The minesweeper tank was actually invented by the British, also in the El Alamein battlefield in North Africa, but the British installed this device on the "Matilda" tank...... As you can imagine, a good idea is a bad platform that doesn't work well in practice.

Of course, if it is installed on the tank "three", then it is another matter...... Tank No. 3 did not break down at every turn, like Matilda.

"This thing...... I mean minesweeper tanks, will they work? Colonel Slain asked hesitantly.

"Maybe it helps!" Colonel Albridge was very interested in the picture: "This device is very simple, it only needs a motor to drive, and our logistics troops may be able to make it in a few hours!" ”

"And the idea of loading a chain to clear mines with a drum is good!" General Stryker said: "The mine is not explosive enough to break the chains, so it can be used all the time, even if it is blown up...... We just need to hang a few more on it! ”

General Stryk and these people are all veterans, and they know that the simpler the construction on the battlefield, the more reliable it is, so they are conquered by this thing in the first place.

"And ......," added Colonel Slein, "it should not be a problem to use it for demining, and of course a chain whip will detonate a mine, and if the force is strong enough, it may also detonate an anti-tank mine!" ”

"Of course, you need to be able to detonate anti-tank mines!" Colonel Albridge said, "Otherwise I wouldn't have let my tank do that!" ”

"Why don't you give it a try?" General Stryk said.

Then all eyes turned to Rommel, who had been silent.

"Does it only take a few hours to get it out?" Rommel asked.

"Yes, General!" Colonel Albridge pointed to the picture drawn by Qin Chuan and said, "We only need to make a frame like this to support a roller, and then disassemble a motor with three sides for driving." ”

"So what are you waiting for?" Rommel ordered: "Get one right now...... No, get three out. ”

General Stryk turned his gaze to Colonel Albridge, a task that would definitely be entrusted to the logistics units of the tank corps, who had the tools and parts to repair the tanks.

"Yes, General!" Colonel Albridge took on the task without saying a word.

"Wait!" Colonel Albridge was just about to leave when Rommel called back: "This thing is now our top secret, understand?" ”

"Understood, General!"

Of course, this is a new weapon, and if you want it to be more useful on the battlefield and catch the enemy off guard, you have to keep it a secret.

"Sergeant, forgive me for my previous recklessness!" After Colonel Albridge left, Rommel handed Qin Chuan a cigarette and asked, "How did you come up with this minesweeper tank?" ”

"Oh, General!" Qin Chuan was stunned for a moment, and then replied: "You know, I was clearing mines on the position last night, and I was still fighting in the enemy's mine array, that scene was really crazy, the enemy's shells were flying towards us, but we had nowhere to hide, and we didn't even dare to hide, because you weren't sure if there were mines around...... At that time, I wondered if there would be something that would help us clear mines, safely and quickly. ”

"And then you thought of it?" Rommel took the picture and raised it.

"Yes!" Qin Chuan replied: "I think it should be able to play a little role!" ”

"What a little effect!" Rommel said, "I'm not sure, but ...... I'm sure it will make a big difference, Sgt. Yes, this idea of yours will even change the dynamics of the war! ”

Qin Chuan knew what Rommel meant by "changing the situation".

In this era, countries around the world are very troubled by landmines, and the First World War is even more prominent...... Trench warfare at that time was almost a combination of barbed wire, barricades, mines, trenches and machine guns, which led to a stalemate between the two warring sides, almost with no way to deal with the other.

But now, most likely, the appearance of minesweeper tanks will represent the end of the mine era...... Of course, this is not possible, and landmines continue to function even in modern times, but their role has been largely weakened. It's just that Rommel didn't know this.

Colonel Albridge was right, and after more than three hours several minesweepers were tossed out, but it looked crude...... Several roughly triangular steel pipes welded together supported a drum with iron chains, which were then connected by conveyor belts to an external motor behind the turret.

The drum is still quite good, the size is moderate and the rotation is also very smooth, and when I asked later, I learned that it was the logistics soldier who brought a few drums for local people to thresh wheat from Matru.

"The downside is that the turret can't turn to the right!" Colonel Albridge said, "Because the conveyor belt blocks the space where the turret turns, doing so will destroy the device!" ”

"Whatever!" Rommel said: "If you can clear the mines, even if you can't open fire, it's no problem!" ”

Then Rommel ordered with some impatience: "Let's start!" ”

"Yes, General!" At Albridge's signal, the herald waved his flag and gave the order to begin the experiment.

The first experiment was a platoon of anti-infantry mines, as the tank "rumbled" upward, the rotating drum with the chain "swished" forward, and then only heard a "boom" explosion, several anti-infantry mines were detonated very smoothly.

The officers let out a cheer, and Rommel nodded his head with bright eyes.

But the second experiment against anti-tank mines went wrong...... No matter how the chain was smashed on it, the anti-tank mines did not react at all, and it was useless to turn the motor up to the maximum.

"What's going on?" Rommel asked.

"General!" Colonel Albridge replied, "It's because of the lack of strength in the fall!" ”

The compression force of anti-tank mines is generally about 200 kg, but the iron chain of the drum cannot provide such a large compression force.

This brings minesweepers to a dead end...... The main thing about minesweeping is that the tank can advance quickly, and if it is not possible to remove anti-tank mines, then this "minesweeping tank" will not make much sense.

After thinking about it, Qin Chuan said, "Why don't we add some counterweights to the chains?" ”

"Counterweights?"

"Yes!" Qin Chuan said: "For example, if you weld a series of small iron balls on the chain, the force of it falling to the ground may be large enough!" ”

"Great idea!" Albridge praised.