my scientific age

Chapter 398 Red Star III Tractor!
There was no official rhetoric involved in this matter. As the top military project of the base, the Red Peony Howitzer was of utmost importance. He did not understand research and development, but he knew that he had to fully cooperate with Yu Hua and Professor Zhuang.

Only by uniting as one can we defeat the invaders.

After the words fell, the leader looked at Li Qiang: "Comrade Li Qiang, I believe you understand the importance of today's event and the importance of this test. Your task is to do your best to ensure that the prototype gun test goes smoothly. Do you understand?"

"Understood. I will ensure that the task is completed." Li Qiang, the highest person in charge of the Military Industry Bureau, raised his right hand, his face serious and earnest, his voice exceptionally loud, and his eyes cast towards Yu Hua.

He certainly understood what the leader said. To achieve this day, the base had spent millions of silver dollars, nearly 100,000 workers and soldiers had worked hard for hundreds of days and nights, and the entire organization had contributed greatly to it...

History will remember this day.

Upon seeing this, Yu Hua's tired face broke into a smile, and he immediately began the preparations for the prototype gun test, dispatching various departments and relevant personnel to prepare for the transportation of the prototype gun and artillery shells.

The testing of prototype guns involves transshipment, and the transfer and transportation work is of utmost importance, which requires both confidentiality and safety.

If the transportation was sabotaged by enemy agents, the consequences would be disastrous.

The arsenal made preparations for artillery towing, checked the basic conditions of the Red Star tractor and the artillery tire pressure, etc. Then the headquarters guard regiment and the Yancheng garrison troops were dispatched to block the main road leading to the Nangou test site, and implemented the highest alert level of 'one post every five steps, one sentry every ten steps'. All forks in the road were equipped with armed tractors + light machine guns to ensure the safety of the prototype artillery during transportation to the greatest extent possible and eliminate the possibility of enemy agents destroying the prototype artillery.

This transfer is confidential and safe and cannot be missed!
After the headquarters guard regiment and the Yancheng garrison troops completed the road closure and alert, the transportation of the prototype gun was immediately carried out. The Red Star tractor used for towing the artillery, dragging the prototype gun at a full combat weight of 1.8 tons, drove smoothly out of the arsenal's artillery workshop and entered the long-awaited escort convoy. Afterwards, the armed escort convoy consisting of four trucks moved forward slowly, driving on the internal roads of the factory and heading to the Nangou test site along the predetermined route.

"Student Yu Hua, does this Red Star tractor look a little different to me?" The leader sitting in the back seat of the car at the end of the escort convoy asked Yu Hua beside him. Although the Red Peony howitzer was shining brightly, the leader still keenly noticed the difference in the tractor.

Artillery is undoubtedly of paramount importance, but towing vehicles are not inferior.

Both are indispensable, and only by combining them can we create a powerful artillery unit.

The towing vehicle is the key to determining the mobility of artillery.

"Yes, this is a new model of Red Star tractor specially designed for artillery towing. We call it the Red Star III, which has enhanced battlefield protection and off-road capabilities."

Yu Hua nodded and then introduced: "The engine has a layer of steel plate added for bulletproofing, and the tires are also special off-road load-bearing tires. On the road, it can tow a 1.8-ton Red Peony howitzer while carrying 3 tons of supplies. Off-road, it can carry 1 ton of supplies. It can also support the maximum overload transportation of 8 tons of supplies on the road, but the mobility will be greatly reduced."

The Red Star III is a dedicated artillery traction model based on the latest improvement of the Red Star tractor platform. It is equipped with a traction head similar to later RVs at the rear and uses special off-road load-bearing tires, with maximum load-bearing capacity and reliability. In terms of maneuverability, it has a maximum road traction speed of 30 kilometers per hour and a maximum off-road traction speed of 15 kilometers per hour.

In terms of protection, a 10 mm steel plate is installed on the front of the engine to protect the engine. The body cargo box railing is thickened to 15 mm and is equipped with two shooting holes on the left and right, which can be used for individual shooting or the installation of light machine guns to deal with emergencies.

All the protection that can be given has been given, and it is useless to give the protection that cannot be given.

As a battlefield artillery traction vehicle, this Red Star III tractor has fully qualified comprehensive performance.

"What a great stuff." When the leader heard the information introduced by Yu Hua, a smile appeared on his face and he looked at the Red Star III tractor with appreciation and love.

No middle-aged person can refuse a tractor, just as no child can refuse an excavator.

It has to be said that the Red Star tractor is the most suitable vehicle platform for the Eighth Route Army at present. Its practicality and modifiable performance are definitely not inferior to the Bobcat all-terrain vehicle that became very popular in later generations.

Since its initial birth, there have been three versions of modified models - the Red Star I, which is mainly responsible for logistics transportation, the Red Star II, which is mainly used for armed troop transportation, and the latest improved Red Star III, which is used for artillery towing.

"It would have been great if the troops on the Western Expedition had had these weapons and equipment at the beginning of the year..." The leader stared at the Red Star III tractor and after a moment, he seemed to have thought of something, and his voice was low and painful.

Only seven months had passed since the disastrous defeat of the Western Expedition.

Yu Hua said nothing when he heard this, but sighed softly. As someone who was well-versed in modern history, how could he not know the meaning of his leader's words, and how could he not know that the Western Expedition had been a disastrous failure.

The Western Expedition was a disastrous defeat that shocked the entire country. Thousands of Red Army soldiers died, and the captured female soldiers were subjected to inhumane torture.

There are many reasons for the failure of the Western Expedition, including human factors, external influences, and problems with the route, but no matter what, the backwardness of weapons and equipment was a real objective situation. If the Western Expedition troops had been equipped with Red Peony howitzers and Red Star tractors before setting off, let alone victory in the Western Expedition, at least they would have had no problem retreating unscathed.

However, history has no ifs and cannot be changed...

The Western Expedition ended in failure and the Ma family army was victorious. After that, as one event after another happened and the Japanese invaders launched the July 7 Incident, the base had to endure temporarily and remember this blood feud.

"At least, we now have these weapons and equipment, which objectively improves the combat effectiveness of the army." Yu Hua responded softly.

"You are right. Although weapons and equipment are not the only factor that determines the outcome of a war, they are an important factor that exists objectively." After hearing this, the leader thought for a moment and nodded, saying, "Student Yu Hua, there will be something very important in a few days. I will ask you to discuss it with Professor Zhuang then."

Yu Hua looked puzzled: "Is it something important?"

"As for the Soviet Union, the specific situation is not clear yet," said the leader.

Yu Hua suddenly understood what was going on and a key historical word flashed through his mind - Soviet aid to China.

After the July 7 Incident, the Republic of China and the Soviet Union urgently signed the Sino-Soviet Non-Aggression Treaty in August, and at the same time signed a loan agreement for China to purchase weapons from the Soviet Union, thereby obtaining military aid to China from the Soviet Union. This "to China" was mainly directed at Nanjing and Brother Chiang Kai-shek.

However, being a smaller organization does not mean that we cannot get any assistance at all.

It is now October, which is the beginning of the Soviet Union's aid to China.

Yu Hua thought silently. The car fell into silence and moved forward steadily.

With the prototype gun in front and the people from the Military Industry Bureau following behind, the entire team rushed to the Nangou test site fifteen kilometers away at a moderate pace.

……

At 5:30 in the afternoon, the setting sun in the distance was as blazing as fire.

The Nangou Test Site is located fifteen kilometers west of Yancheng. It has an open terrain and is sparsely populated. It has excellent natural conditions as a heavy weapons test site. After many surveys and evaluations, it was finally selected as a heavy weapons test site directly under the Military Industry Bureau.

"Bang bang bang!" The roar of the 12-horsepower single-cylinder diesel engine resounded all around. The Red Star III tractor towed the Red Peony prototype cannon and drove smoothly into point No. of the test field, slowly slowed down, and stopped steadily.