Canteen System Assistance Notes

By Forgotten Maple X

2642 words

2020-09-17 12: 00: 00

How far was the gap between the Soviet Union and the Iron Fist in 1937?

Answer: There is only one idea.

After Liu Helian proposed this idea, with Grabin's help, the Soviet Union was able to combine existing super-caliber armor-piercing rounds, steel pipes, and Laval nozzles to create a viable iron fist. However, because rocket engines were still immature at the time, Liu Helian's design lacked the sophisticated extended-range rocket found in the later RPG-7, instead employing a recoilless launch system similar to the Gustav.

Similar to the German Panzerfaust, this is essentially a recoilless gun.

The matter quickly escalated. At Grabin's recommendation, while the GAU wasn't interested, the General Directorate of Small Arms did show considerable interest. After all, in 1937, when most infantry could only use mines, grenades, and Molotov cocktails to fight tanks, the idea of ​​having a single-person firepower unit capable of destroying enemy tanks or bunkers at a distance of 100 meters was a very tempting proposition.

So, during the two months when Liu Helian flew to Sweden to purchase additional supplies and Political Commissar Wang Da recuperated after his surgery, the Soviet military industry department quickly perfected this design, which was not yet mature. The GSKB-30 Design Bureau, which was manufacturing anti-tank grenades, separated a "single-soldier cannon trial production team" to reverse-map several samples brought by Liu Helian and converted his hand-drawn drawings into real industrial blueprints.

Then, the design bureau that had designed the RPG-2 rocket launcher, in this time and space, employed its own "Soviet style" by coating the steel tube that served as the launch barrel with a layer of chrome to extend the life of the entire launch system. They also replaced the original six-layer "pill-like" black powder propellant with "nitrocellulose powder strips," increasing the system's firing power and eliminating the need for chamber cleaning after a few shots. As for the firing system, they replaced Liu Helian's batteries with capacitors that were charged by cranking before firing, reducing maintenance costs.

By the time Liu Helian returned to Moscow, the entire system had been granted the provisional designation "RPG-1" by the People's Commissariat of Defense. It had become a reusable, single-person recoilless rifle with a fully chrome-plated barrel, insulated wood, a shoulder stock, and a pistol-style grip. With a new propellant, this Eastern Iron Fist, similar to the RPG-4 of this time and space, had a maximum range of nearly 300 meters and an effective range of 120 meters when firing armor-piercing rounds. This gave it a monstrous 120mm armor-piercing capacity—a monster compared to the thickness of tank armor in 37!

In addition, there is an anti-personnel ammunition equipped with a 50mm mortar warhead - just over two months is not enough to redevelop new ammunition. The GSKB-30 Design Bureau fully exerted the spirit of makeshift and recombined the propellant and mortar warhead to enrich the types of ammunition that the RPG-1 can fire.

The second test was held to a high standard, and the location was chosen to be Arsenal No. 92 in Gorky. When Liu Helian arrived, not only Grabin and several officials from the Light Weapons Bureau, but also Kulik from the GAU were present. Following Grabin's introductions, he was surprised to discover that, in addition to these already important individuals, even personnel from the GBTU-KA were present, including a bearded man who was constantly circling the prototype gun.

"That? That's Kurchevsky, the same guy who's working on the recoilless rifle."

"So, Comrade Grabin, why all the fuss?" Liu Helian was a little confused. "It's just a small individual artillery piece."

Liu Helian believed this would be a valuable addition to the Eighth Route Army's currently limited frontline firepower. With it, the Eighth Route Army would no longer be stopped by a single bunker, requiring the demolition team to painstakingly blast it with explosive packs; nor would they be suppressed by a single enemy machine gun, requiring time-consuming maneuvers to maneuver around it. Liu Helian was more concerned with the PRG-1's ability to deliver high-explosive shells than its anti-tank capabilities. After all, Japanese tanks were a rarity on the Chinese battlefield.

Demonstrating their anti-tank capabilities to the Soviets was simply a way to curry their favor and secure aid. Liu Helian vaguely remembered that the Soviet Union, currently preparing for a comprehensive military overhaul, was very tolerant of any method for enhancing its combat effectiveness—including numerous unreliable "I've come up with" designs. For example, Comrade Kurchevsky was the ingenious scientist who researched the use of recoilless rifles on aircraft.

After all, the Soviet Union's poor early performance in history cannot be changed by a single weapon.

"Of course, you don't know that this thing of yours has caused a lot of headaches for the comrades in the tank design bureau."

Grabin shook his head and said gruffly, "I'm a little confused too. If there are anti-armor shells that work like this, what's the point of having tank armor?"

"That's not true. After all, infantry only have the opportunity to get within a hundred meters of a tank when defending. On the offensive, only tanks can fight tanks. Besides, tank guns are not convenient for firing this kind of ammunition."

"But regardless, Comrade Liu He, your 'gadget' will likely destroy a number of light tanks and impose daunting demands on new tanks." Grabin clapped his hands. "But again, this isn't your fault, haha!"

The most senior were always the last to arrive. After Comrade Mikoyan, the Central Committee member in charge of trade, arrived, the test officially began. Soldiers stationed at Arsenal No. 92 ran in, forming pairs and firing RPG-1s at targets at 50, 100, and 150 meters. Their movements were clearly practiced, precise and efficient, yet slightly exaggerated for the audience to see clearly.

The target was a full 100mm wide, with a box of sawdust stacked behind it. Once the hot metal jet penetrated the target, a high flame would rise. Except for two missed shots at the 150-meter target, the rest of the shots were successful, earning applause from the crowd.

Further back, the soldiers ran forward and came to a tank used as a target. This was a BT7 tank currently in widespread service in the Soviet Union. Its motor hours were basically exhausted, and it was filled with gunpowder. It was facing the enemy head-on, directly facing the RPG team ready to fire.

"Comrade Liukh, what do you think the tanks should do?" Grabin pointed at the BT7 awaiting its fate. "Even if the Soviet enemy develops a tank with 100mm of frontal armor, your 'gadget' will still be able to penetrate it. After all, adding armor to a tank is difficult, but making this anti-tank propellant grenade larger is much easier."

"This one……"

Almost every military enthusiast of later generations knows that shaped-charge warheads aren't a panacea. Setting aside the manufacturing difficulties of composite armor, the premature detonation of spaced armor alone can reduce armor penetration by nearly half. Furthermore, in normal combined-armor tactics, infantry accompanying tanks can also promptly kill any bazooka shooters who manage to poke their heads out. However, these things aren't something Liu Helian or even Grabin can influence to change.

"After all, there's not much need for anti-tank weapons on our battlefield. We can deal with the Japanese and the reactionary warlords with just high-explosive warheads," Liu Helian said, finding a way out. "But this type of ammunition flies much slower than tank shells. If we can erect a net around the tanks, like a minefield on a battleship, wouldn't that stop them?"

As he spoke, the test prototype successfully fired an 80mm super-caliber armor-piercing warhead, successfully striking the poor BT7. The inverted cone-shaped charge and copper cap combined to create a scorching metallic beam like a hot knife through butter, breaking the BT7's front axle and igniting the gunpowder contained within. With a crackling sound, flames over ten feet high erupted from the tank's hatch, resembling a hapless child in a rage.

People applauded, and the staff member of the Light Weapons Bureau who acted as the host invited the inventor of this weapon, Liu Helian, to the stage and presented him with an award.

"So, Comrade Liu He, what do you call this weapon? Please allow me to express my respect for the ingenious ideas of my Chinese revolutionary comrades."

"Oh, I call him Iron Fist. It means the iron fist of revolution will eventually crush the enemies of the revolution."

Chapter 20 Political Commissar Wang's Moscow Holiday

Canteen System Assistance

By Forgotten Maple X

2467 words

2020-09-18 12: 00: 00

"Hey, our busy man is back."

There was a knock on the door, and Political Commissar Wang was walking around the yard. His surgery was complete, and after more than two months of recovery, his complexion had improved significantly. He no longer needed to be hospitalized, but had been transferred to a sanatorium on the outskirts of Moscow.

However, the person who came was not Liu Helian, but someone else who came with him. He brought him a briefcase. Inside the briefcase were stacks of documents, a smaller package, and a note next to it.

"Reporting to the Chief, the mission has been successfully completed. Please see the attachment for details of the procurement and contract.

"The gifts in the small package were purchased with my own allowance, not public funds."

Upon further questioning, the person told me that Liu Helian had already gone to Gorky City to participate in the second test of the "handheld cannon", so he did not come to see me. Please bear with me.

"This idiot..." Political Commissar Wang cursed, rising from his chair in anger. "Everyone has work to do, but they're all busy, and I'm the only one sitting here, unable to do anything."

During these two months of recuperation, this former workaholic hadn't had a moment's rest. It was unknown what kind of magic tricks Comrade Xiao Liu had tricked the Warren Hospital director into giving him. The director, a member of the Internal Affairs Committee, had shown him extra care, checking in on his condition every few days and ordering him to rest well and avoid overexertion. Political Commissar Wang was left feeling stuck, unable to sit or stand. After completing the required daily exercise and taking the prescribed medications and supplements, he could only struggle with pen and paper. He had written quite a few articles, figuring he'd throw them into the recycling system after returning home and see how much a glance could fetch.

He couldn't help but hope that the KMT representatives would come as soon as possible so that he could confront them and fight for a share of aid materials to China.

Turning around, Political Commissar Wang Da saw the stack of documents Liu Helian had handed him, and his brows lit up again. He strode back into the room, expertly removed the wax seal, and immediately got to work.

The document consisted of an overview report, a detailed table, and numerous categorized appendices. This allowed the reader to grasp the general outline of the relevant content simply by looking at the summary, and then index the sections of interest to find specific explanations and detailed interpretations within the appendices—it was clearly the work of an old social animal (as Liu Helian put it). Political Commissar Wang had plenty of time. He spread the reports out on his desk and began reading them one by one, starting from the beginning.

During the two months between his surgery and recuperation, Liu He took a train to Europe, a trip he had initially intended to take. His primary purpose, of course, was to help the central government procure supplies and to establish contact with the local Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese.

Thanks to the voracious demand for brain tonic juice from the people of Guangdong, Guangxi, Hong Kong, Macau, and Southeast Asia, as well as the newly launched ammonium paratungstate trade, the central government finally had some money on hand, and no longer needed to rely on overseas Chinese and democratic figures for support when traveling. As for the Chinese Embassy at that time, they didn't even support their own national sports teams, so how could they give you "red bandit" funds?

The report emphasized the actions in several countries. With the help of a Soviet freight forwarder, Liu Helian first went to Germany and purchased tower-shaped reaction vessels, synthetic ammonia catalysts, and lead reaction chambers. He also placed an order for an air separator that "did not have many uses" at the time. He also introduced a new German invention - a cold heading machine, which could be used to quickly process bullet casings at room temperature.

Then he turned west and went to Belgium, where he visited the famous FN company and purchased the design of the MP28 submachine gun, as well as some off-the-shelf machine guns and Browning Hi-Power pistols.

"It can change the current situation where our officers and soldiers lack weapons..."

Because Belgium is a center of European trade, Liu Helian also found sales offices for many factories there, such as the Swiss company Braun Boveli, which produces small, easy-to-maintain thermal power units that can power factory equipment. He signed several more orders there.

Basically, the process was proceeding according to the ideas discussed at the previous meeting. Political Commissar Wang nodded to himself. The purchasing strategy of "focusing on the country's own situation, starting from the easy to the difficult, and focusing on military struggle" made this overseas shopping trip very purposeful. The supplies Liu Helian and several comrades purchased were basically the most in-demand items needed by the border region.

"Sweden? Why are you going to Sweden?"

Sweden was not in the original plan. Political Commissar Wang straightened up and began to look carefully.

"Taking into account the possibility of using Japanese-made weapons in the upcoming struggle, we have planned to purchase 6.5mm Tomosaka bullet production equipment from the Soviet Union during the Tsarist era." This is not wrong. In the Soviet Union, there is a Japanese rifle bullet production line that was left over from the Tsarist era and had been idle during the Soviet period, as well as many 6.5mm barrels and other accessories. These are the legacy of the "Feedrov submachine gun" produced during the Tsarist era.

The comrades who remained in the Soviet Union had already negotiated with the Russians about purchasing it, so that they could provide ammunition for the many Japanese rifles of the Eighth Route Army in the future.

"Yes, that's no problem - then what does this have to do with Sweden?" Political Commissar Wang said to himself and continued reading.

"The round-nosed Japanese Tomosaka bullets from the Tsarist era caused feeding problems in the double-stack magazines of the Type 38 rifles, which were widely used by the Japanese army. Without modification, it would be difficult to meet operational requirements. Oh... so I made an unplanned trip to Sweden to purchase 6.5mm Mauser bullet dies to replace the round-nosed dies on the original bullet extrusion machines to solve the problem.

"At the same time, considering that Swedish equipment from ABB, Bofors, and SKF could meet the requirements for machining equipment and anti-aircraft guns in the additional procurement plan, a temporary decision was made to make an additional trip to Sweden. Some procurement plans could also piggyback on Soviet purchases, such as the 40mm Bofors anti-aircraft gun.

"The above decision has been approved. 'Special Handheld Device' will report to the Overseas Bureau..."

“It’s historical experience…”

Political Commissar Wang Da's mind popped up this word, and he sighed inwardly. In their daily interactions, it was easy to forget this comrade's true identity. But upon closer inspection, he discovered that within his mind lay a wealth of knowledge, even those he wouldn't consider knowledge, that were actually conclusions proven by history and time. Such conclusions were truly difficult to attain without immense effort, setbacks, and sheer luck.

Invisibly, a lot of waste and lessons are avoided.

"It's really meticulous. They've taken care of everything, whether you thought of it or not." Political Commissar Wang closed his eyes, leaned back in his chair, and rubbed the corners of his eyes. "Damn, I can't find much to fault with it."

After reading the report and writing a few comments, Political Commissar Wang instinctively wanted to hand the document over to the confidential office for further circulation or archiving, and then hold a small experience-review meeting. But then he remembered that this was a sanatorium apartment outside Moscow, not the cave on Phoenix Mountain that served as an office.

Oh! How long will it take before I can get out? Political Commissar Wang relaxed and began to unwrap the small gift Liu Helian had brought him.

The only thing he'd done in the past few days was to advise the comrades in Moscow who were in charge of procurement and make the final decisions. According to the central government's plan, the Soviet Union was to acquire a production line for repeating rifles, the corresponding 7.62R ammunition production equipment, and a series of mining, steelmaking, and biological breeding equipment. Of course, a large amount of ready-made weapons and raw materials were also needed to replenish losses and deal with emergencies.

These things, together with those purchased by Liu Helian in Europe, will gradually be shipped back to the country, and the border area's self-circulating production capacity will be gradually built up, changing its current poor appearance.

All of this requires you to argue your case and be neither humble nor arrogant in the upcoming negotiations.

"Look what this idiot comrade from the future brought me... Hmm? Caviar? Oh, he brought me some Soviet pickles. I thought it was something else. It's pretty good..."

Chapter 21 eMule Flight

Canteen System Assistance

By Forgotten Maple X

2403 words

2020-09-21 12: 00: 00

Besides Political Commissar Wang, who was eagerly preparing for negotiations, another person had already begun negotiations. He was Vice Chairman Zhou, who was currently in Gaojing. By the time the cafeteria landed, he, along with Mr. Bo and the others, had already left the border area and was engaged in a battle of wits with Jiang at the negotiating table.

After the Gaojing Incident, the situation between the two parties had eased somewhat, but after all, Chiang Kai-shek was "remonstrated" by the military while flying to Gaojing to supervise Marshal Zhang's suppression of the Communists. The warlords and the central army across the country still did not stop their anti-Red efforts, and with the Japanese invaders now pressing in, not much has changed.

During this process, the Central Committee's eastward and westward campaigns were successfully launched, and both achieved greater results than in history. Among the westward-bound troops, because a time traveler comrade clarified that "the Soviet Union had not prepared a large amount of supplies and equipment in Xinjiang" when he returned to China in the second half of 36 and directly reported this to the Central Committee, the westward-bound Red Army changed its deployment and took the comrade away to a "meeting" with the Central Committee. After that, the Red Army captured Dingyan and other places, and coordinated with the river-crossing troops further south to successfully occupy Huinong and other places. Ultimately, due to lack of offensive capabilities, they came into a standoff with the Central Army that entered Ningxia for "assistance."

This ultimately resulted in the number of Red Army soldiers at the time when Liu Helian's canteen was established being slightly larger than the history he was familiar with.

Such a large number of Red Army soldiers clearly exceeded the border region's ability to support them. In the rugged terrain of Shaanxi's Loess Plateau, it was clearly impossible to dig up enough food to feed so many full-time personnel, once part-time Red Army soldiers and now part-time Eighth Route Army soldiers. This required either external purchases of preserved fruit after their salaries were paid, or the conversion of full-time personnel to part-time or even full-time positions, a form of self-sufficient mass production, a specialty of the Communist Party.

The Great Production Movement objectively solved the most pressing financial problems in the border areas and reduced the grain burden on the people in the base areas, making it a great and creative initiative. However, from another perspective, the part-time work squeezed out the training time that should have belonged to the full-time soldiers, which to a certain extent weakened the Red Army's combat effectiveness.

"So, the significance of the cafeteria for us is actually to increase the number of people we can mobilize and maintain off-duty from the level of an agricultural society to the level of the most advanced industrialized countries today, while not affecting other normal production and economic activities."

"But even without the canteen, the crops in Huidong have always grown well. With them, we won't have to worry about the autumn harvest this year!" A few seconds later, another WeChat user replied with this message. Liu Helian's WeChat group now only had three users: his phone, his computer, and the Fushi Canteen headquarters—it was unknown who was currently operating the service. "Comrade Xiao Liu, Dongdong, are you almost there?"

"Commander, I'm getting ready to enter the landing phase. See you on the ground."

Liu Helian closed the WeChat on his mobile phone, ending his lazy time. He stood up and walked to the driver's seat, patted the shoulder of the young man in the passenger seat, indicating that he would also join the driving.

"Comrade Liu! This plane is so easy to fly! I never knew an American plane equipped with German equipment could be so comfortable!"

The young man beamed, "The entire cabin is pressurized, electromechanically powered, and the wings, joystick, throttle, and engine are all automatically linked! Wow, there's even a temperature regulator in the cabin! It would be amazing if all our planes could be like this in the future!"

"Comrade Tang Lingyun, my dear comrade," Liu Helian suppressed his excitement and eagerness to try, and put his headphones back on. "There will be bread and soy milk. But now, it's better for us to land the plane safely."

"No problem, Comrade Captain!"

In the past few months, Comrade Liu He (Liu Helian's Russian name, people who studied and worked in the Soviet Union often have a Russian name) has basically completed his work. Apart from coordinating back and forth between several procurement groups, he has acted as a human transport aircraft, driving his own electric scooter back and forth like an ant moving house.

Until the capacity negotiations for the Xinjiang-Hexi Corridor route are completed, this will be the only reliable transportation route between the border region and the Soviet Union.

Liu Helian's eMule requires no maintenance and, in theory, can fly non-stop. However, human strength has its limits. After assessing his own abilities, he decided to fly to the border region twice a week. Each trip takes about a day, followed by a day's rest before returning. The DC3B-Snow Eagle, a hybrid of various models, can carry approximately two and a half tons of supplies, allowing it to deliver about five tons of critical supplies to the border region each week.

He first delivered the medical supplies urgently needed in the border area, saving the comrades in Haojing and Wanchai Island from traveling thousands of miles to deliver X-ray machines and microscopes to the border area. After two flights, the Fu She Central Hospital and the military hospital system said that they would basically have no worries about medicines and equipment for the next year.

Then Liu Helian began to transport equipment and arms. Although the air defense in the direction bordering Russia and China was zero, in order to show respect for the Soviet customs, Liu Helian still applied for an export declaration document and obtained a license. In this way, his air smuggling behavior became an official import channel endorsed by the customs.

Speaking of which, the customs of Xinjiang Province was already controlled by the Russians at this time. Although it made it convenient to purchase supplies from the Soviet Union, it was really shameful that a country's customs was controlled by them.

At this time, the organization's newly established office in the Soviet Union sent a message to Liu Helian, asking him to wait a moment. After coordination, the organization will assign him a co-pilot.

Ok?

Do we have a co-pilot?

The man who came was Tang Lingyun, an aviation undergraduate with a Soviet military rank, who had completed a full set of training in the regular National Revolutionary Army and the Soviet Aviation School, was proficient in communications and mechanical maintenance, and had even flown a Soviet parade pilot aircraft. His brilliance almost blinded Liu Helian - you know, in the original history, this was a legendary figure who could fly an Il-2 attack aircraft four times in a single day and escape unscathed!

His enthusiasm quickly dispelled Liu Helian's concerns. This comrade, who was already a captain in the Soviet Red Army at that time, personally helped Liu Helian plan the route and explained the key points of long-distance flight, such as adjusting engine parameters with altitude, changing the force and technique of control, etc. He corrected many of the literal interpretations of flight knowledge given by the annoying aliens.

"I never thought that one day I would be able to return to my motherland and help us build the framework of the Air Force." Tang Lingyun was a little happy, but also a little worried. He steadily controlled the rudder of the aircraft and reported the aircraft's altitude and airspeed to Liu Helian. The aircraft began to break away from the cruising state, preparing to descend and lower the altitude in preparation for landing.

This trip was carrying machine tools and motors, as well as a large number of guns and bullets. These materials were packed and placed in the cargo hold of the plane.

"How many planes do we have here now?"

"For now, this is the only one," Liu Helian answered honestly. He checked the aircraft's parameters. Unfortunately, the Snow Eagle's many automatic approach features weren't working here, so he had to land visually. "But we've already reached an agreement with the Soviet Union to buy some trainer aircraft first, then fighters and bombers, or even just buy all of them from the Soviet Union. Right now, we're probably starting with the aviation school."

"In this case, there is still a lot to do."

Tang Lingyun's tone was a little disappointed, but he quickly regained his confidence. "I believe that with the joint efforts of the Chinese and Soviet people, we will soon have our own air force. Captain, have you disconnected the autopilot?"

"Not yet." Liu Helian checked all the parameters and placed his finger on the joystick button. "Get ready, we're starting to slow down."

Chapter 22: All Things Are Difficult at the Beginning (I) Artillery Chaoyang

Canteen System Assistance

By Forgotten Maple X

2229 words

2020-09-22 12: 00: 00

During the Long March, the Red Army consisted of essentially two branches: infantry and "special forces," which weren't infantry. Whether it was the engineers who forged paths and bridges during the Long March, the artillerymen who achieved remarkable feats and opened new fronts, or the advanced detachments whose multi-tasking, nuclear-powered units seemed to be operating on a whim, most of them fell into the category of special forces.