Munitions Empire-Chapter 1014 - : 936 bullets are not enough

Chapter 1014: 936 bullets are not enough

Liu Guozhu’s First Armored Division has recently been undergoing a large-scale re-equipment with new Tanks, which look completely different from the past Tanks and feature a pot-lid-like domed turret.

This domed turret design is said to have a better bulletproof shape, allowing enemy shells to be deflected off, providing stronger protection than that of the turret of the previous Panther Tanks.

At the same time, the new Tanks abandon the huge gun mantlet design of the Panther Tanks and have adopted a smaller internal mantlet in the middle of the front turret, increasing the flexibility of the gun itself.

This design has reduced the weight of the huge mantlet, making it possible to install a stabilization system for the gun, allowing it to partially aim while on the move, greatly shortening the reaction time of the gun.

To be strict, this kind of device was initially prototyped on the United States’ M4 Sherman Tank and later developed into a gun stabilization system, allowing Tanks to fire while on the move.

The Tang Army has now installed this system on the renowned Type 59 Tank, enabling it to gain capabilities similar to the Sherman Tank.

However, due to technical limitations, the Type 59 Tank is only equipped with a vertical stabilizer for the gun, lacking similar equipment in the horizontal direction.

The completely new Type 59 has actually undergone many modifications, with the most significant enhancement probably being the unique and powerful 105mm caliber Tank gun.

The original Type 59 Tank used a 100mm caliber gun, which is a special caliber with considerable power.

However, Tang Mo did not directly use this caliber but upgraded the gun to 105 caliber. According to Tang Mo’s blueprints, this gun, originating from the United Kingdom, had more powerful and better performance.

Once the technology tree for this gun is completed, it can be installed on a series of subsequent models, allowing many light armored vehicles to gain sufficiently powerful firepower.

For example, the subsequent models of the Empire’s Lion-type Armored Reconnaissance Vehicle and wheeled assault guns can all use it.

The new gun is also equipped with a fume extraction system, which can significantly improve the working environment inside the vehicle, preventing the crew from being bothered by smoke and dust.

The fume extraction system of the original Type 59 Tank was located at the front end of the barrel, which was slightly less effective. After retrofitting the 105mm caliber main gun, the fume extraction system was placed in the middle area of the barrel, performing better.

Most importantly, this gun has a muzzle velocity of 1600 meters per second, with excellent armor-piercing capability. As a rifled gun, it is highly accurate and can engage targets at longer distances.

One of the reasons for adopting this rifled gun design is that Tang Mo does not intend to introduce smoothbore gun technology. Using rifled guns means continuity and does not feel out of place in this world.

When Tang Mo eventually brings out the Type 96 main battle Tank, the 125mm caliber smoothbore Tank gun will immediately stand out in power compared to Tanks from other countries, thereby gaining a greater advantage in armored warfare.

The new Type 59 main battle Tank is equipped with a coaxial machine gun, using a High-Angle Machine Gun instead of the helm gun, and has eliminated the opening at the front of the hull.

This increases protection and has also led to the new Tank no longer needing a mechanic-electrician. The crew size has been reduced to four people, but the new, more reliable radio equipment compensates for the operational issues caused by the reduction in crew size.

While the Type 59 main battle Tank has overall gained a significant performance enhancement, it has not come without a corresponding price. The number of shells it carries has been greatly reduced, from about 80 as with the Panther Tanks down to only 34.

Yes, the new Type 59 main battle Tank only carries 34 rounds of ammunition – it was supposed to carry 38, but to accommodate the installation of the infrared night vision device, the space for 4 rounds of ammunition was sacrificed.

Like the Panzer IV, the Great Tang Empire’s Type 59 Tank also underwent a series of “adaptation modifications,” and the rounded turret was fitted with many storage bins, making it look similar to a late-modified model with added external armor.

But in fact, the new Type 59 Tank did not have any additional armor installed. The boxes that look like Reactive Armor around it are actually storage containers.

In order to increase the range of this Tank, like the traditional Soviet-style Tanks, two external fuel tanks were added at the rear.

These two fuel tanks will be discarded before entering the battlefield to avoid being hit and catching fire during combat conditions. This usage is similar to that of fighter jets carrying external fuel tanks, effectively carrying two extra barrels of fuel.

Looking at all this new equipment, Liu Guozhu himself felt intimidated: he thought that the Armored Corps of the Great Tang Empire equipped with Panther Tanks were already powerful enough, but he didn’t expect that in just over two years, even more powerful Tanks would begin to be deployed to the Troops.

From its appearance, this brand-new tank could practically be described as science fiction: it was equipped with so many lattice structures around the turret, making it seem incredibly convenient no matter how you looked at it.

Besides the increased risk for the battalion commander when using the high-angle machine gun, this tank might not have any other flaws.

Stronger armor, better maneuverability, more powerful main cannon… Apart from slightly inferior sustained combat capability, it was nearly flawless.

The Panther Tanks that he had previously used and found quite satisfactory were now designated as second-line equipment for the newly formed armored corps, and within the next two years, the Panther Tank would be completely phased out…

The thought was terrifying: Panther Tanks, which other countries struggled to defeat, had already ceased production in the Great Tang Empire and were going to be gradually transferred to second-line troops.

Even more so, one day in the future, these Panther Tanks might be given away as unwanted junk to other nations, or sold “cheaply” to countries that wanted them.

This content is taken from freeweɓnovel.cѳm.

“How’s the new tank?” Walking up to Liu Guozhu’s side, his platoon leader patted Liu Guozhu on the shoulder and asked.

“It’s pretty good, but my tank really doesn’t have enough ammunition,” Liu Guozhu said, helplessly discussing the matter.

His tank was a bit different from the others. He was now the leader of the first tank platoon, so he had to command the other four tanks. Sadly, his radio equipment was larger, taking up the space of two additional cannon rounds…

With the necessity to reserve room for movement, his command tank only carried a pitiful 30 rounds of ammunition, frighteningly few in number.

“Isn’t my vehicle the same?” The platoon leader laughed upon hearing Liu Guozhu’s complaint: “Just be content. If we run out, we can simply retreat and resupply.”

“It really is a fatal flaw.” Liu Guozhu sighed in frustration.

This was an unavoidable issue, for in his combat experience, the quantity of ammunition was actually a very important performance indicator.

The armored corps of the Tang Empire had always followed the German Three strategy, which was the preferred approach for elite tank crews.

The tanks of Tang Country had always boasted heavy armor, powerful cannons, and a sufficient supply of ammunition — a style that allowed tank crews to continue fighting at the front lines without needing any resupply in the short term.

However, Soviet-style tanks followed a completely different path. During World War II, the combat experience of Soviet armored corps was the total opposite: their tanks were more easily destroyed, often gambling with losses to fight desperately against enemies.

Under such experience, Soviet-style tanks, despite their maximum range, did not focus on sustained combat capability: they needed to have strong firepower, thick armor, and sufficient power; what they sacrificed was the quantity of ammunition.

The German Panther Tanks of World War II carried 80 rounds of ammunition, while their Soviet counterparts, the T-34s, only had 56. German Tiger Tanks carried 87 rounds, while similar Soviet tanks like the IS-2 had a mere 28 rounds.

This was historically driven: German tankers were accustomed to fighting from static defensive positions, while Soviet tankers were used to charging headlong into battle. Therefore, German tankers needed a large supply of ammunition to support their combat efforts, whereas Soviet tankers often perished before using up their ammunition.

Of course, this did not mean that Soviet tank designers completely disregarded the welfare of their tank crews, because the experience provided by those surviving tank crews was this: before they even exhausted their ammunition, the Germans would have already collapsed and retreated or surrendered.

Now, the armored corps of the Great Tang Empire, especially the elite armored units, actually had combat experience similar to the German armored corps of World War II. They were accustomed to the German style of fighting, which is why they were dissatisfied with the Soviet-style tanks with only 30 rounds.

Because in their view, the number of battles in which they would exhaust 30 rounds was too many. When they used Panther Tanks, they were often able to fire fifty or even sixty rounds in continuous combat with the enemy.

“I know it might not be enough, but now you’re also a platoon leader. Don’t always think about earning combat merits yourself every day; consider more about how to coordinate tank platoons for joint operations,” the platoon leader said gravely, as he had high hopes for his young subordinate.

“Yeah, now we’ve got to get used to it – retreating after firing twenty rounds,” Liu Guozhu shrugged his shoulders and joked, “I hope the battalion commander won’t think we’re becoming more timid.”

“Get lost!” The platoon leader smacked the back of Liu Guozhu’s head with a laugh, scolding, “Who gave you the guts to joke about the battalion commander! Besides, you can destroy opponents from a further distance now and can retreat more leisurely to a safe place to resupply your ammunition. What’s this about becoming more timid?”

“I’m just kidding, platoon leader!” Scratching the back of his own head, Liu Guozhu responded with a smile.