GBP Chapter 478 Nanyang’s own 10,000-ton ship! (Please give me a gift)
Chapter 478 Nanyang’s own 10,000-ton ship! (Please give me a gift)
Sure enough, when talking about the battleship Roma, people will think of Fritz-X (pictured).
If "The Death of Marat" is a monument that cannot be avoided in the history of art, then Roma is the first famous "victim" of guided weapons that cannot be avoided in military history (pictured).
Fortunately, the People's Security Army is now able to imitate this level of radio-guided bomb after obtaining the actual HS-293.
As for the broadband radio jammers designed to target this type of weapon, they have already been distributed to the large ships of the People's Liberation Army Navy.
Therefore, Zhang Chi did not deliberately expose the scars of the two Italian engineers, but just waved his hand to signal them to continue the introduction.
Luigi calmed down and stroked the cold machine casing with his hand, as if caressing the skin of his lover:
"This machine is more than ten times faster than traditional manual arc welding, produces stronger welds with less distortion, and is the core of modern block-type shipbuilding!"
Then he pointed to a huge hydraulic machine with a complex mold next to it:
"This is a specially built HBM-8 heavy-duty hydraulic rib bending machine from Cincinnati Milacron. It can easily handle the thick and heavy ribs and frame profiles required for large ships. It bends with exceptional precision and is far more efficient than traditional flame-heated manual forming. It's crucial for ensuring the strength and lines of the hull structure."
Finally, he walked to a machine tool with a sophisticated structure, a contoured contact and a high-speed cutting head, and said with admiration:
"And this treasure, GE's latest contour cutting machine. (You can think of it as a machine that automatically cuts identical steel plates 1:1 based on a sample.)
General, this is pure art. It can precisely cut out various complex shapes of shipbuilding steel plates by tracking the pre-set template and controlling the acetylene flame.
The error is extremely small, the speed is incredibly fast, and it eliminates a lot of tedious processes such as layout and manual cutting. The efficiency improvement is simply unimaginable! "
Engineer Luigi's eyes sparkled with technological enthusiasm. He turned to Zhang Chi and exclaimed with genuine admiration:
"General, the equipment you imported is top-notch and cutting-edge even in pre-war Europe. The person who selected it has an extremely professional vision. The starting point of the Yangon Shipyard is really too high."
In fact, Luigi was flattering himself by saying this. Many of the equipment here were not even available at the Ansaldo Shipyard and the Adriatic United Shipyard in Italy. They were actually still using a full set of manual technology from the 1930s.
For the two Yida engineers, these high-tech equipment were the first time they had seen them and they had never heard of them before, so they were so excited.
Li Zhenbang was overjoyed listening to this and added:
"Mr. Luigi is right. These giants are the latest products to come off the White Eagle production line. It took a lot of effort to transport them here. As soon as our shipyard is built, we can immediately start prefabrication and assembly. Our goal is to produce 10,000-ton cargo ships."
Zhang Chi smiled but said nothing. The fully automatic submerged arc welding machine and heavy hydraulic rib bending machine were indeed imported from Baiying and loaded onto ships.
As for the contour cutting machine, it was indeed produced by General Electric, but it was produced by General Electric in the 1960s. The photoelectric head, silicon photocell and lens assembly on it alone are not something that White Eagle can produce today.
He spent two industrial exchange coupons to exchange for two of these machines, one for the shipbuilding industry and one for the aviation industry, which are specifically used for the standardized preparation of complex parts.
In addition, strict industrial system standards should be formulated to avoid embarrassing situations like what happened at the Shenyang Aircraft Corporation later, where the engine of a MiG aircraft could not be replaced on another aircraft because the tolerance was too large.
At this time, an old craftsman with white hair and a master-like appearance came over. He looked at the automatic welding machine and couldn't help muttering:
"Director, this piece of welded iron can't be as strong as the riveted ones we inherited from our ancestors? Our rivets have been tempered through thousands of hammers..."
His words resonated with several old workers around him.
Luigi has been in Nanyang for almost a year. Although he still can't speak Mandarin, he can understand the general meaning. By looking at the expressions, he can guess the meaning directly. He immediately gestures excitedly and speaks very fast.
Li Zhenbang translated with a smile: "Mr. Luigi said, Master Wang, times have changed.
Look at the Liberty Ships built by the White Eagles. They use this automatic welding and segmentation method, and can launch a 10,000-ton ship in an average of 42 days.
It's several times faster than riveting, and the weld strength is completely guaranteed once rigorous testing is done. If we want to race against time and build more ships as quickly as possible, we need these new tools."
Master Wang and others were skeptical, but looking at those shiny equipment, their eyes were full of curiosity.
Zhang Chi listened to what everyone said and looked at these steel behemoths that represent the forefront of current industry, and a sense of pride suddenly arose in his heart.
He signaled for everyone to be quiet, and then, surrounded by Li Zhenbang, Luigi, and a group of engineers and foremen, he climbed onto a temporary wooden platform nearby, which overlooked the construction scene of the entire factory.
The workers who rushed over after hearing the news gradually gathered under the platform, forming a black mass, all looking up at their leader.
The sea breeze ruffled his loosened clothes as he glanced at the expectant faces below—experienced craftsmen, energetic young apprentices, technical backbones from the Irrawaddy River, and poached Italian experts. He took a deep breath and spoke in a loud, clear voice, carried clearly throughout the room through a simple loudspeaker:
"My fellow workers, technical experts, my brothers and sisters, thank you all for your hard work!"
The applause of the audience was thunderous.
"Standing here, looking at this boiling land and these brand-new machines that represent the world's top level, my heart is filled with emotion."
Zhang Chi's voice is full of infectiousness:
"What is beneath our feet? It is Yangon, a golden waterway facing the sea and backed by the mainland. This land beneath our feet is dotted with islands, has a long coastline, and great rivers rush into the sea.
Such a geographical environment means that our lifeline is destined to be on the sea and inland rivers.
Maritime and inland waterway transport are the main arteries of our economic development and our lifeline connecting us to the world."
Zhang Chi's heart beat faster when he noticed that the workers in the audience were holding their breath, listening attentively, and looking at him with strange eyes filled with admiration and respect.
Isn’t this what a real man should do?
Without strong shipbuilding capacity, there can be no strong maritime transport. Without strong maritime transport, no matter how much rubber, tin, oil, and grain we have, we cannot ship them out and exchange them for the machines and capital we need for development.
By then, we will be controlled by others.”
Zhang Chi's words were powerful:
“The window of opportunity is only a few short years, maybe even just a few months!
Therefore, I am determined to develop our shipbuilding industry even if it means selling everything I have.
The Yangon Shipyard is the first cornerstone and the first melting pot for us to build this maritime lifeline!"
In the audience, Li Zhenbang grinned in pain.
Now that there is a new love, our old factory, the Irrawaddy River First Shipyard, has become a shrew?
Zhang Chi was not aware of Li Zhenbang's criticism, or rather, he did not care.
The tide of history is rolling forward, and no one can stop it. He pointed to the huge dock foundation pit:
"See that? A 10,000-ton shipyard! That's our ambition. We won't be satisfied with just patching things up. We want to build giant ships, giant vessels that can cut through the waves and sail the oceans!"
Then, his eyes became sharp and challenging:
"I know some people think we started late and have a weak foundation. But I want to say, what are you afraid of?! Look at our once-invincible neighbor to the north - the Japanese devils.
When they first started out decades ago, they were not as good as us.
But what about now? Their shipyards, such as the Kure Naval Arsenal, Yokosuka Naval Arsenal, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Nagasaki, and Sasebo Naval Arsenal, can build battleships and aircraft carriers of tens of thousands of tons!
If they can do it, why can't we?! Are we destined to be worse than the Japanese?"
He paused, his voice becoming more passionate:
"I, Zhang Chi, am setting a goal for you all here today. In the short term, the Yangon Shipyard must catch up to the level of the Japanese civilian shipyards.
We need to use the segmented method and these most advanced equipment to significantly reduce the construction period of 10,000-ton ships.
We want cargo ships built in the South China Sea to sail all over the South China Sea, to Sindhu, and to the Persian Gulf!"
"What about the long term?" Zhang Chi's voice was like a resounding bell, echoing throughout the entire factory area. "We want to build the Yangon Shipyard into the largest, strongest, and most technologically advanced shipbuilding center in Southeast Asia.
In the future, the ships launched from here will not only be cargo ships loaded with rubber and oil, but also cruisers and destroyers to protect our sea borders, and even...
He paused deliberately, causing a flurry of excitement and speculation below:
"A larger sea fortress that will terrify the enemy. The future of Nanyang lies at sea. And Nanyang's ships must be built by our own shipyards. By our own workers and technical experts, using our own hands and wisdom, they must be built."
Of course, Zhang Chi would not allow the construction of battleships, which are destined to be eliminated. That would be a waste of resources.
When World War II is over, John and White Eagle will have countless excess warships that will be scrapped and sold. At that time, they will only need a small amount of money to buy back a few large ships to play with.
Zhang Chi raised his arms and shouted:
This is a glorious and arduous mission. It is a great undertaking to firmly grasp the destiny of our Nanyang region in our own hands. The difficulties ahead will be numerous, and sweat and even blood will be unavoidable.
But I believe that in the hands of you, the finest shipbuilders, nurtured by your boundless wisdom and diligent sweat, the Yangon Shipyard will rise on the shores of the Andaman Sea. Your names, along with every great ship that sails from here, will be etched in history. Do you have faith?!"
“Yes——!!!” A thunderous response erupted in an instant, shaking the platform under Zhang Chi’s feet so much that it even trembled slightly.
The old craftsman, Master Wang, flushed red and waved his fists; the young apprentices jumped up excitedly; the engineers from the Irrawaddy River clapped their hands vigorously;
Even the two Italian engineers were deeply moved by the boiling passion and grand blueprint, and shouted in Italian with abandon:
“Bravo! Forza Nan Yang!”
When Zhang Chi walked down from the podium, Li Zhenbang excitedly shook Zhang Chi's hand:
"General, don't worry. With your words, this good equipment, and these good brothers, I, Li Zhenbang, will build the Yangon factory even if it costs my life. We will build a 10,000-ton ship!"
Zhang Chi patted Li Zhenbang on the shoulder without saying anything more.
The photographers around immediately recorded this scene with film.
All things are difficult at the beginning. Once the first 10,000-ton ship is built, he will be very satisfied as long as it does not capsize when it leaves the slipway and does not sink in the sea.