The Rise Of Australasia-Chapter 1064 - 794: Missile Test

Chapter 1064: Chapter 794: Missile Test

Aside from the novel concept of Pigeon-guided missiles, the missiles themselves are actually the latest model of third-generation missiles.

Compared to the second generation, the third-generation missiles have become more formalized, with currently two main missile series.

The first is the Pigeon-guided missile series developed by Hermann. The true designation of these missiles is Hermann-Pigeons, which simply translates to Hermann Pigeon-guided missiles.

These missiles are improved versions for ground and shipboard comprehensive deployment, with two launch methods: ground launch and launch from warships, equivalent to a combination of ground-to-ground missiles and ground-to-ship missiles.

Previous ground-to-air missiles, considered a combination of sea, land, and air, were relatively rudimentary when striking aerial targets, with a low hit rate, and were therefore rejected by Hermann.

The other missile series is the improved Test-3 missiles by Hermann.

There are two models of the third-generation Test missiles: antiair missiles and surface-to-ground missiles.

Antiair missiles are specifically designed as weapons to attack enemy fliers, while surface-to-ground missiles are those used by bombers to carry out strategic bombing targets.

In Arthur’s plan, once nuclear weapons are developed in the future, they would also be mountable on different missiles.

Only then could the greatest strategic deterrence be maintained, ensuring that the vast territory and territorial waters of Australasia are adequately protected.

Thanks to Arthur and other senior military officials’ arrival, this missile test was also very well-prepared.

Both the comprehensive version of the Pigeon-guided missile and the third-generation Test missiles will undergo testing to practically verify the comprehensive combat capability of Australasia’s third-generation missiles.

Just like with the previous tank, it’s highly probable that the third-generation missile might be the last generation that Australasia researches before the outbreak of World War II.

Whether fourth-generation missiles can be developed during the war is questionable, and they would also need to go through a lengthy testing and manufacturing phase; deployment on the battlefield is definitely expected later in the war.

This also means that to gain an advantage in the early and middle phases of the war, the comprehensive combat capability of third-generation missiles is very important.

This so-called Pigeon-guided missile is also a vital safeguard for Australasia in dealing with troubles in the Pacific Ocean.

After all, the Island Nation Army is quite annoying. If we can’t gain an advantage in naval warfare, and truly have to engage in a war of attrition with the Islanders on land, even if we win, the losses would definitely be heavy.

One of the reasons Arthur places importance on the Pigeon-guided missile is due to its demonstrated deterrence against warships in history.

Why did the American People place such importance on the Pigeon-guided missile system? It’s because the Pigeon-guided missile was indeed capable of hitting navy ships roaming the seas with a high hit rate, which was one of the means for America to gain an advantage in the Pacific Ocean.

Regrettably, the reason the Pigeon-guided missile project ultimately failed was not only because mounting three pigeons in a missile seemed unreliable, but also because of the protests against the government’s such cruel practices initiated by some pacifists.

When the American Government picked up the Pigeon-guided missile research again after World War II, although they found pigeons’ performance exceeded everyone’s expectations, within a few years, the electronic guidance systems made significant advances, and naturally, the Pigeon-guided missile program fizzled out.

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In this era, the so-called electronic manufacturing systems are just starting out or even at the embryonic stage, and Arthur is quite looking forward to the role Pigeon-guided missiles can play.

After a brief preparation phase, the missile tests formally began.

The first to undergo testing was the antiair version of the Test missile. To ensure better test data, the test scenario was also meticulously designed.

The target to be bombed was a specially manufactured model, similar in size to a normal airplane.

This model would be carried to high altitude and then dropped directly from the sky.

Due to its relatively large weight, the speed at which it fell from the sky was also very fast. Once the transport airplane left a certain range, the airplane carrying the missile would initiate an attack, successfully hitting the plane model within a limited number of missiles and calculating the final number of missiles hit.

To more effectively calculate the number of missiles hit, the missiles were internally modified so that they would not explode.

After all, this was just a test, not meant to actually destroy the plane model. According to current aircraft structures of various countries, as long as the missile could hit the airplane, the best outcome for the enemy’s airplane would be a crash.

Under the close scrutiny of Arthur and a host of senior military officials, this simple test officially began.

The entire test took less than half an hour, but the final results were quite satisfying.

The test was conducted three times, with a total of 150 missiles launched. Of these, the number of effective hits reached 88 missiles, already more than half, a very good data outcome.

Moreover, many of the missing missiles still grazed the plane model. Considering the uncertainties of actual combat, such data were indeed very good.

The second type of missile tested was still the surface-to-ground version carried by airplanes.

The antiearth missile version used Hermann’s Pigeon Missile Technology, and Arthur was quite anticipatory about the test results of the antiearth missiles.

There were three targets for the antiearth missile test, each of varying sizes: large, medium, and small.

By targeting different sizes, it was also possible to accurately determine the true effective hit rate of the missiles.

After a total of 120 missile strikes, the data for the antiearth missiles was actually quite impressive.

Each of the three differently sized targets was hit with 40 missiles, and naturally, the specific hit rates varied.

Among them, the largest and most easily recognizable target was hit by 25 missiles, with an effective hit rate exceeding 60%, which was better than the expected results.

As for the smallest and hardest to recognize target, the actual performance significantly improved compared to the previous generation of missiles.

Under the control of three Pigeons, 40 missiles scored 14 hits, reaching an effective hit rate of 35%, which was already a high figure among the previous generation of missiles.

For the medium-sized target, the test data was average. Of 40 missiles, 20 hit their target, achieving just over a 50% hit rate.

From the antiearth missile tests, everyone could see the effective improvements Pigeon Missile Technology brought to missile accuracy.

Such hit rates would be reflected even better on the battlefield. Though each missile required sacrificing three Pigeons, training Pigeons was much easier compared to manufacturing missiles.

Moreover, the cost of one Pigeon was quite low, which made it far more economical than wasting a missile. If the cost of three Pigeons could significantly improve the hit rate of a missile, it was a deal any country would take.

However, this solidified Arthur’s resolve not to sell the missile technology anytime soon. After all, if missile technology was done right, the deterrence it provided was indeed formidable.

Before electronic guidance systems were fully developed, Pigeon Missile Technology was likely one of the superior guidance technologies available.

Arthur certainly didn’t want such technology to be used against Australasia, causing massive casualties among both its military and civilians.

Because antiearth missiles had to be carried by airplanes, compared to the complete Pigeon Missile System, they were actually quite heavily modified.

That’s why Arthur grew curious about the tests of the true Pigeon Missiles.

If the test data for Pigeon Missiles turned out to be even better than the antiearth missiles, then Arthur would consider how much more of the fiscal budget to allocate to the Ministry of Defense.

Pigeon Missiles could be mounted on warships, and also on submarines. What did this signify?

A fleet of submarines armed with Pigeon Missiles, once close to an enemy’s coastline, could unleash a devastating blow upon that nation.

If Australasia were to go to war with the Island Nation, these submarines would become the nightmare of coastal cities of the Island Nation.

After all, the territory of the Island Nation was relatively narrow and truly an island at its core.

The current range of Pigeon Missiles virtually covered the entire territory of the Island Nation. Arthur was waiting, if the Island Nation of this world continued to be as cruel as in history, he would not spare any war profiteers from the Island Nation.

From the Emperor of the Island Nation to every common person supporting the war, they would all pay for their crimes.

When it came to the women of the Island Nation, Arthur didn’t mind seeking some benefits for the men of Australasia.

Returning to the test of Pigeon Missiles. Logically speaking, there should be two test targets for Pigeon Missiles; one for ground targets to simulate the enemy’s industrial areas and other significant locations, the second for marine targets to simulate enemy warships of various sizes.

But due to the testing site, the final test settled on one stationary ground target and one rapidly moving target.

For this, Hermann specifically created a model roughly the size of a tank that could move forward autonomously without a person.

Once the test began, Arthur and Minister Thomas, among others, eagerly took up their telescopes, intently observing the test proceedings.

The first to be tested was the stationary ground target. Just like the previous antiearth missiles, there were three targets of different sizes.

In comparison to the restricted antiearth missiles, Pigeon Missiles saw a certain increase in accuracy, but it wasn’t a significant leap.

However, considering the power and weight of ground-to-ground missiles, maintaining such an accuracy rate was already quite striking.

The ultimate test was the most anticipated, simulating the attack on the enemy’s warships. Since the testing target was only the size of a tank, a missile would be considered a hit if it struck within an area 200 meters long and 30 meters wide centered on the tank.

After all, actual warships were much larger compared to a tank. Solely aiming for the tank would be overly challenging, and the resultant data would likely not be very impressive.