Arc of Fire

Chapter 673: Chapter 11: Several Issues with the New Medium Tank

Wang Zhong was about to continue questioning when Olga interjected, “Isn’t there already an excellent Rokossovsky Type heavy tank? Why not just focus on producing that?”

"My lord, because of their own weight, heavy tanks have a higher failure rate in their running gear and require more support forces,” Wang Zhong patiently explained. “Our heavy tanks are generally grouped in units of 21 and used separately, only reinforcing frontline troops when needed because they require so much support.”

The logistical support of the Ante Army was extremely poor, unable to sustain a larger scale of heavy tank units.

Olga: “So you mean, we can’t support such heavy tanks, and that’s why we need to produce lighter ones.”

Wang Zhong: “Exactly, lighter and more reliable, with better production quality—that should be our main force. Not every Prosen Infantry Division is equipped with enough anti-tank firepower, so medium tanks should be enough against them.”

"Just like in the past six months, the enemy equipped anti-tank guns like the PAK40 that could easily penetrate the frontal armor of the T34, as well as Long-barreled Four tanks. But our T34 still achieved breakthroughs in many places, especially the raids conducted by the 51st Tank Army.”

Although the 51st Tank Army had been nearly wiped out, they devastated a large number of enemy artillery units and supply stations like a whirlwind, delaying the enemy’s advance.

Olga: “I see! After the ceremony for the Rokossovsky Type tank, let’s go check out that new type of medium tank!”

Olga: “Of course, as the Tsar, why shouldn’t I be concerned about the next generation of tanks that will replace the T34?”

You can’t really argue with that…

Wang Zhong had to accept it since, logically speaking, he, a general, had no authority to command the Tsar.

When Wang Zhong arrived at the research institute with a large group of people, Ke Jing’s apprentice was busy at the drafting table and said without looking up, “Teacher, you’ve returned later than expected. Did something happen?”

As he looked up, he was stunned, his gaze shifting back and forth between His Majesty the Tsar, the Grand Patriarch, and Wang Zhong.

Wang Zhong: “Don’t be nervous.”

This seemed to have the opposite effect on the young designer, who suddenly stood up, clumsily trying to greet Olga.

Olga: “No need to be so formal, I’m the one interrupting your work.”

"Not at all!” The designer shook his head like a bobblehead doll, “This is all part of my duties!”

Olga: “Your loyalty to Ante’s mother is admirable. Now, why don’t you introduce me to what you are designing? General Rocosov has high hopes for it.”

Wang Zhong frowned, instinctively feeling there was something off about Olga’s remark.

So, he chose to ignore it.

Belinsky, the Grand Patriarch, seemed to have chosen to ignore it as well.

The designer, oblivious to any issue with the Tsar’s words, excitedly began, “Look! The basic idea is to simplify the teacher’s heavy tank design

Ke Jing interrupted, “My design has been named the Rokossovsky Type heavy breakthrough tank.”

"Ah?” The young designer glanced at Wang Zhong, “Oh, I see. I simplified the design of the Rokossovsky Type heavy tank to improve its manufacturability.”

He stepped back, pulled over the drafting table with the design drawings, and continued explaining: “Firstly, my teacher designed a wedge-shaped armor area on the front of the vehicle, which actually isn’t necessary. Although this wedge-shaped area increases frontal defense, the degree of enhancement is limited.

"I believe there is a diminishing marginal effect in defensive capability. Once the defense reaches a certain level, the weight and other costs required to enhance it further are too high.

"So my design is like this, using a large angled flat plane for the front instead, moving the driver’s position back a bit, and accordingly shifting the turret back slightly.

"As for the large angled protective areas on the sides of the tank body designed by the teacher, I examined and concluded that it’s better to compress the height of the vehicle body.

"If most of the side cross-sectional area of the vehicle body is blocked by the road wheels, it effectively enhances the protection because, although the road wheels are not specifically armored steel, they are quite thick and strong in order to support the weight of the tank.

"To reduce the height, I redesigned the power compartment and also adjusted the position of the turret and the design of the ammunition rack.

"This way, the overall height of the vehicle is forty centimeters lower than the teacher’s design, neatly eliminating the step armor on the side of the vehicle in the process.”

Wang Zhong looked at the design on the paper, all too familiar with this form—specifically, those large road wheels were enough for Wang Zhong to recall various military enthusiast inside jokes.

It really looks like they designed a T54.

At that moment, Olga said, “It sounds like I understand what you’re saying. Essentially, you used a few tricks to eliminate some of your teacher’s designs?”

"Right, eliminating those does reduce the tank’s protection, but not by as much as everyone might think. But the weight savings reduce the tank’s failure rate and improve reliability.”

Olga: “So, the frontal defense of the tank is the same as the Rokossovsky Type, correct?”

"No, how could that be? It’s nearly fifteen tons lighter, Your Majesty; it definitely won’t have frontal defense as effective as the Rokossovsky Type, but it’s much stronger than the T34.”

Wang Zhong interjected, “Our medium tanks don’t need to have a protective advantage in a shootout with Prosen heavy tanks, and there’s no necessity for that. It just needs to effectively handle the best anti-tank gun the Prosen Infantry has—the PAK40.”

The young designer said, “Full immunity is a bit difficult, given the enemy’s anti-tank gun performs exceedingly well. Within 500 meters, penetration is still possible, especially if the enemy aims at weak spots; the likelihood of penetration is even greater.”

"But Prosen’s other anti-tank guns, such as the PAK38, basically wouldn’t think about penetrating the front of our new medium tank.”

Wang Zhong said, “That’s quite good, very good.”

While the PAK40 anti-tank gun is excellent, the number of units equipped with it isn’t that many, after all in the Prosen organizational system, the PAK40 is already classified as a heavy anti-tank gun.

In the Prosen Infantry Divisions, the more common anti-tank guns are classified as light anti-tank guns like the PAK38, and even some of the divisions from the eighth and ninth waves have a shortage of PAK38s.

In any case, as a medium tank meant to see widespread use on the entire front throughout the campaign, one need not be too demanding about protection, rather, a compromise between protection, mobility, firepower, and increased production rates is more important.

It is the task of tank brigades equipped with the Rokossovsky Type heavy tanks to strike at the enemy’s heavily fortified sectors with heavy anti-tank firepower.

Wang Zhong was very satisfied with the overall design, “Very good, start manufacturing the prototype soon. However, considering the testing and improvements of the prototype, it probably won’t make it in time for this year’s summer campaign, right?”

Ke Jing, the chief engineer substituting for his apprentice, answered, “It’s too late for a large-scale deployment, and a small-scale one wouldn’t make much sense either… After all, this is a medium tank with comprehensive performance, it needs to be deployed on a large scale to trigger a qualitative change.”

Wang Zhong said, “Push forward as quickly as possible, and strive to have units at the brigade level test it on the battlefield during the winter offensive, then deploy it on a large scale next summer.”

"Yes,” Ke Jing nodded repeatedly.

After a day’s work, Wang Zhong finally returned to the Rokossovsky Estate.

As the car drove through the garden, he saw a group of children playing games under the supervision of several disabled veterans and promptly raised his right hand, “Stop, I want to go down and see.”

He opened the door before the car came to a complete stop.

Before he had fully stepped onto the ground, the children cheered, “It’s Rokossov!”

"General has returned!”

Wang Zhong said, “Hello, so what are you playing?”

"We’re not playing; Captain Rezenov is conducting military training for us!”

Wang Zhong looked at the Captain, noticing a Gold Star Medal on the chest of the officer whose left sleeve was completely empty.

Upon meeting his eyes, the Captain saluted with his lone arm, “General! I’m teaching the children how to carry out infantry attacks and defenses. This is a trench I instructed them to dig, please give us some pointers!”

Wang Zhong said, “I’m not as knowledgeable about digging trenches as you old soldiers.”

That was true.

Rezenov said, “See that, kids. The General is very modest; you should learn from him well!”

Wang Zhong could only smile wryly and changed the subject, “Rezenov, I actually don’t really want the children learning this. By the time they grow up, the war will have ended. I hope they can live happily like any ordinary people.”

Rezenov said, “This war will end, but the next one will come. These children hope that they can protect the nation like you.”

Instantly one child shouted, “No one understands the horrors of war better than us! So let us fight the future wars! Let others enjoy happiness!”

Wang Zhong looked at their young faces, reading a firmness that did not belong to their age.

He sighed, “Okay, you’ve convinced me. But, I have one request: each of you must learn to play a musical instrument.”

The children looked at each other perplexed.

"Why?” It was the same child who had earlier spoken about letting others enjoy happiness. He asked loudly.

Wang Zhong said, “Maybe war will always come back, but when war comes, it will also go, only music will endure forever. You should know, with the help of my Deputy Officer Vasily, I’ve composed quite a few popular songs. You should be able to sing them too!”

Immediately one child sang, “I still have one last grenade!”

Wang Zhong said, “Exactly. Our country has always excelled in music and the arts! It’s our tradition! As faithful sons of our motherland, you should naturally understand a bit about music, just like me.

"So, Comrade Rezenov, tell Housekeeper Mikhail that if they are to start war-related courses, they must also start music courses!”

Rezenov saluted Wang Zhong with pride and admiration, “Yes! Comrade General.”

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