Great Power Industry: You're a private company building an aircraft carrier?

The Russians originally did not have comprehensive replenishment ships, only oil and water replenishment ships, which replenished the fuel and fresh water of warships. Generally, they used existing oil tankers that were converted, such as the Type 160 replenishment oiler.

It wasn't until the 40,000-ton Type 1143 heavy aircraft-carrying cruiser was built that the Russians realized their fleet's supply capabilities were too poor.

So they started building comprehensive supply ships, which could supply not only fuel and fresh water, but also food, weapons and equipment.

However, the Russians did not have a need for long-distance ocean voyages, unlike the US fleet which sails globally.

Therefore, the displacement of the Russian replenishment ships is not very large.

Their Type 1159 replenishment ship is their main large replenishment ship, with a full-load displacement of only 22,000 tons.

The No. 61 Commune shipyard, located north of Nikolayev, began construction in 1972 on the Project 1833 replenishment ship, which has a full-load displacement of 25,000 tons and is more powerful than the Project 1159 replenishment ship.

Unlike other replenishment ships, the Type 1833 replenishment ship luxuriously uses the same gas turbine propulsion system as the Type 1164 Slava-class cruiser.

After all, the No. 61 Commune Shipyard was originally building the Slava-class ships, so they conveniently used the gas turbine engines on the supply ships.

This increased its speed to 22 knots, which was comparable to the speed of the fleet, and it was a twin-shaft, twin-propeller aircraft.

The Russian Navy only had one Type 1833 destroyer, simply because it missed the boat's development.

By the time the Russians wanted to build more large-scale replenishment ships, that powerful nation had collapsed!

On the slipway of the 61st Commune Shipyard, the hull of a new class of 3.6-ton replenishment ship had been built, and it looked like it would be launched soon. But then, nothing happened.

It had been left on the slipway exposed to the elements, and it seemed a waste to dismantle it, especially considering the precedent set by the Ulyanovsk.

However, if we sell it, no one will buy it.

Now, the buyer has arrived!

A vodka-fueled car carrying several people arrived at the shipyard of Commune 61. Led by Makarov, they went directly to see the shipyard's director, Valery Popolov.

This is a short, thin old man who looks like he could be blown away by a gust of wind.

"Valerian, my friend!"

Makarov said with a smile, "Come, let me introduce you. This comrade is Qin, from a scrap metal recycling company in the East."

Although the Red Empire was a thing of the past, Makarov still inadvertently used the word "comrade."

For him and others, this word has been used for decades, and they've long been accustomed to it.

"Director Popolov, it's a pleasure to meet you."

Qin Chuan stepped forward and shook hands with the other party.

"Scrap metal? Our factory doesn't have any scrap metal."

Popolov looked at Qin Chuan warily. What did the other party want? Don't try to trick us into dismantling that cruiser on the outfitting dock!

With just a little more funding, that cruiser can be built!

"Valery, look how anxious you are. We're not talking about the Ermao, we're talking about the Daogawa, that is, the 1834-class ship."

Makarov asked, "Can your ship float on water?"

Popolov looked at Qin Chuan and Li Jianshe with surprise, and continued warily, "You want to buy that ship? What do you plan to do with it?"

"Transport scrap metal," Qin Chuan answered decisively.

Popolov was taken aback: "And then?"

"Then dismantle it into scrap metal as well."

Popolov thought for a moment, then firmly shook his head: "No!"

"why?"

Even Makarov was surprised. "You old stubborn fool, what do you mean? Apart from the Er Mao, you can dispose of the rest of the semi-finished products yourselves. Why not sell them?"

“That ship is fully capable of being built into a powerful ocean-going replenishment ship, and I don’t want it to become scrap metal.”

Popolov said, "Although it looks like a shell, the M70 gas turbine for cruising has already been installed, so we can't just sell it as scrap metal."

Most replenishment ships in various countries are powered by diesel engines, and some early ships even used boilers.

Comprehensive supply ships powered by gas turbines are extremely rare; only the 61st Commune Shipyard has launched such a ship!

Makarov frowned.

As a fellow factory manager, he understood the other person's feelings. It must have been painful to watch a ship he had only half-built be dismantled into scrap metal!

But if they don't sell here, how will I sell my scrap metal?

If the scrap metal isn't sold, the shipyard won't be able to pay wages, causing widespread panic. Skilled workers will leave, and the shipyard will eventually lose its shipbuilding capacity completely!

"If the ship can sail on its own, then we can save on the cost of a tugboat. The tugboat cost for the journey back would be about one million US dollars."

"We can give you an extra million on top of the estimated scrap value of this ship."

Qin Chuan said, "If the main unit used for acceleration were installed, it might be more valuable, but this gas turbine used for cruising..."

The Glorious-class uses two unique M21 combined combustion and steam systems.

Normally, two M70 cruise gas turbines are used for cruising, and four MK8F acceleration gas turbines are started when acceleration is needed.

Meanwhile, because the exhaust temperature of the gas turbine is very high, two direct-flow waste gas recirculation boilers are also installed. The steam generated is used to drive the steam turbine to generate electricity. The fuel utilization rate is quite high, but the system is extremely complex.

The Russians weren't afraid of complexity; they simply transplanted the entire power system over.

However, this unfinished vessel currently only has a gas turbine for cruising; the rest has not yet been installed. Fortunately, the gearbox and other components have been installed, so it can still run for now.

Although the replenishment ship in front of us has a full-load displacement of 36,000 tons, it can actually only carry a little over 20,000 tons of cargo.

Weighing over 10,000 tons, it is only half-built now, with the superstructure yet to be constructed. The total weight is around 7,000 tons. At the price of $200 per ton of scrap iron, it could be sold for $1.4 million.

If you give another million dollars, that's two million four hundred thousand dollars!

Popolov's eyes darted around: "No, one million dollars isn't enough, it needs to be at least one million six hundred thousand dollars!"

That adds up to three million US dollars, twice the price of scrap metal!

Qin Chuan frowned: "This is a lot... But the amount of money isn't important, what matters is that we click."

"Factory Director Makarov personally brought me here today, which is a great honor for me. I, Qin Chuan, cannot let Factory Director Makarov down. Let's go with the price you mentioned!"

Makarov's eyes lit up. "Great, it's finally done!"

They originally thought they would be forced to sell the scrap metal for $150 a ton, but to their surprise, they actually sold it for $200 a ton. Were they dreaming?

"but……"

Qin Chuan paused for a moment: "Could you install a simple operating system for us so that this ship can be sailed?"

Although the gas turbine and steering gear have been installed, the bridge has not yet been constructed, and the operating system is still not in place.

Forget about anchor winches and all that; at least install a rudder wheel so it can turn at sea!

"No problem at all!"

Popolov nodded: "However, you have to pay first!"

"Okay, I'll give you a deposit of $300,000 first. Once you've made the modifications and delivered the ship to the South Shipyard, loaded it with scrap metal, and customs has cleared it without any issues, I'll pay the balance immediately!"

Although it's also a 10% deposit, it's different from what we did with the Indians. We can settle the remaining balance before we leave!

Actually, it would be fine to give it to him now, but Qin Chuan didn't dare.

These Russians are incredibly audacious; they might just misappropriate the funds, and then we'll have nowhere to turn to cry!

"Director Makarov, Director Makarov!"

Just then, an anxious voice rang out: "The South Factory wants you to come back, there's something important!"