Canteen System Assistance Notes

The meat and side dishes on the grill have already formed an attractive charred layer, emitting an aroma that goes straight to the stomach. This group of young people who are famous in Pasadena for being suicidal cheered, holding Coke, and surrounded Liu Helian who was holding a barbecue fork, scrambling to get a share of the delicious barbecue from him.

"Boss! I used to think only fat people could make delicious barbecue, but you're different!" Chemist Parsons, having finished changing into his new outfit, grabbed a spit, ripping onions and chunks of meat from it and munching on them. "Don't worry! Your rocket has already completed several tests, and it's sure to soar into the sky today!"

"Not just soaring into the sky, one day, we will fly out of the earth!"

Far in the valley, as engineer Edward Furman pressed a button, a five-pair rocket erupted in a burst of orange flame, trailing a long trail of smoke as it soared into the sky. It sped so fast that it quickly vanished from sight. After a long moment, a red and white flower bloomed in the sky—the parachute at the rocket's head.

"Look! Bossl can now not only carry your wires and fly up to 3000 meters, but it can even be recycled. Oh, but this thin wire probably can't withstand lightning, and the ground wire will melt and be destroyed instantly..." "But this is already great! Guys, I'm proud of you! Oh, to be honest, I'm not much different in age from you!"

Having no worries about life, working for your hobbies, and being able to follow orders with good reason, and watching rocket launches while rowing, is probably one of the best things in life. Liu Helian looked at this group of happy scientists and said from the bottom of his heart,

"Once the project is completed, I'll have my manager wire the bonus to you. I wish you all the best. One day, we'll not only fly beyond the Earth, but to the moon!"

The heat from the grill gradually dissipated, and everyone abandoned their barbecues, hopped on their motorcycles, and raced toward the falling rocket in the distance. Liu Helian stood there, holding a large skewer of barbecued meat and chili peppers, feeling a sense of emotion. How wonderful it would be if this kind of friendly and equal cooperation could continue forever...

"Mr. Liu, allow me to ask a question."

Mr. Qian, standing nearby, suddenly spoke up. He didn't join his colleagues in recovering the rocket, but simply stood there with a Coke. And this time, he didn't speak English, but instead asked in Chinese, "Mr. Liu, your purpose in developing the lightning-attracting rocket shouldn't simply be to prevent lightning, right?"

"Ah."

Liu Helian didn't explain anything. He turned around and looked at "Old Qian," who was only a few years older than him at the moment but would become a renowned figure in the future. He took a deep breath and said, "Yes."

"I see," Dr. Qian said, turning around and pondering for a moment. "Then, is the aerodynamic design that you privately commissioned me for similar purposes? It's simple, but not as simple as a powered glider."

"Well, that's about right." Liu He took the thick stack of manuscripts and drawings Dr. Qian handed him and carefully put them away. "Just a few days ago, I met another doctor. He stood on a glamorous podium and spoke eloquently, saying, 'I have great respect for the heroes who risked their lives for their country, but my conscience won't let me use my pen to condemn everyone for having to risk their flesh and blood to fight the most brutal and cruel modern weapons.'"

"What kind of bullshit is that? He could sit in his manor and lament the blood of the heroes and the sacrifices of the warriors. He just needs to pretend to be compassionate. How could it be so simple?

"I hate that doctor, and I hate his words even more. However, I do acknowledge that advanced modern weapons are indispensable to a nation and its people's struggle for independence, freedom, and prosperity. That's why I've come to you, Dr. Qian. I will devote all my energy to obtaining advanced weapons and providing solid support for those brave, fearless heroes who face death head-on. In this regard, I beg for your help." Liu Helian offered his hand to Dr. Qian frankly and without reservation. Dr. Qian paused for a moment, then reached out his hand and firmly grasped Liu Helian's.

"Boss, why be so serious? If there's anything I can do, just tell me."

"Ha! I wouldn't dare! The Suicide Squad's work is bound to become increasingly secretive, and the chances for us to meet may become fewer and fewer. Dr. Qian, you just need to carry on as usual, studying and working step by step. There's no need for you to take any risks."

Liu Helian said: "In the future, we may meet again in a new country, and then everything will be different."

Chapter 394 "Indian Ocean Squadron"

If India is the brightest jewel in the crown of the British Empire, then Sri Lanka can at least be considered a beautiful emerald gem in the colonial system of the "Imperial Trade Circle" that is spread all over the world.

With its hot climate, abundant gemstones and black tea, Sri Lanka once supplied Portugal, the Netherlands, and Britain with high-quality teakwood, contributing significantly to their maritime supremacy. Even in the 1940s, when warships were made of steel and the insistence on teak decks had become a stereotypical refrain, Sri Lanka, still known as "Ceylon," remained a key British empire stronghold in the Indian Ocean thanks to its unique geographical location.

Colombo, for example, was a key naval base for the British East India Fleet, where many warships were repaired and maintained. Several of the East India Fleet's three-furnace cruisers frequently visited the port. In addition, battleships and aircraft carriers were occasionally deployed there. Recently, however, among this diverse array of vessels, large and small, three large vessels have appeared, though clearly not warships.

These ships arrived from Bombay Harbor in September 1941, carrying a considerable cargo. They subsequently occupied three 10,000-ton berths and a repair dock, where they began "repairs." A knowledgeable veteran sailor soon discovered that, in addition to the two cargo vessels, there appeared to be a whaling mothership—one that had apparently been caught in a storm, its deck equipment in disarray and in a state of disrepair.

There aren't many whales to catch in tropical waters, and it looks like she got caught in a storm in Antarctica. She's a brave ship indeed to have managed to make it back.

But this sentiment was only a fleeting thought. As Ceylon's largest port, Colombo was incredibly busy. The merchant ship crews, sailors, and pedestrians passing by quickly forgot about the three ships, carrying fences, emitting sparks, and frequently leaving the harbor for sea trials.

After all, the three ships "Pandaria", "Ba Dajie" and "Shanwei" were just very common ships in international shipping at that time.

As an international food industry conglomerate, Pandaria Canned Food Group naturally sought vertical integration across its production chain. Therefore, Liu Helian, who had established a processing plant in Yemen, naturally needed to build a fishing fleet for Pandaria.

While in England, he took over two half-built ships early on. After paying the subsequent amount, he bought a whaling mothership and a sardine fishing boat at a very low price - both of which belonged to large fishing motherships.

A ship is capable of independently supporting the operations of a fishing fleet.

The whaling mothership "Pandaria" boasts a fully loaded displacement of nearly 18,000 tons. To lead the whaling fleet in pursuit of whale pods, it boasts oil-fired boilers and twin propeller shafts, considered luxurious for a merchant ship. It can reach 18 knots at full speed, enabling it to keep pace with sperm whales, blue whales, and minke whales. To supply the fleet's whaling vessels and perform whale disassembly operations, it features a 200-ton refrigerated cargo hold for alkalized whale oil and whale meat, a 3000-ton fuel tank, a large crane and stern slide for towing whales, and even a "whale song" acoustic pointer mounted on the ship.

The sardine vessel, the Eighth Street, boasted a full load displacement of 12,000 tons. It was equipped with bright fish-attracting lights, a full suite of trawl nets and cranes, and a built-in semi-automated canning line. Unlike the boiler-powered Pandaria*, while capable of reaching 18 knots to pursue sardine schools, the power package installed by the Newcastle shipyard was a large Sulzer diesel engine coupled with an electric single-shaft propeller. Like most British merchant ships of the period, this power combination was suitable for vessels requiring flexible start-stop operations, but it also limited its ability to use coal fuel, resulting in higher operating costs.

Fortunately, this fleet's home port is in Yemen, close to Iran, providing easy access to fuel. These two vessels normally carry numerous wooden fishing boats from the Gulf States and India, chasing schools of fish and shrimp. These small boats sell their catch directly to the Pandaria Group, achieving exceptional efficiency. The catch was so abundant that Liu Helian was forced to purchase an additional fast-freezing freighter, the "Shanwei." This vessel, with a full load capacity of 13,000 tons, capable of 16 knots and equipped with three refrigerated holds and two ambient temperature holds, freezes the catch into hard bricks for shipping ashore for processing.

This advanced fishing fleet brought immense profits to the Pandaria Company and also provided a naval training opportunity for the Eighth Route Army, who were filling the fleet with sailors. While a few years of training in a serious ocean-going fleet wouldn't teach them the fundamentals of naval warfare, they would at least gain considerable seafaring experience and become qualified sailors. This way, by the time the Red Navy was officially established, they would have at least a substantial number of experienced sailors.

It seems that the Eighth Route Army was not the only one who thought this way. Just when the "army sailors" selected from the country were vomiting and feeling unsteady on their feet on the ship, the British came knocking on their door.

In May 1940, after the surrender of the United States, the British, haunted by the nightmare of World War I's "unrestricted submarine warfare," were terrified. Isolated overseas, they feared the imminent destruction of their country if their sea transport was cut off. They desperately sought large vessels, and the East India Fleet contacted Chen Baiqing, then captain of the fishing fleet, requesting the requisition of three merchant ships for use in anti-submarine operations in the Atlantic.

You see, the whaling mother ship has high self-sustaining capacity, an operating platform and a tail slide, which can directly install a depth charge delivery track; it has a large crane that can operate seaplanes to search for submarines; the maximum speed of 18 knots and the built-in oil tanks can even allow it to serve as a fleet tanker.

Although sardine boats and fast merchant ships lacked numerous equipment, they were fast (compared to ordinary merchant ships), had large volumes, and were built with high freeboard suitable for the Atlantic Ocean.

With just a modification, it can at least serve as an armed escort in the merchant fleet.

Guard, destroy submarines.

While this idea was fine, it wasn't a good thing for the Eighth Route Army and Pandaria. Putting aside the fact that the company's canned food production would come to a standstill after the withdrawal of the workboat, Liu Helian knew how high the loss rate of merchant ships traveling between America and the British Isles was on the Atlantic route before the Allied Group's escort system was improved.

That was the "first happy hour" for German submarines, but the "first super nightmare" for merchant ships sailing on the route.

But there is always a way out. The outbreak of the North African battlefield soon allowed Xiao Liu to find a solution.

The war required a vast amount of logistical supplies. Pandaria, with its high-quality products and conveniently located factory, naturally became one of the British Army's logistics contractors in North Africa. The "Panda" brand canned food, originally sold worldwide, was underwritten by the British North African Command and became military supplies.

Taking this into consideration, Liu Helian quickly telegraphed the fleet's leaders and political commissars: Chen Baiqing and Mao Liang, asking them to bring fewer canned foods and more beer, fresh meat, and ice cream when transporting supplies. He also instructed them to stuff all these products into the cargo ship's refrigerated hold and send them directly to Alexandria Port: If possible, it would be best to send them to the British Army's North African headquarters.

After all, in hot North Africa, being able to eat fresh ice cream, beer and meat dishes is probably the ultimate luxury.

As expected, not long after, a telegram from the North African Command reached the East India Fleet Command, and the two sides began negotiations regarding logistics and anti-submarine warfare. Ultimately, the Pandaria Canning Company's fishing fleet was spared from being requisitioned as a military vessel. They would continue to pursue fish in the Indian Ocean and provide logistical supplies to the North African Allies.

Of course, the East India Fleet will still transform these three large ships: while carrying out production operations, they will take on tasks similar to armed merchant ships such as the Q-ships of World War I, provide intelligence to the Royal Navy, carry out anti-submarine operations, and join the battle fleet when necessary to perform logistical work.

To this end, the three ships, HMS Pandaria, HMS Bajie, and HMS Shanwei, would be given Royal Navy hull numbers, earning the name "Indian Ocean Yemen Squadron," and would be directly under the East India Fleet. Instructors and liaison officers would be sent aboard to provide training to the squadron's crews.

All these actions may be a sign that this small Chinese squadron will create some legendary stories in the future. On January 25, 1941, the three fishing boats, which had completed transformation, running-in training and camouflage, left the busy Colombo naval port with the "Pandaria" as the flagship.

They drove their newly renovated ships to the vast Indian Ocean.

Chapter 395: Fish-flavored Shredded Pork and the Seasick Major

On the vast ocean, mighty battleships, huge aircraft carriers, merchant ships loaded with cargo... no matter how large the tonnage of the ship is, it will appear very small.

What comes with it is essentially loneliness, solitude, and homesickness. In such an environment, the dazed crew must contend not only with the seemingly perpetually swaying ground but also with the complex emotions brewing within them. Based on the painful lessons learned from humanity's reliance on maritime navigation, if a large number of crew members on a ship truly experienced insufficient "San" values, on the vast ocean, it would be no different from encountering an evil spirit.

In response to this situation, the Pandaria Canned Goods Group lavishly equipped each ship with a high-powered radio to facilitate communication with the mainland. They also built a land-based living area in Aden to allow for rotational rest and recuperation for the sailors training on board, and even went the extra mile by investing in a monthly flight from Yemen to the mainland.

Each of the three ships in the squadron was assigned a political commissar, with Mao Liang in charge of the ideological work of the entire crew. He maintained morale by ensuring material supplies, improving food standards, and organizing recreational activities. Considering that many of the sailors came from civilians in Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Shanghai, the ships even had small shrines dedicated to Guanyin and Mazu.

At the same time, to reflect the characteristics of training ships, the fleet's owner equipped the production workshop with as much automated production equipment as possible to reduce manpower consumption during production operations. After all, everyone is here for training, not for real fishing. Fortunately, canned military supplies were readily available during World War II, otherwise, an ordinary small company would not be able to maintain such a fleet.

But even with all this, working and living in the scorching Indian Ocean was still inconvenient. Those not accustomed to life at sea would find it difficult to endure such loneliness and hardship. Therefore, normally, the "connected" soldiers in this small squadron—the selected army officers and soldiers—would be the least adapted to this kind of life.

However, on HMS Pandaria, HMS Eighth Street and HMS Mountain Way, the person who was least adapted to the life on board was actually the temporary fleet captain, the Englishman Jimeos Clayton, who was supposed to have the most experience at sea.

"I should have stayed in England and worked as an auditor in a firm... Ugh! At worst, I could quit my job and marry a typist..."

At this moment, he was lying in the captain's lounge of the Pandaria, his body curled up like a shrimp, his face as ugly as a pickled cucumber, his brain muddled, as if he had been mated by a pack of wild dogs, and he was completely unable to do any complex thinking.

Since it has become a squadron of the Royal Navy, the Royal Navy must send some people up.

After the three Pandaria Company workboats were refitted, Colombo's East India Fleet loaded several personnel onto these three new-age Q-ships—the fleet captain responsible for commanding the fleet, the navigator responsible for navigation, the gunnery officer and gun crew instructor responsible for teaching the use of guns and artillery, and the communications team responsible for communication.

Every ship had its own gunnery training and radio teams, while the fleet captain and navigator were assigned only to the squadron flagship, the Pandaria. The Pandaria's fully loaded tonnage of over 18,000 tons allowed for more personnel and better working conditions. Coupled with the Pandaria Corporation's excellent labor protection system, life shouldn't be too difficult.

This is true for ordinary sailors, but for Mr. Clayton, a major officer of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve (RNVR) who had only received weekend training before the war and a year of short training during the war, and who studied auditing at the London School of Economics, it was really too difficult.

"I thought coming to India would just involve dealing with Indians and doing some paperwork on shore... Ugh! Oh my God! Why—Ugh!"

The Major's stomach felt like it was being gripped by the ocean, then transformed into a steel wool scrubber, swishing back and forth in the rough, greasy iron pot. The spreading dizziness turned into intermittent stomach cramps, and finally into a feeling of vomiting that surged from his body.

To be honest, Mr. Clayton used to have a respectable job and was a proper "British gentleman".

He worked as an auditor in the City of London. Aside from the year-end reporting period, Mr. Clayton's workday was quite relaxed: he had plenty of interns to assign tasks to, and he didn't have to do everything himself. He could earn a good salary by staying on schedule. He rented a spacious apartment near Canary Wharf and owned a house in Chetthorn Country. He was a winner, complete with a car, a house, and a family.

When people have some free time, they tend to pursue hobbies. Before the war, Mr. Clayton, driven by his artistic yearning for the ocean, signed up for the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. Here, he met friends from all walks of life. During weekend intensive classes, they socialized with textbooks, afternoon tea, and desserts. During the semi-annual practical training, they wore naval uniforms and practiced on active ships, as if on an excursion.

This hobby-like activity enriches Mr. Clayton's life, broadens his knowledge, and is a valuable experience in his life journey.

However, after the outbreak of war in 1939, the previously relaxed curriculum suddenly became rigorous. Mr. Clayton was soon promoted to a major in the reserve and then put on a ship to India.

On the ship, he vomited and passed out. When he arrived in India, he even suffered from diarrhea due to eating unhygienic food. After finally recovering from this torture, this unfortunate gentleman was packed into a box again and thrown onto a Chinese ship.

Oh, how tragic.

"Ugh!"

At this moment, the reserve major had no romance or grace at all. He twisted to the edge of the bed like a big caterpillar, put his mouth to the vomit bucket that smelled of sea water, and retched for a long time. But in the end, apart from a little bile, nothing came out - he had already vomited out two buckets.

The seasick lieutenant commander uttered an inaudible sound of pain: "Oh my... God..."

jingle!

The doorbell of the captain's room rang, and then someone pushed it open. "Mr. Major? It's time for dinner—"

The speaker spoke with impeccable respect. Though not obvious, the hint of playfulness in his tone was unmistakable. Clayden forced his eyes open and saw a bearded man and several sailors standing at the door of the captain's cabin. "Hey boys, this meal is for me. Go do your work. If you lose the game, you'll be helping wash dishes in the kitchen tonight!"

"Very well, Captain. I leave the Commissary General to you.

The sailor walked away. The bearded man took the tray he was carrying and walked into the room. He glanced at the marine clock on the wall and said in mock surprise, "Oh my! Although it's already tea time—Major, no offense intended—it's been so long, and you haven't had lunch yet?"

"If you're just here to laugh at me, put your things on the table and get the hell out of here, Captain Haddock."

"No! NoNoNo, it's Haddock, the navigator. Pilot, Haddock! Major Sir."

Navigator Archibald Haddock waved his hand, opening the door and letting the unpleasant smell of digestive fluids escape. The humid heat of the Indian Ocean broke through the steel barrier and swirled in, tickling the pores and making the sweat rush. "Major, I'm only concerned for your health—after all, our fleet is counting on you."

He placed a plate of steaming rice on the table.

"Fish-flavored shredded pork and rice! Sir, chopped green peppers and carrots, along with tiny black mushrooms and shredded pork, taste just like fish—the kitchen prepared it just for you."

"Fish? Fish! Oh my God, there are fish everywhere. I don't want to eat fish anymore!"

The little quarrel helped boost spirits, and after all the trouble, the fleet's temporary commander finally recovered a little. He frowned and used a spoon and fork to put the Indian rice covered with fish-flavored pork shreds into his mouth. Honestly, it tasted quite good. The sour and spicy taste with a hint of sweetness was perfect for staying energetic in the Indian Ocean in the summer.

The kitchen prepared the meal to the required standard, with plates of steaming Ceylon tea and fresh oranges. The oranges were even cold, thanks to the ship's cold storage. Lieutenant General Clayden, enduring the burning sensation in his esophagus after vomiting, ate the food bit by bit.

Finally, he regained some of his spirit.

"Are you feeling better?" inquired Haddock. "Would you like some more tea, or—rum?"

"Thank you, I don't need it for now." Clayden shook his head. "I'm already in great shape. It would be even better if this damn ground didn't shake all over." "Major, no offense intended. The Pandaria is already a very stable ship, and the weather here is also very good."

According to the temperament of the British Navy, rookie commanders like Clayton always have an experienced old captain as a safety net. "When I was in the North Sea, I didn't encounter many days of calm seas like this - I served on a destroyer of just over a thousand tons! With all due respect, you certainly don't want to experience the feeling of being tied to the mast of a destroyer in a level 6 sea condition while wearing a raincoat.

"But you'll definitely adapt quickly, believe me. You've practiced on the ship before, but you've forgotten a little bit now."

"I was only on the President... Never mind. Well, how are those sailors doing now?"

"The sailors' training is going very smoothly. Although they used to suffer from seasickness and vomiting frequently—no offense, Major—they're much better now. In their free time, they often do additional training. The gunnery crew practices gunnery maneuvers, the navigation crew practices navigation. At least from what I can see, they've become quite proficient at using the sextant to determine their position."

"Apart from....…"

"Except what?" Major Clayden finished the last of his lunch and put down his teacup. Honestly, because he didn't have much sailing experience, the Chinese sailors and captains on board must have secretly been dissatisfied with him. Although they saluted and greeted the major in uniform, they clearly respected the experienced navigator more.

Besides the fact that none of us have ever fought a real naval battle, a sailor who has never vomited cannot be a real sailor - Major, no offense intended - well, a warship that has not fought a naval battle is not really a warship. So far, we have only been training for a few months!

"I heard that there have been several raider ships hunting merchant ships in the Indian Ocean lately. The Navy has told us to be on the lookout. We don't know what will happen."

"What else could possibly be happening? We're just an armed transport, delivering cigarettes from Colombo to Male for the navy, and then carrying a cargo of coconuts and canned fish to somewhere off the coast of Mogadishu to resupply the T-Force... Captain, we just need to do our job honestly."

Major Clayden finally regained his composure and composure. He adjusted his wide-brimmed hat, assumed the airs of a commodore, and prepared to proceed to the bridge. But just then, there was a knock on the half-open door of the captain's quarters. They turned and saw the ship's first mate. He saluted briefly and said, "Commodore, Navigator, the captain requests you proceed to the bridge."

"Okay, Mr. First Mate, what happened?"

"That's right," said First Mate Min Yifan. "The communications room received a distress signal, SOs, the international distress channel, three times in a row."

Chapter 396 Half-Duff

"Commodore of the Fleet has arrived on the bridge! Salute!"

Because of its dual identity as a fishing mothership and an auxiliary cruiser, the Pandaria also has two onboard command systems - based on the merchant ship captain Chen Baiqing and the combat acting captain.

Former Army Commander Zhong Lihua's workboat command system and basic

The squadron command structure was composed of Lieutenant Commander Jimeos Clayton of the Royal Naval Reserve and Lieutenant Archibald Haddock, the Navigation Officer.

Unlike the conflicts that often arise on multinational ships, perhaps due to the onboard cuisine, this somewhat overlapping structure actually allows for a relatively harmonious coexistence. Under the onslaught of "socialist sugarcoated bullets," the guys in the telegraph team were the first to succumb, becoming devoted fans of curry rice and even eating canned Royal Navy corned beef.

Herring sandwiches in ketchup were devalued; then came the Gun Cult.

The officers, unlike the captain, who had the privilege of smoking a pipe, fell under the spell of various cigarettes and, with an unusually responsible attitude, trained relentlessly.

The remaining majors and captains followed suit.

Flow, and "go along with the crowd".

The only thing that stands out is the two commands "XX board the bridge".

"How's it going, boys?"