Although they couldn't get the Type 15 tank they wanted, the Germans were also knowledgeable and knew very well that to some extent the significance of the Type 16 was no less than that of the Type 15, and the only difference was whether the Germans had the ability to fully exploit the potential of the Type 16... Of course, the industrial strength of the Germans is beyond doubt, not to mention that the British at this time had already developed an aero engine with 255 horsepower. No matter how bad the Germans are, they can't be worse than the British, right? You must know that the Fokker aircraft that set off the "Fokker disaster" was made in Germany.

It's just that aero engines and tank engines are not the same after all, although aero engines can also be used on tanks, but first of all, they need to be modified to a certain extent.

And retrofitting takes time.

What's more, although the Type 16 tank was simple in later generations, it was also complicated at this time. If the Germans made something called a tank like the AV7, but in fact it is similar to an armored car, it can indeed be completed quickly.

Historically, it was in November 1916 that the Germans put forward the technical requirements for German tanks by the German General Staff, entrusted the 7th Transportation Department to formulate the design of the tank, and named it A7V (A7V's full name is Allegmeine-Kriegs-Department7, which means "the Transportation Division of the Seventh United Front Department") battle tank. January 1917 by engineer Joseph? The design design of Volmer was completed in January 1917. Due to the needs of the war and the use of the chassis of the ready-made "Holt" tractor, the design work progressed quite quickly, and in the summer of 1917 a prototype was built and prototype tests began.

By October 1917, due to the tension of the war, although the AV7 tank still had various problems, the Germans still hurriedly put it into full-scale production.

Now, although the Germans got the drawings directly, the time required to spend on the drawings was eliminated, and the Type 16 tank was officially put into production after many problems were eliminated. However, the complexity of the Type 16 tank is not comparable to that of the AV7 "armored car".

Therefore, no matter how fast the Germans moved, it could not have been much earlier than the AV7 tank.

For the Germans, time is probably the most lacking thing.

After all... The Germans don't have much time left ... Although the most critical engine technology, Yan Guang, was not given to the Germans, but after the Germans who knew the goods got the design drawings of the Type 16 tank, they felt that Yan Guang was interesting enough, and they were also very happy.

After all, even if the Type 16 tank fell into the hands of the Germans, the "high speed" of more than 30 kilometers could only turn into more than 10 kilometers in the end. The original 50/30/30 armor is only 30/15/15, but it is no problem to ravage the British on the battlefield.

After all, the British Mark 1 tank itself was only 10/5/5 armor.

Usually, the blocking machine and rifle bullets are forgotten, but if you really block something above 20mm caliber, it is pure joke.

In fact, there was no need for 20mm guns, just the 12.7mm heavy machine guns equipped by the Wehrmacht, and it was only a simple matter to destroy the British Mark 1 tank.

The French Renault and the German AV7 are a bit troublesome, especially the German AV7, the front armor is almost 30mm thick, no wonder it will weigh as much as 30 tons.

But there is no way to do it on the front, but there is no problem with the side and back, after all, the side and back of the AV7 are very thin.

After ―――――――――― got the drawings of the Type 16 tank, Malzan, who had been incognito in China for a long time, returned with joy.

After all, the Germans paid too little for this deal. And even Malzan is well aware that by now the Germans are able to give very little technical support to China. The German engineers in China were just a dispensable for China.

It's a pity to throw it away, but it's tasteless to eat... would trade with the Germans at such a price, just to show Yan Guang's apology.

After all, before the outbreak of the European war, China and Germany had very close relations, even to the point of quasi-allies. Later, he sold Germany, and now it is hostile to Germany, which is somewhat unauthentic.

Of course, Yan Guang did this not just because of these, after all, personal feelings and national interests should not be involved.

Yan Guang will do this, but also to regain good relations with the Germans.

After all, Yan Guang knew very well that although the fate of the Germans after the defeat in the European War was very miserable, this misery only lasted for less than ten years. And how fierce Germany is more than ten years later, Yan Guang is very clear.

Although this kind of fierceness only lasted for a short period of time, Yan Guang also didn't want to have too bad relations with the Germans during that time, you know―――――― if Yan Guang's strategic focus during World War I was on the Middle East and Russia, then the focus of World War II was on Germany and itself..."Hey, hey, hey, hey..."

After saying goodbye to Malzan and remembering some things in the future, Yan Guang burst into a sneer in the office.

This kind of laughter of Yan Guang is very familiar to everyone else in the office, because once Yan Guang laughs like this, it means that he is calculating others―――――― and every time Yan Guang calculates others, the success rate is about 98%... And in the upper echelons of the political axe, almost everyone knows that it's best not to disturb Yan Guang when he laughs like this... It's just..."President, are we really okay with this..."

Just when Yan Guang was still there, "Hehe...", Cai Yi, who had not been silent, said a little worriedly.

Although someone interrupted his train of thought, Yan Guang more or less wanted to retaliate or tease, but Cai Ye was different, Cai Ye and Jiang Baili were the top two generals under him.

Therefore, although Cai Yi interrupted his train of thought, Yan Guang could only let go of his thoughts of revenge and turned around.

"What? Any questions? ”

Sending the drawings of the Type 16 tank to the Germans was not just Yan Guang's own intention, the people in the office more or less agreed, and the rest were all acquiesced, and only a few were opposed.

Now that Cai Ye suddenly asked like this, Yan Guang naturally felt strange.

However, in the face of Yan Guang's question, Cai Yi just smiled bitterly.

“……… Now the tank factory has begun to produce Type 16 tanks, and it will not be long before it will start adding a brigade of light tanks to the 1st Panzer Division. If, at this time, suddenly the Germans come up with tanks almost identical to ours, in case they arouse the suspicion of the British..."

Hearing Cai Ye say this, those who were originally silent or spoke out against it also nodded.

And those who originally agreed, some of them were very stunned.

Indeed, when China began to equip Type 16 tanks in large quantities, Germany suddenly came out with this kind of tank, and everyone is afraid that everyone will know that there is something wrong with it, and by the way, they are doubting the relationship between China and Germany.

You know, in the past, the relationship between China and Germany was quite good, which is almost universally known, and if there were conflicts with Britain and France and other countries because of this, then..."What, I was worried about this..."

Yan Guang, who was still wondering why Cai Ye spoke, smiled lightly.

"There is no need to worry about this kind of thing at all, even if the British and French asked, wouldn't it be better to tell them that the Germans had been involved in research?"

As with the close relationship between China and Germany, it is well known that there are a large number of German engineers involved in research in China, so this is indeed a good reason.

What's more, even if Britain and France don't believe in this reason, can they still do anything to us now? ”

When he said this, Yan Guang said somewhat proudly.

Hearing Yan Guang say this, everyone else nodded subconsciously.

That's right, even if Britain and France really come to the door, there is no need to be afraid of China's current strength. What's more, Britain and France, which are caught up in the European war, are powerless even if they have the heart.

As for waiting until the end of the European competition?

Britain and France, who have experienced a big war, dare to have another big war?

This is also Yan Guang's greatest confidence in daring to do this, after all, Yan Guang knows very well how weak Britain and France were after the end of the European War, and how war-weary Britain and France were after the war. You must know that the appeasement policy of Britain and France after the end of the European War was quite famous, and it was because of this that it triggered World War II.

If Britain and France had been a little tougher in the beginning, I'm afraid World War II wouldn't have happened... After listening to Yan Guang's reason, almost everyone nodded, and the rest couldn't find a reason to oppose even if they still had some doubts. After all, with China's current growth rate, even if Britain and France really want to settle accounts after the war, I am afraid they will need to be carefully considered.

What's more, China has not done nothing in the recent period, not to mention anything else, after having the goal of common vigilance, the relationship between China and the United States has improved rapidly―――――― of course, if the book is gone, the friendship between China and the United States will probably also disappear now... But in general, China really does not need to worry about Britain and France.

―――――――――― even when diplomats in China were still jumping up and down to find information about the Type 15 tank, the Germans had already sent the drawings back to Germany through secret channels.

Like the Germans, it was Yu himself who had gained something, and it was precisely Wang Jingwei, a "young man" who did not have much expectations, who provided him with information.

Of course, Wang Jingwei didn't provide much information about himself, at least the full set of drawings and nothing to mention. However, what Wang Jingwei provided is also of great value, that is, a full set of photos of the Type 15 tank.

These are all photographs of new tanks that were transported to the Caucasus via the Dilan Railway to replenish the tank division of Feng Nan.

Although the secrecy work along the way is indeed very strict, Wang Jingwei does have a great convenience in working in the Ministry of Railways, and Wang Jingwei himself is also very capable. In the end, Wang Jingwei was allowed to take a full set of photos.

Although there are no photos of the interior, with these external photos, it is also a big gain for me.

It's just that although the harvest has arrived, when it is spread to the country, it has set off a big controversy.

The reason for the controversy, of course, is about tanks.

Because according to the photos sent back by Wang Jingwei, as well as some information that he has more or less obtained, the full weight of Type 15 is at least about 30 tons. About 30 tons, you must know that the current industrial capacity of the book is almost the worst among the great powers, even the second-to-last Italy is almost three times that of the world.

Coupled with the fact that he was not very wealthy, if he really formed a force like the Chinese tank division, it would definitely not be an easy thing for his finances.

Not to mention anything else, just by thinking about the inferior equipment of the army at present, and the equipment that was almost no different from the army during World War II, we can imagine whether the political axe of the army is capable of providing such a large amount of funds to the army under the condition of emphasizing the navy.

And if it's equipment, a tank like the British Mark tank.

Although the test of industry and finance is reduced, but again, this tank of more than ten tons at most is obviously not an opponent of the Type 15 tank, and it is worth thinking about whether it can even pose a threat to the latter, so why waste money?

Moreover, although I did not have much information, I still made an estimate of the cost of forming a tank unit. And the result was obviously quite shocked... More than 50 million yuan is enough to equip nearly ten army divisions and regiments, and it is enough to add two battleships to the navy. You must know that it is a maritime country, and if so much money is really given to the army, won't the navy be in trouble?

Even if you get a smaller one, the tank level is similar to the Mark tank, the cost is less, but it is not a match for the Chinese at all. The presence of such a tank unit? Does it make any sense?

In the face of the questioning of the high-level officials of the political axe, the army, which is somewhat enthusiastic about tanks, is obviously also a little speechless.

It's just that there is nothing to say nothing, and in the end, the plan for the tank was adopted.

Because... It has already been said that Ben's fragile psychology, after overpowering China once, simply cannot bear the result of being overwhelmed by China again. Therefore, knowing that it could not be compared, he still decided to invest a certain amount of money in tanks.

Of course, he himself is also very sensible, and he knows very well that the industry, which currently produces less than one million tons a year, is simply not able to get a "heavy" tank of several tens of tons like China, and even if it does, it will definitely have to be relatively reduced in scale.

Therefore, it was decided to purchase a certain number of Mark tanks from the United Kingdom, and at the same time as purchasing, according to the tank concept obtained from the photos, combined with its own industrial capabilities, to develop a tank suitable for the national conditions... If you have to say it, it's almost the same as the Type 89 tank in history... In fact, it's not that I don't want to catch up, but in the case of the country's industrial development, China's steel production has leaped to nearly seven million tons, and the gap with Britain is only one or two million. Anyway, it is said that it is a maritime country, and it still has an overwhelming advantage over China in terms of navy, and in the case of full investment in the navy, although the strength of the Chinese navy is growing rapidly, it will obviously not be able to catch up with it for a while... Of course, although it is only a light tank of more than ten tons, the name I gave is still "medium-sized" to meet the psychology of confronting China, after all, China's Type 15 tank is also "medium-sized".

Merely... Just when he was still aiming at the Type 15, he didn't know that the latest and lightest Type 16 tank in China was already much stronger than the Type 89 tank being developed.

So strong that even the Type 16 tank equipped with a 12.7mm side-by-side machine gun can pose a certain threat to the Type 89 tank.

But that's all, what really matters is... With the increase in industrial capacity, of course, there is also the rapid development of engine technology. Unlike in the past, under the auspices of Cai Yi, who had already begun to pay attention to tanks, the engineers of the tank factory had already begun to design a new type of tank.

If you have to say it, if it is a Type 15 tank, it is actually a smaller version of the historical Black Panther 2 tank, which has been reduced from nearly 50 tons to only 30 tons, and the speed has been reduced from 55 kilometers per hour to only 10 kilometers per hour.

Well, the latest Type 1917 medium tank is the Panther 2 tank in the true sense of the word... Not only will the full weight be fully restored to nearly fifty tons, but the body size will be exactly the same as the historical Black Panther 2. It will reach 120/60/60 in armor and 100/60/40 in the hull. In terms of firepower, it will be equipped with 88mml/56 tank guns, and even the mobile surname will reach a speed of 30 kilometers per hour, which is a battle tank in the true sense of the word... However, there are still great technical difficulties in the development of this tank, that is, the engine... At present, the largest engine in China is only 250 horsepower, and the largest foreign engine is the British "Eagle" engine, which is a little larger than the domestic one, but it is only 255 horsepower.

The 250-horsepower engine, even if it is equipped with a Type 17 medium tank, may not be able to maintain a speed of even 10 kilometers per hour, after all, the Type 16 with more than 30 tons is equipped with a 200-horsepower engine and only has a speed of 10 kilometers per hour, while the planned weight of the Type 17 is nearly 50 tons.

In the end, even if it is barely built, it can only be similar to the KV in history... The problem of power, which is perhaps the biggest difficulty in the development of tanks... At present, the development of high-power engines has been carried out in China, with three types of 300 horsepower, 350 horsepower and 400 horsepower, but because the degree of leapfrogging is too large, in addition to 300 horsepower, the progress of the remaining two models is not very large, so it is difficult to say when the Type 17 tank can be successfully developed... All in all, let's develop first... Anyway, in Yan Guang's opinion, it is best to study it next year, if it really doesn't come out, as long as it can be done 30 years ago... After all, Black Panther 2 only came out in the 40s, and Yan Guang never thought that he would make a similar product in power in the 20s.

(The engine of the Panther 2 seems to be 610 horsepower, and historically, the Schott "Scher" single-seat biplane torpedo bomber, which was first flown in Britain in May 1918, was equipped with a Ronald torpedo bomber. Law's 385 hp Eagle 8 V12 water-cooled engine. In 1921, the Javelin reached 450 horsepower, and in 23, the Mitsubishi BIM Type 13 carrier-based attack aircraft was 500 horsepower... And just when the army was researching tanks, and the navy was thinking about whether to make a dual-use tank for their own marines, and finally only one air force was thinking about whether to get a tank that could fly, a major event happened in Russia..."The February Revolution..."

(To be continued)