Chapter 287 Sino-US naval hegemony

World War II seems to be far away.

However, Hu Chuyuan is not sure whether he can live to that day. Even if he can live to that day, it is unknown whether he can still control the situation in China, or whether he still has such energy and ability.

So, the preparations should start from now on.

Through the National Military Commission and the Military Technology Bureau of the Ministry of National Defense, Hu Chuyuan has officially and secretly set up three systematic engineering research projects in China, code-named 201, 202 and 203.

201 is an aircraft carrier project, 202 is a missile and rocket launcher project, and 203 is a new aircraft project.

Because the First World War ended relatively early, the naval battle was not very fierce. The aircraft carrier did not become an official weapon in service, but Britain, Germany and the United States already had similar plans.

Relatively speaking, the development of domestic aircraft carriers is relatively early, starting in 1914, but for a long period of time, Hu Chuyuan was not in a hurry to launch a real aircraft carrier. Project 202 and 203 also have a lot of pre-research foundations. They want to truly take shape and become a way to change the situation. The combat effectiveness still requires more effort.

Domestic rocket artillery weapons were already in service, because their advantages in World War I were very obvious. These equipment were temporarily withdrawn from formal preparation and continued secret follow-up research.

In addition, the Ministry of National Defense, the Ministry of Industry and Technology, the National Academy of Science and the National Academy of Industry simultaneously launched the National Science and Technology Plan, and set up a special Science and Industry Technology Committee, referred to as the Science and Technology Commission, which is responsible for investing in, supporting and implementing various new technology research projects.

These projects cover civil industry as well as military items, including new tanks (tanks are British saying that in order to distinguish the difference in tactical use of heavy main gun armored vehicles and conventional armored vehicles, the word tank is re-selected in China), new infantry armored vehicles, new battleships, automatic rifles, and rocket launchers. , automatic pistols, new metal materials, new aviation engines, new steam turbines, high-power radars, airborne radars, shipboard radars... and other projects are all under way.

World War I was over, and the historical mission of Browning's manual rifle was completed.

Unlike other countries, China has always been willing to spend money on the use and replacement of new equipment.

The improved Browning BM10-B semi-automatic rifle has completely replaced the traditional rifle as the official equipment of the National Defense Force, and the National Guard is expected to complete the replacement in 1923.

Preparatory research on new naval equipment has been established one after another. According to Hu Chuyuan's plan, from 1925, the domestic navy will enter a new round of replacement, and the navy and army will begin to set up aviation units.

Under the advice and control of Hu Chuyuan, the air force has become a key construction unit, gradually developing towards the soul of the three armies.

Helicopter research has started.

The engine power of the new fighter is required to be increased to 550 horsepower, and the long-term target is to reach 750 horsepower.

... The naval competition between China, Britain, the United States and France is still continuing. The war is over, but the United States has begun to build a new Maryland-class battleship with a standard displacement of 32,000 tons, eight 16-inch main guns, and six are expected to be built, trying to increase naval construction when Britain and France are in a weak period. To further ensure the interests of the United States in the world, especially in South America.

It is true that Americans are rich. Both Britain and France feel powerless.

China also has money.

So, the Sino-US naval hegemony began.

While intensifying efforts to study new technologies, the Chinese Admiralty has also formulated four 35,000-ton-class Yuzhou-class battleships with a displacement of 9 380mm main guns.

In addition to the small caliber of the main gun, the Yuzhou level is already the strongest combination of the existing technology of the Chinese navy.

In terms of overall design, Chinese battleships have always been characterized by giving priority to the pursuit of defense, stable surname and practical surname, followed by speed and mobile surname, as well as the stable surname and unified surname of the artillery system, and finally the size of the caliber.

In the selection of the main gun, 16 inches seems to be a little larger than 15 inches, but in fact there are two concepts. The weight of the former triple pack is at least 500 tons more than that of the latter, and the overall reliable surname may not be able to pass.

Therefore, the Yuzhou-class battleship chooses the 50 times 380mm caliber main gun of the modern heavy industry KP50 series, which is a medium and high-speed medium bomb. The advantages of the main gun are concentrated in the middle range, with an optimal range between 1.2 kilometers and 2.2 kilometers. At the same time, it can ensure the power of short-range shooting and long-range shooting as much as possible. Hit rate.

The overall layout of the Yuzhou level is reasonable and practical. The armor design benefits from the German system and pursues focus and regional defense, which is stronger than that of Britain and France. China, which has fought more large-scale naval battles, is also more stable in detail design, and pursues practicality, stability and reliability everywhere.

In terms of ship maneuvering and speed, this has always been the specialty of China's naval industry. Britain and Germany can't compare, and the United States can't compare. The maximum speed of the Maryland-class battleship is only 21 knots per hour, and the Yuzhou-class is 24.5 knots.

With a more unique variety of protection welding processes, the combination of special types of steel and surface hardening technology, on the same thickness of steel armor, the defense effect of Yuzhou level is actually stronger than that of Maryland level.

In the field of sonar detection, the Chinese navy was completely unique. During the First World War, the British and French fleets almost used the sonar equipment provided by the Chinese navy to effectively control the German submarine forces.

Not only is the radar technology exclusive to the Chinese navy, but the Yuzhou level also fully considers the problem of anti-radar in the design process. The radar reflectivity is only comparable to that of the 10,000-ton cruiser, which is easy for the opponent to misjudge.

In the field of radio communication and the overall firepower control technology, with the development of leading multi-control relay technology, these two fields are also the absolute advantages of the Chinese navy.

Although the main gun of the Maryland-class battleship is obviously one inch more powerful than that of the Yuzhou-class, it will definitely be two concepts.

In the Battle of Tehran, the seventh battleship detachment of the Fourth Fleet sent by China met the seventh detachment of the German third battleship formation in the process of cooperating with the British navy. Instead, the Chinese battleship formation, which had only undertaken an auxiliary attack, sank a Caesar-class battleship with a larger tonnage.

In fact, in Hu Chuyuan's inner plan, the Yuzhou class is likely to be the basic model of the Chinese navy's battleships in World War II, and it is basically unlikely that there will be larger tonnage battleships.

The 40,000-ton, 50,000-ton and 35,000-ton battleships are completely two concepts in terms of cost. He would rather spend the extra money on aircraft carriers.

Even if the battleship with a larger tonnage is recreated, it will basically play a role in confusing the opponent. The total number will not be too large, and the huge Yuzhou-class battleship group is more suitable.

Of course, the follow-up research should continue to increase investment, and the 405mm caliber main gun should also be studied. If you really want to build a battleship with a larger tonnage, it must also be very beautiful, at least 50,000 tons, to deter the opponent fiercely and force the opponent to walk unswervingly on the road of the battleship.

In the long run, the Yuzhou level has left more room for improvement in the design process, laying the foundation for further modernization and improvement in the later stage.

Due to the improvement of the overall construction technology, especially metal materials, metallurgy, welding, anti-rust and other technologies, it is not a problem for a battleship to serve for 30 years as long as it is well maintained.

This point is completely different from the past.

In the non-war period, there are not so many orders, and the shipyard also has more energy and time to strengthen the production process technology.

Therefore, there may be more Yuzhou-class battleships and their improved models of Yuzhou II and III. The domestic plan is to build one on average every year, constantly dragging the British, American, French countries and China to compete for the navy.

The heroic battleships and Congo-class battlecruisers matched with Yuzhou-class battleships were also built together.

The standard displacement tonnage of the heroic-class battleship is 22,000 tons. The Congo-class battlecruiser is the first cruiser named after overseas provinces. The standard displacement tonnage is 18,500 tons. Both of them use the KP45 series of 330mm caliber main guns.

However, the design margin of the Congo-class battlecruiser is very large, leaving a lot of room for modernization, and sufficient preparations have been made for the possible installation of rocket launchers, high-power radars, helicopters... and even missiles in the later stage.

In fact, the Congo-class battlecruiser is a destroyer with a larger tonnage, stronger defensive effect and firepower, and even the stern of the ship is designed in a way.

The new generation of submarines is basically the same idea. They are all preparing for the aircraft carrier formation. The submarine force of the Chinese navy was built the earliest, and the design and surname energy should be the most advanced. So far, they have not achieved good results, but it does not mean that they will never exert their power.

There are two levels of destroyers matched with this new batch of Chinese naval warships. It is expected to be the Chunwu class and the Chunchao class, but there is no need to rush. With the continuous progress of technology, the change of the destroyers will be very large, and the current Chaoyu class is enough.

Although the Chaoyu-class destroyer was a warship in service in 1906, it can still maintain service for more than 25 years after modification.

Yizhou-class battleships and Zongyuan-class battlecruisers have been unable to keep up with the development of the situation. They will generally be sold to the Ottoman Empire and the Persian Kingdom after modernization, as well as to Mexico and Brazil, putting a little pressure on the United States.

Chinese second-hand warships, which have always followed the spirit of Seiko manufacturing, must not worry about buyers and selling prices. Basically, it is not a problem to get back 70% of the cost price, and a preferential clause can also get back 50% of the cost.

Second-hand warships are also very reliable diplomatic weapons. In early 1916, the Chinese navy sold four second-hand battleships and six battlecruisers to Egypt, directly laying the foundation for Egypt's reading from the British colonial system.

At the end of World War I, the Chinese navy is bound to sell and eliminate old ships on a large scale, and will also give some new orders to domestic shipyards to maintain the basic operation ability of shipyards.

At this time, Hu Chuyuan's goal is basically to prepare for World War II. The national navy is expected to complete the elimination of pre-World War I warships in 1925. This is a metabolic period for the basic preparation for World War II, and then it will enter the next stage of preparation.

During this period, China will also take the opportunity to increase the overall strength of the navy.

In case there is a war between China and the United Kingdom and the United States, Hu Chuyuan does not expect the Ottoman Empire, the Kingdom of Persia and Egypt to give a lot of help in the navy, at least to contain the British navy in the Mediterranean, guard the Suez Canal, and complete the protection of his country and the surrounding waters.

... Watching China and the United States continue to build larger tonnage battleships, Britain and France are anxious, and the lack of money has become their most painful shortcoming.

China not only builds, but also exports to the outside world. The export areas are relatively resentful places between Britain and the United States. At the end of 1917, China successively reached new warship sales contracts with Mexico, Brazil and Colombia. In addition to selling old warships, it is also on the basis of Jinzhou-class battleships and Weiyuan-class battlecruisers. Mexico and Brazil build new types of small tonnage battleships and battlecruisers.

(to be continued)