Chapter 100: The French Threat
"Your Royal Highness, I will organize engineers to conduct research and development as soon as possible and strive to turn these weapons from blueprints into reality in the shortest time possible. By then, we will definitely win the favor of the army in terms of light weapons. At that point, we will secure the orders. It will be easy!" Gustav Krupp said, excitement evident in his voice.
Gustav Krupp could already envision the collapse of Mauser and Rheinmetall, imagining that the majority of their market share would be seized by Deutsche Arms.
"Well, with Krupp's research and development capabilities, it shouldn't be a problem to turn these designs into reality within a year, right?" Oscar asked. Though Krupp lacked significant achievements in light weapons, their R&D capabilities were still formidable.
"One year is enough. Your Royal Highness, we will definitely be able to develop these weapons and equipment within that time frame," Gustav Krupp promised confidently.
"Mr. Krupp, that would be excellent if development is completed within a year. However, we cannot compromise on performance. In terms of reliability, we must strive for perfection. Convincing the Army will not be easy if the weapons fail to meet the highest standards," Oscar emphasized.
"Yes, Your Royal Highness," Gustav Krupp nodded.
German weapons have always strived for perfection, leading to highly complex designs. A prime example of this was the Tiger tank of World War II, where the innovative but intricate design made repairs a nightmare. Though the need for more rubber led to design compromises, the cost of such advanced weaponry was high, limiting the number of units the German army could produce, thus restricting their combat power.
Oscar intended to avoid such mistakes. For the weapons he designed, he aimed for excellent performance while also ensuring relative simplicity in their construction. If technology development progressed enough, he even hoped to bring forward designs like the AK47, which would further enhance the combat capabilities of the German Army.
Gustav Krupp was very pleased with this collaboration with Oscar. The innovative designs Oscar provided promised huge profits for Deutsche Arms.
"Mr. Krupp, I hope that the development of these light weapons will not affect the development of the navy's naval guns. The navy's naval guns take priority," Oscar said solemnly.
Oscar understood that the navy was Germany's weak point, and it had been the primary reason for Germany's downfall in another timeline. He always emphasized the importance of the navy. Only by defeating the British navy could Germany secure its overseas trade routes, ensuring that it could continue the war without being strangled by Britain, France, the United States, and other powers. As for the army, strengthening it was valuable, but even without it, the German Army was already one of the strongest in the world. In the worst-case scenario, it would just mean more casualties, but the army's effectiveness would still be formidable.
"Yes, Your Royal Highness. We will definitely prioritize the navy's naval guns. Additional personnel will be deployed to focus on light weapons, and it will not affect the development of the naval guns," Gustav Krupp assured him. He knew how much Oscar valued the navy. If this aspect was neglected, the partnership between them would be at risk.
"By the way, Mr. Krupp, have you heard of the French M1897 75mm rapid-fire gun?" Oscar asked.
"The M1897 75mm rapid-fire gun?" Gustav Krupp frowned. He was aware of this standard field gun of the French Army, though he had never paid it much attention. To him, German artillery was the superior force, and Krupp's artillery was the most advanced in the world.
"Mr. Krupp, I promise you, it is an incredibly dangerous artillery. If we do not pay attention to it, it could cause our army severe losses in future wars," Oscar said with a serious expression.
The M1897 75mm field gun, also known as the "French 75," was the main artillery of the French army during World War I. Despite its relatively light weight of just one and a half tons, it had a range of 8,500 meters. What made it truly terrifying, however, was its rate of fire. Capable of firing up to 15 rounds per minute, it outpaced all similar artillery in other nations, including Germany's own field guns of the same caliber.
Oscar recalled how, in a parallel timeline, the German army had suffered immensely from the rapid-fire capabilities of French artillery. Though the German 105mm artillery could counter the French guns' range, it couldn't match their rate of fire. If Germany could replicate such performance, their artillery would gain an overwhelming advantage on the battlefield.
"Is it really that powerful?" Gustav Krupp asked, still skeptical. He had always believed Krupp's artillery to be the pinnacle of design.
"The French 75mm can fire at a maximum rate of 15 rounds per minute," Oscar insisted.
"What? Impossible!" Gustav Krupp jumped up in disbelief, unable to fathom such a high rate of fire.
But when he saw the seriousness in Oscar's expression, he began to doubt his initial assumptions.
"My God! How did the French manage to make a field gun capable of firing 15 rounds per minute? That's terrifying!" Gustav Krupp exclaimed in shock.
"The French solved the recoil problem in an ingenious way. The gun can slide along a cradle, with guide wheels controlling its movement. When the piston compresses the hydraulic oil, part of the oil enters an air chamber through a narrow valve, compressing the air. As the gun fires, it returns to its original position due to the reaction of the compressed air. This hydraulic recoil system allows for an incredibly fast rate of fire. To deceive us, the French intentionally underreported the actual rate of fire in their advertisements," Oscar explained.
Gustav Krupp was silent for a moment, absorbing the information. It was clear that the French had found a way to revolutionize artillery design, and if Germany didn't catch up, they might find themselves facing severe consequences in future conflicts.
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