Chapter 266 The Effect of the Recipe

During this period, the charge in torpedo warheads was generally TNT.

TNT was sufficient for ordinary bombs or artillery shells and did not need to be improved. In fact, TNT was quite advanced in this era.

(Note: TNT was used as an explosive around 1907. Before that, picric acid was used. After the invention of TNT, it was used as a bright yellow dye for nearly 40 years. Its function was to dye cotton, silk, and even hair.)

(The picture above shows TNT's hair dyed yellow. At that time, it was called "Thor")

But if used on torpedoes, TNT may not be enough, because torpedoes have to save space in every possible way in order to carry more compressed air.

The first country to think of improving explosives was Germany. In 1907, they mixed 60% TNT and 40% hexanitrodiphenylamine (HND) and found that its explosive power was 7% stronger than 100% TNT.

This means that to penetrate the same battleship, the volume of torpedo charge can be reduced by about 7%.

This was a German military secret, and the Allies did not know about it at the time.

However, Charles knew a more advanced formula, the torpedo charge SW9a used in the late World War II: 50% TNT, 10% hexanitrodiphenylamine, 5% aluminum nitrate, and 35% aluminum.

The key point is aluminum, which releases a lot of heat when it burns, and the explosive power is about 70% stronger than 100% TNT.

In addition, the density of aluminum is nearly twice that of TNT, so the amount of explosives in a warhead with this formula can be reduced by almost half.

If the fuel is changed to decalin with a higher calorific value, the torpedo range can be easily doubled or even further.

(Note: During World War II, torpedoes using this type of charge and fuel could reach a range of 6 kilometers at a high speed of 44 knots, and even a range of 14 kilometers at a low speed of 20 knots)

These improvements are not difficult, the key lies in the formula.

Knowing the formula is just a matter of finding the raw materials. If you don’t know the formula, it’s useless even if you rack your brains to figure it out. You have to experiment with the ratio of the raw materials bit by bit.

Ciel didn't intend to give an answer so quickly.

The main reason is that France does not have much demand for torpedoes, and the German Navy has the support of Britain. The ultimate goal of Charles' improvement of torpedoes is to suppress the British Navy. That is a long-term plan and there is no rush.

At the same time, Charles believed that what was given to Wells should be given little by little, like squeezing toothpaste, so as to keep him hanging and continue to support himself.

If all the technologies were given to this guy at once, the nature of capitalists would be to turn around and deny their promises and stand on Schneider's side again.

Or maybe, Charles thought the advanced formula could be kept for himself.

For example, starting with the German original formula of 60% TNT40% HND, followed by SW18, then SW36 and SW39, and finally SW39a.

With so many intermediate formulas and fuel, won’t that kill you?

However, Charles was frustrated to find that he only remembered the proportions of the final form SW39a and had no impression of anything else.

This is troublesome.

But Charles changed his mind and decided that it didn't matter if he didn't remember. He could just change the correct formula, adding aluminum nitrate first, then aluminum, and then fiddle with the proportions at random. As long as he could make a little progress each time to confuse Wells, it would be fine.

Charles was secretly proud of himself. Only Charles could come up with such a method.

At this moment, a staff officer guarding the telegraph exclaimed: "The navy has launched an attack on the Dardanelles!"

As he said this, the staff officer quickly delivered the telegram to Gallieni's desk. This kind of urgent telegram could be sent directly without going through Charles.

Gallieni glanced at the telegram and looked at the staff officer in confusion: "What happened yesterday?"

"Yes." The staff officer nodded: "Probably for reasons of confidentiality."

Gallieni nodded and said "hmm". He didn't take it too seriously. There was really no need to inform the army of the navy's actions.

But this was a joke in Charles' eyes.

The Germans might have known this from Harry long ago, even the detailed battle plan, but the French second-level command did not know it until a day after the war broke out.

Gallieni thought for a moment, then called together his staff, including Charles, for a brief meeting. He waved the telegram in his hand:

"The first batch of main battleships consisted of 16 battleships, 4 of which were French and 12 were British."

"The team is not small. They probably hope to use the navy to force the Ottoman Empire to surrender."

"But yesterday's battle was not smooth. They failed to successfully break through the Dardanelles and didn't even blow up a single turret!"

"If the war continues like this, we may need the Army to launch a frontal attack to hold back the Germans. Do you know what to do?"

The staff officers answered one after another:

"Yes, General."

"clear!"

…

Before a war, preparations must be made in terms of manpower, supplies, transportation, medical care and even equipment updates, and the staff officers are already familiar with this.

The crowd dispersed and went about their business, but Charles was stopped by Gallieni.

"Colonel." Gallieni looked at Charles meaningfully. "Don't you have any opinion?"

Charles' previous advice to Albert I was to land from the north, but now the Allied fleet is attacking from the south. Does this mean that Charles' advice has been abandoned?

"No, General," Charles replied calmly, "I have nothing to say."

Gallieni was stunned for a moment, then he smiled and nodded slightly. Charles's attitude had already told him the answer.

Charles's calmness meant that his suggestion had not been abandoned, and that what the Allies were doing was most likely his suggestion.

In other words, the attack on the Dardanelles was a feint, and the main attack direction of the Allies was still in the north.

What Gallieni didn't expect was that he guessed the first part right but not the second part.

The Allies did fight according to Charles' plan, but they came up with a twist within the plan, confusing even the shrewd old general Gallieni.

Gallieni didn't waste any more time on this. He took out a document from the drawer and handed it to Charles: "This is a light machine gun designed by the Puteaux Arsenal. I want to hear your opinion!"

No one knows more about equipment than Charles, a capitalist. Gallieni believes that he must at least get Charles' approval before placing an order.

Charles took the document and looked at it. It was the "Chauchat" machine gun.

It appears that Steed had successfully transferred the design to the Pitot Arsenal.

Charles pretended to think about it for a while, and answered with an uncertain expression: "It doesn't seem to be a big problem. After all, our army lacks light machine guns. On the other hand, it is difficult to tell the performance of a machine gun from a blueprint. It often needs to be used on the battlefield to find out where it is lacking."

The first half encourages Gallieni to buy, while the second half is a preventive measure.

If the Chauchat machine gun later revealed many problems, it was not Charles's business.

Gallieni agreed: "I think so too. The battlefield is in urgent need of light machine guns. Let's order a batch first and see how it goes!"

It is necessary, Charles thought, only if the military places orders and has the possibility of continuing to place orders, will the Pito Arsenal expand production.

The higher you climb, the harder you fall!

What Charles wants is for this newly transformed arsenal to suffer a severe setback!

(End of this chapter)