was already anticipated during the tank's development.

Current tanks cannot yet mount larger-caliber artillery, and the conquest of those sturdy fortresses and bunkers will certainly require the use of larger-caliber artillery.

The primary purpose of the tank is still to inflict greater casualties on enemy infantry units, especially when both sides are engaged in a tug-of-war involving hundreds of thousands of men; once tanks are deployed to tear open the enemy's defensive line, they can quickly and effectively change the landscape of the battlefield.

The generals of the Guofang Force were initially skeptical of this rather cumbersome-looking beast, but after witnessing the tank's performance on the test field with their own eyes, the look in the army generals' eyes was no longer one of doubt, but of undisguised excitement.

Even the usually steady Minister of Defense Qiao Di (the previous Andrew was from the next term, the error has been corrected) showed some signs of excitement in his eyes at this moment.

"Minister Qiao Di, what do you think of this big guy? Can it be called a powerful weapon on the battlefield?" Ka Luo asked with a smile, looking at the excited Minister of Defense Qiao Di.

"Of course, this is absolutely a powerful weapon on the battlefield." Minister of Defense Qiao Di nodded without hesitation; he now fully believed what Ka Luo had previously said regarding the significant role of tanks on the battlefield.

It is no exaggeration to say that if Spain can equip tanks on a large scale, the overall combat effectiveness of the Spanish Army will be firmly established as the best in the world, and even Germany will not be able to compare with the Spanish Army.

Of course, the premise for all this is that Spain is equipped with tanks, and other countries do not have tanks or anti-tank weapons.

If one were to wait until all countries in the world are uniformly equipped with tank units, then it would be a matter of comparing the combat effectiveness and quantity of their respective tanks.

The good news is that Spain is currently absolutely leading European countries in tank research and development. At least according to the investigations of the Royal Security Intelligence Agency, no news of tank development in other countries has been discovered.

Ka Luo knew that the code name for the British tank development was "Water Tank," and he even had the Royal Security Intelligence Agency investigate any research projects related to "Water Tank" in the UK.

Finally, after multiple inquiries, it was determined that, at least for now, the UK has not yet started the development of tanks.

In fact, thinking about it, this is also normal. Compared with the historical UK, the current Yingguozheng Prefecture has a bit more urgency.

The status of their navy is not that solid, and for the Yingguozheng Prefecture, what is more important at the moment must be to ensure that the British Navy remains the best in the world.

As for tank development related to the army, the Yingguozheng Prefecture will certainly do it, but it will definitely not be now.

"Your Majesty, when will the army be able to be equipped with these tanks? I can't wait to see these big guys cooperating with the infantry; this is simply the most perfect scene. Our army, combined with these big guys, can create the greatest trouble for any enemy.

I can guarantee that as long as we have these big guys, the Spanish Army will definitely be the best-performing unit in the future great war, and even the army of the German Empire will not be able to compare with us," Minister Qiao Di said somewhat impatiently.

Ka Luo did not answer Minister Qiao Di's question directly, but instead turned his gaze to the head of the "Water Tank" research project team, the chief designer of Spanish tanks, Bu Lai De: "You have to ask Mr. Bu Lai De about this; he is the general manager of the project team, and he is the one who knows best about the progress of tank development and whether they can be built on a large scale."

Feeling the gazes of the high-ranking army generals turning toward him, the general manager of the "Water Tank" project team, Bu Lai De, smiled slightly and then explained to the high-ranking military officials: "Your Majesty the King, and all you generals.

Although this big guy in front of you has already passed the testing stage, for our project team, the entire 'Water Tank' project is actually still in the preliminary research and development stage.

The finished product you see, which is this big guy in front of you, can actually only be considered our first-generation product.

We are currently researching the second-generation product. On the premise of slightly changing the appearance of the tank, we have added a machine gun to the tank and improved the tank's engine, reducing the probability of the tank breaking down.

According to the current research progress of the second-generation tank, we can see it on the test field in at most half a year. As long as there are no problems with the tests, the second-generation tank can be officially built on a large scale within a year and equipped to the troops."

Because they received a large amount of funding support from Ka Luo, the "Water Tank" research project team also has great ambitions. They are not satisfied with the first-generation product in front of them, although the role of the first-generation product has already been demonstrated to the fullest.

The "Water Tank" project team hopes to develop a new generation of tanks based on the finished products they currently have, effectively reducing the breakdown rate, improving stability, and increasing the tank's firepower as much as possible.

Only such a tank can be considered a true battlefield weapon. The current tank is indeed only the initial version; since Spain can have better ones, it is natural to develop better ones to equip the troops.

Hearing the general manager of the research project team, Bu Lai De, say this, Minister Qiao Di, although a little disappointed, still nodded and said: "Since it can be confirmed that the second-generation tank can enter the testing stage within half a year, the army can completely wait a little longer.

After all, these tanks are to be truly put into the battlefield, and those who operate these tanks are also our soldiers. Being able to reduce the failure rate a little can also increase the survival rate of the tank soldiers."