latelenovela Chapter 314: Get a computer?
Chapter 314: Get a computer?
As an experimental new divisional self-propelled anti-aircraft gun launched by White Eagle in 1974, the M247 'Sergeant York' is a rank VI vehicle in the White Eagle tech tree in War Thunder, with a combat weight of 9.0.
There is no doubt that the research and development of the newly launched rank III vehicle [M4A3E2 'Dumbo' Heavy Tank] on the technology tree is still a long way off.
But this does not mean that Zhang Chi cannot use the existing system to copy a "reduced-specification youth version".
The original M247 'Sergeant York' self-propelled anti-aircraft gun was based on the hull of the M48 'Patton' main battle tank, with an added turret and an APG-66 radar. The radar itself could be used for both search and fire control tracking.
The main weapons of the M247 are two 40mmL70 Bofors anti-aircraft guns, which mainly use 40mmVT fuze ammunition.
(Trivia: Frequent pilots know that the APG-66 is also the F-16's fire control radar. So if your radar warning device indicates that your aircraft has been locked onto by an F-16, it does not necessarily mean that you have encountered an F-16. It could also mean that you have encountered an M247 anti-aircraft gun.)
In Zhang Chi's vision, although he did not have the M48, he had already developed the Level III vehicle [M19A1 Self-Propelled Anti-Aircraft Gun] (pictured) on the White Eagle technology tree.
The M19 was based on the chassis of the M24 Chaffee light tank, and was also equipped with two 40mm Bofors guns.
As long as we combine this [M19A1 self-propelled anti-aircraft gun] with the Wangyi vehicle-mounted radar and add VT fuse technology, can't we make a basic version of "Sergeant York"?
However, as soon as Zhang Chi told Qian Yangping his general idea, Qian Yangping shook his head and gave him a negative answer:
"Currently, the Wangyi vehicle-mounted radar can only be deployed statically. Although it is currently installed in the back of a half-track vehicle, if you want to use it, you need to pair it with another command vehicle equipped with a flat position indicator (PPI) and an additional battery."
"The two vehicles together make up a complete radar system. We conducted a rough rehearsal and it took about an hour from parking to deploying and starting the radar."
After hearing what the other party said, Zhang Chi could only nod regretfully.
Qian Yangping took out a notebook and quickly wrote down Zhang Chi's idea.
He wrote down the following words:
"But your idea is quite good. It just so happens that another project team of ours is researching VT fuze technology. We've already successfully trial-produced a radio proximity fuze suitable for 76mm anti-aircraft artillery ammunition."
"So fast? The 76mm VT fuze was successfully developed so quickly?" Zhang Chi was surprised. "Director Qian, you gave me so many surprises today."
"Again..." Qian Yangping put away his notebook and said modestly, "The silicon transistors you provided are amazing. They're much smaller and consume less energy than vacuum tubes. This is why we were able to shrink the VT fuse for 127mm shells to a size suitable for 76mm shells."
Zhang Chi thought about it and realized that: the smaller the caliber of the artillery shell, the stricter the requirements for the volume of the VT fuse, and silicon transistors at the level of the 60s obviously have a huge advantage in volume.
Zhang Chi, still obsessed with his 'youth version' radar self-propelled anti-aircraft gun, hurriedly asked, "What about the VT fuse for 40mm ammunition? Is it difficult?"
Qian Yangping thought for a moment and replied, "If you want to continue shrinking it to 57mm, then that's not a problem. But if we go to 40mm, there will still be difficulties."
"Okay." Zhang Chi had no choice but to accept it.
Anyway, the 57mm-level fixed anti-aircraft artillery position, coupled with the two-way assistance of long-range early warning radar and low-altitude blind spot radar, is equipped with a VT fuse.
For all the single-engine aircraft in the world that still need to drop bombs visually by diving at low altitude, no matter how many come, they will be shot down, and not a single one will escape.
Even considering the 57mm anti-aircraft gun's maximum firing altitude of 4000 meters, even medium-sized bombers like the B-25 are within range.
As for heavy bombers like B-17 and B-29, they would be replaced with 127mm anti-aircraft guns equipped with VT fuses to slowly bomb them.
However, the 127mm anti-aircraft gun is much heavier than the 57mm and 76mm anti-aircraft guns. It cannot be towed around by a vehicle and deployed everywhere. It can only be used for air defense of key locations.
Zhang Chi was thinking about how to match the vehicle-mounted radar to build a field air defense system when Qian Yangping suddenly spoke, attracting his attention:
"Oh, by the way, speaking of this, I suddenly thought of something."
"Hmm? You say." Zhang Chi responded casually while observing the Wangyi vehicle-mounted radar closely.
"Today's air defense fire control devices, whether on the ground or on warships, are all mechanical computers." Qian Yangping organized his thoughts and said slowly.
"In the foreseeable future, aircraft will inevitably fly faster and faster. Mechanical computers have limited computing speed. Even if our low-altitude radar tracks an enemy aircraft, it would be a waste if the fire control computer cannot calculate it."
Qian Yangping pointed at the Wangyi vehicle-mounted radar and said, "So, have you ever heard of an electronic computer?"
Zhang Chixin said: Not only do I understand it, I can also set up a desktop computer to play games.
But he didn't reveal it, he just looked at Qian Yangping and said, "You also know this?"
Qian Yangping smiled calmly:
"I have a basic understanding. Actually, after the radar receives the echo signal, it decodes it through a filter, and then, through a series of calculations, displays the enemy aircraft's position on the cathode ray tube display. This applies some of the principles of electronic computers."
Zhang Chi muttered in his heart:
I have underestimated the heroes of this era. It seems that most of the masters of science and engineering in the Republic of China were all-rounders who knew a little bit about everything.
That’s right. At that time, the professions were not so specialized. Oppenheimer, who developed the atomic bomb, was initially studying the quantum theory of molecular spectrum.
"I have a friend at Berkeley who specializes in electronic computers. Do you think we should invite him here?" Qian Yangping suggested. "He'll be thrilled to have such a useful component as the silicon transistor."
"Okay, then let's build another electronic computer research institute." Zhang Chi made the decision directly.
Although in White Eagle, the synth Yegorov also has a Texas Microcomputer Company that is also developing electronic computers, but eggs should not be put in one basket, right?
At this moment, Zhang Chi was like a pyramid scheme leader, and he couldn't wait to bring Qian Yangping's friend to Pegu.
Now that he had silicon transistors at the technology level of the 60s, why couldn't he make a large electronic computer that was better than the ENIAC made of vacuum tubes?
Zhang Chi, who originally came to visit the latest radar, was already eager to launch a large satellite - the world's first digital electronic multi-purpose computer.