I Became a Plutocrat in World War I: Starting with Saving France Chapter 256: Revised - 256 The Development Direction of Tank

After considering for a while, Colonel Estiny responded:

"I understand what you an, Colonel!"

"If it were a solo battle, the ’Shire A1’ might have an advantage. But if the ’Shire A1’ faced a group of such tanks, it might be overwheld."

"Moreover, Schneider can modify this tank with a rotating turret, at which point the ’Shire A1’ would have no advantage at all."

To put it simply, whatever the ’Shire A1’ has, this tank can also have. It also has the advantage of mobility over the ’Shire A1’.

Then what advantage does the ’Shire A1’ have to defeat it?

Shire was almost left speechless by Estiny.

Tanks of this era might have been misled by the success of the ’Shire A1’, tank warfare theory suddenly shifted from super heavy types like ’Saint Chammon’ and A7V to the other extre—super light types.

This is very French. They always try to find an absolutely correct theory and stick to it, hoping to win without doing anything else.

However, the complex and ever-changing nature of the battlefield determined that this mindset was dood to fail.

Shire responded slowly: "I think your concerns do not exist, Colonel. Most tank battles take place off-road, you don’t deny this, right?"

Colonel Estiny nodded.

So far, there have been no tank battles on the road. Even if the road is blocked, the battle would still leave the road.

"So!" Shire took the sketch and pointed at the wheels on it: "It ans these wheels are completely useless in combat. Its mobility in battle relies only on its tracks, not its wheels."

Estiny did not deny it. The wheels’ mobility is used for infiltration rather than combat.

Shire continued: "Since its wheel speed on the road is only 28 kiloters per hour, I boldly guess its track speed is probably only a few tens of kiloters per hour. Do you agree with this?"

Estiny hesitated for a mont, then nodded in agreent: "Agree!"

If Schneider’s light tank can reach 20 kiloters per hour on tracks, the wheels would be unnecessary.

On the other hand, thanks to more advanced suspension, the ’Shire A1’ can reach a top speed of 15 kiloters per hour. Thus, its track speed should not differ much from this light tank.

"As such," Shire concluded with a question, "how can a light tank weighing around 4 tons defeat an 8-ton ’Shire A1’?"

Estiny was stunned, then suddenly realized.

Dejoka, however, was utterly confused. He hesitated, looking at Estiny, then Shire: "Can weight determine the victor?"

"Incredible as it sounds, it apparently can," Colonel Estiny explained. "Under similar technical conditions and without significant speed differences, a heavier tank ans thicker armor, which ans I can penetrate it while it can’t penetrate !"

Dejoka "oh"-ed and nodded.

The principle is simple: Schneider and Shire are both French arms manufacturers, with similar engines and weaponry in their light tanks.

A heavier tank ans thicker armor, and thicker armor ans a greater defensive advantage in battle.

Shire said nothing more, just quietly watched the two.

Colonel Estiny was lost in thought for a while, then suddenly woke up as if enlightened: "God, I might know the future trend of tanks."

Dejoka was puzzled: "What?"

He didn’t understand how this led to "future trends".

Colonel Estiny turned to Shire, his face showing so uncertainty, his voice slightly trembling with excitent: "If weight can determine combat power, does it an that as long as we ensure a certain speed and mobility, we should add as much armor as possible?"

Then Estiny thought of sothing and added: "So that’s why you let Matthew go to the aviation factory to study engine technology?"

Shire nodded slightly.

That was two weeks ago when there was a manpower shortage at the bomber developnt departnt in the aviation factory, and Shire took the opportunity to transfer Matthew there to help.

Dejoka was increasingly puzzled. What does engine technology have to do with thicker armor?

After thinking for a while, he seed to understand. More advanced engine technology ans greater horsepower, which ans it can carry thicker armor, resulting in stronger defensive capabilities.

Shire solemnly added:

"The role of the tank is never to have more or fancier functions, Colonel."

"The battlefield equipnt has one most basic and also the most important common point: ’Preserve oneself and eliminate the enemy.’

"As long as any equipnt thinks in this direction, there will be no major problems."

Estiny suddenly understood: "Schneider’s kind of light tank, although it has stronger mobility, cannot ’preserve itself.’ It may even struggle to break through enemy lines... God, if it cannot break through enemy lines, its road mobility may be useless, which ans that it is an unnecessary and useless function, even potentially increasing logistical burdens."

Shire nodded to himself. After all, he is the Father of French Armor, quick to understand.

At this mont, Estiny seed to enter another state. He repeatedly thought about Shire’s words, muttering to himself:

"Then ’eliminate the enemy’ ans... cannons!"

"Yes, cannons!"

"Cannons should have a longer range."

Excited, Estiny looked at Shire, his voice trembling with emotion:

"I guessed right, didn’t I, Colonel? Cannons need to develop in a longer range."

"And also penetration, to penetrate enemy tanks at a longer distance!"

Shire gently nodded:

"Yes, Colonel. This is the future trend of tank developnt."

"It doesn’t need many changes, just a balance of mobility, defense, and firepower."

"And the core that decides all this..."

Colonel Estiny chid in: "Is the engine, it is the engine that decides everything."

Only when the engine reaches a certain level can it allow tanks to carry thicker armor and larger caliber cannons.

Otherwise, it would be like the ’Saint Chammon’ and A7V, struggling even to move properly on the battlefield, let alone fight.

At this point, Estiny suddenly thought, Shire had always been reluctant to install cannons on the ’Mark I’, and the ’Shire A1’ only had a small 37MM caliber gun, as if considering this comprehensively.

Realizing this, Estiny was overwhelmingly shocked.

Could it be that Shire knew this direction at that ti?

But...

When tanks just appeared at that ti, without opponents, how could Shire know the future direction?

He could actually think so far ahead!