CHAPTER 255: AFTER MODIFICATION: CHAPTER TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY-FIVE

Chapter Three will be updated later, I am currently working on it, sorry!

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(The image below shows the Saint Chammon M21 light tank, which has both tracks and wheels, and moves on tracks when the wheels are retracted)

The discussion still took place at the dining table in the Dejoka living room. Although simple, it was absolutely confidential. The only outsider was Camille, but she didn’t understand and was completely uninterested in the topic.

Just as when a woman asks a man if her new clothes look good, men typically respond with vague words like "not bad" or "okay".

To them, the concept of "looking good" actually has nothing to do with the clothes but rather the state without clothes.

Similarly, when women listen to topics about military technology, even if they listen all day, they might still exclaim, "What? Tanks don’t have wheels? How do they move then?"

Therefore, Dejoka didn’t make Camille leave, nor did he ask her to keep things confidential.

If a spy tried to get any information from Camille to analyze, they would certainly be frustrated to no end.

A sketch was already on the dining table, along with a pen and some drafts, apparently for data calculations.

When Estiny sat down, he pushed the sketch to Shire and said with some concern, "This was drawn by one of my old subordinates from memory. He was fortunate enough to become a tester for Schneider and gave me some information after encountering this tank. I believe it’s a new tank that Schneider is developing."

Shire glanced at the sketch and laughed involuntarily, "You call this a tank? It’s more like an armored vehicle."

Colonel Estiny and Dejoka exchanged glances, always thinking Schneider’s tank would be a threat to the ’Shire A1’, but didn’t expect Shire to dismiss it so easily.

Colonel Estiny, thinking Shire hadn’t looked seriously, further explained, "It has two forms, Colonel. It can use wheels or tracks, giving it exceptional mobility."

"Yes," Dejoka agreed, "It can use the wheels on roads and tracks in muddy or rough terrain. A good idea."

"So what?" Shire asked.

Colonel Estiny replied:

"Mobility means faster maneuvering."

"It has, to a certain extent, drawn from the successful experiences of the ’Shire A1’."

"For instance, focusing on mobility and converting its weapon to a machine gun. I even believe they might produce their own 37MM caliber artillery!"

Shire nodded. There were certainly references, but due to not daring to outright copy, they had to forgo the revolving turret.

After thinking for a moment, Shire pushed the sketch back to Colonel Estiny and softly asked, "Without a revolving turret, how do you think it can handle the enemy’s machine guns and large-caliber artillery?"

Colonel Estiny pointed to the sketch, analyzing it:

"I guess they hope to make up for the lack of a revolving turret with numbers."

"They can make the side armor very thin, only needing to resist ordinary ammunition, while the front armor is thickened to withstand K-shells."

"During combat, they always face the target head-on. Relying on high mobility, they can approach the target from all directions..."

Shire understood Estiny’s thinking; it seemed quite reasonable:

If, with the cost of producing one ’Shire A1’, they could produce two or even more of these cheap light tanks, then while the ’Shire A1’ needs a revolving turret to aim, these cheap light tanks could simultaneously aim from multiple directions with several tanks.

Which is more efficient?

Presumably these cheap light tanks, likely to be as numerous as ants, forming an "ants biting an elephant" advantage.

Shire shook his head with a smile.

The idea was grand, but the reality was harsh. Schneider would never have imagined that in the near future, various infantry anti-tank equipment would emerge.

Not to mention anti-tank equipment, even anti-aircraft machine guns could not resist these thin-skinned small tanks; they would be treated as targets by the infantry.

Seeing Shire still indifferent, Colonel Estiny continued to explain:

"As is well known, our tanks have the drawback of slow speed."

"If it could reach speeds of tens of kilometers per hour on the road like a car, that would be terrifying."

"It could achieve rapid maneuvering towards the target, Colonel. This could very well be the trend in tank development!"

Shire hummed with some surprise. This reminded him that Schneider might not only be imitating the surface but also delving into tactics.

A qualified capitalist indeed, with quite an admirable learning ability, but unfortunately still on the wrong path.

"This won’t be the trend in tank development." Shire’s tone was firm.

"We cannot be certain of that, Colonel." Colonel Estiny’s tone was filled with confusion and anxiety: "If it’s not the trend, then what is? I can’t think of any reform plans anymore!"

Hearing this, Shire finally understood Colonel Estiny’s mentality at this moment.

He believed that any equipment must change during development, whether in core or structure or form.

After the ’Shire A1’ tank appeared, Colonel Estiny wanted to improve it but found it unchangeable, leaving him in despair, thinking he was stagnant.

Then Schneider suddenly developed a tank with greater mobility, and Colonel Estiny naturally thought it was an improvement, the trend.

To Shire, a modern man, this was amusing, but people of this era were innocent of the future of tank development, and confusion and bewilderment seemed natural.

Shire pondered for a moment, then asked unhurriedly, "How heavy is it?"

"I’m not sure," Colonel Estiny replied, "But it’s said Schneider’s idea is to make it lightweight, likely only half the weight of the ’Shire A1’."

(Note: The actual weight of Saint Chammon is only 3.3 tons, less than half of the 8 tons of the ’Shire A1’)

Then Estiny added, "The test results showed it could reach speeds of 28 kilometers per hour on the road in the initial tests; it might get even faster later on."

When Colonel Estiny said this, his eyes held a hint of fear, as if seeing a swarm of such light tanks speeding down the road and encircling and dividing the enemy.

Isn’t this the template Shire had used in several front-line battles?

Dejoka also showed a cautious look. Estiny had painted this scenario for him before, and it even fit Estiny’s long-conceived "swarm warfare" theory, or rather, only such fast light tanks could realize his combat theory.

Shire smiled lightly and said, "Perhaps we can think this way: if this light tank were facing not the Germans’ heavy tanks but the ’Shire A1’, which tank do you think would win?"

Estiny and Dejoka exchanged glances, having never thought about it this way.

(The image above shows the Saint Chammon M21 light tank with its wheels retracted)

(The image above shows the wheels deployed)