It is not easy to achieve the power required by the third generation of tanks, so all kinds of strange designs are endless, the French take the road of combining turbine engines and diesel engines, the islanders take the road of two-stroke engines, and the Soviets, who went to the later stage, actually embarked on the road of the X-type engine. Of course, by the time this engine really comes out, it will no longer be the USSR, but Russia.

It's just that the design idea of this engine is starting to sprout from now, after all, the planning of engine power improvement has to start very early.

Now, when Kartsev heard Qin Zhenhua talk about the X-engine, he was actually moved and began to think about it seriously.

Now, their V-shaped engine, the angle is 60 degrees, to the X-type engine, the upper V-shaped and the lower inverted V-shape, the angle is 120 degrees, in this way, although it is equivalent to two engines up and down together, but the overall height, is not much higher than the existing engine, in this way, should still be able to be installed in the existing engine compartment.

After all, if you want to increase the cylinder center distance without changing the engine length, then stacking the engine up and down like this should be the most suitable solution, which is a perfect solution to the problem of engine size becoming larger due to the longer cylinder center distance. They just don't expand in the volume of the engine? So, the body can still be kept compact to the extent that for them? This is crucial? Because it means that the existing tank is simply upgraded? It will be able to adapt to the needs of future development.

"Of course, there are some drawbacks to this layout, the biggest of which is when the engine stops running. Oil poured back into the cylinder below? The problems of burning engine oil and carbon deposits that eventually lead to these are not impossible to solve? Besides? For tank engines? None of this is a problem. ”

Other engines? The cylinder pistons are all on it? The crankshaft and oil casing are underneath? In this way, as long as the ventilation in the oil tank is good enough and the internal pressure is not too great, it will not jump to the top. Is that because the matching problem of supercharged intercooler is not done well? Too much pressure in the crankcase? The oil slammed into the cylinder and burned out.

And for the current X engine? The two exhaust cylinders below are upside down, so after stopping running? The downward flow of oil under the action of gravity into the two exhaust cylinders below is a very serious problem.

This problem is not easy to solve, but the life of a tank engine can be a few hundred hours, and it is a big deal to overhaul the engine when the time comes, which is not a problem, and the weapons and equipment of the Soviet Union have always paid attention to consumables on the battlefield, and a few hundred hours are enough.

Anyway, Qin Zhenhua ran the train with his mouth full, introduced new concepts to others, fooled others, and satisfied himself, it can be said that there is no harm in it, he himself, he can say whatever he wants, and now Kartsev is obviously very interested.

The advantages were said, and the disadvantages were also said, and Kartsev nodded to Qin Zhenhua again and again: "I really didn't expect that your understanding of tank engines is so profound, are you studying this X-type engine?" ”

This question made Qin Zhenhua a little ashamed, research? We don't have that level, we have been engaged in it for decades in China, but we are just digging deep on the basis of the B-2 diesel engine, if we develop a new diesel engine, where do we have this strength!

"We have this plan, but by taking the current path, we can already achieve the power demand of 1,200 horsepower, so we don't have too urgent needs for new power, so it's just a pre-research." Qin Zhenhua continued unashamedly.

We are in pre-research, what about the results of pre-research? In my head, what about the pre-research team? It's me, when did it start? Just now.

Kartsev nodded and did not continue. It's just that it's obviously preoccupied.

As a tank designer, he has devoted his whole life to tank research and development, and he can naturally see the achievements of the great powers of the East over the years.

The visit to the engine plant was over, and then he went to the tank assembly plant, at this time, in the crowd of visitors, Qin Zhenhua was already walking side by side with Kartsev, pointing out the country.

So far, the sales of the T-72 are still very hot, the Soviet Union has its own use, it has to be constantly redressed, and there are still many orders outside, so their production line has been continuously produced.

Looking at the chassis with a V-shaped wave plate, Qin Zhenhua thought of the 123 tank prototype that is currently being tested in China, and he felt a burst of emotion in his heart, and finally came to the T-72 tank manufacturing plant, and it was not easy to come here to see the Soviet tank production line.

"We found out that the Eastern powers also adopted the 125 mm caliber as the standard for tank guns, which makes us a little curious, why did you not move closer to the West and adopt the 120 mm caliber, but went our way and used 125 mm tank guns?" Kartsev continued.

At this time, the atmosphere of the visit is very friendly, but in the friendliness, you can also feel some of the purpose of it.

The Soviets were amazed at the achievements of the Eastern powers in these years, so they were also talking to the Eastern powers, and the tank guns of the Eastern powers were displayed with a penetration depth of 500 millimeters, which surprised the Soviet Union considerably.

This is still the foreign trade version, and the version they use for their own use must be even more powerful.

Now, we are in front of one of the tanks in the final assembly, and the turret is slowly hoisted through the overhead crane, and the barrel on the turret is held high, looking very powerful.

Use the same caliber, big or small, if it's small, it's just that you want to, I choose, I like it, if it's big, it's a matter of standing in line.

The same caliber is conducive to replenishing ammunition on the battlefield, so the same camp will use the same caliber, and the eastern powers have abandoned the caliber standards of the West and adopted the caliber standards of the Soviet Union, what are their ideas?

"Tanks, firepower is king." Qin Zhenhua said: "What we like is the cannon barrel, the larger the caliber, the better, not only 125 mm, we are even pre-developing the next generation of 140 mm barrel." ”

What is there to say about this, the thicker the barrel, the stronger the performance. And, just like just now, quickly put aside the current equipment situation, prevent leaks, and then talk nonsense.

The next generation, 140 mm caliber!