Chapter 139 The Moon of Yesteryear
Xie Ning and Wen Feng spent five days at the laboratory and successfully replicated the grenade launcher. It could not only adjust the range but also enhance aiming accuracy, and it could also use the shells from the Type 89 grenade launcher.
In this way, if they run out of shells in their grenade launchers on the battlefield, they can use shells captured from the Japanese army.
The 50mm shells developed by Wen Feng are also more powerful than ordinary grenade launcher shells.
As soon as Xie Ning came out, he received news of a small meeting and asked Wen Feng to take charge of the grenade launcher manufacturing. Xie Ning planned to mass-produce them, but the material problem still needed to be reported to his superiors. Because they had iron ore, they did not lack pig iron, but they were still short of other materials for producing shells.
The Kuomintang's blockade made the transportation of materials very difficult, and it is hoped that the next battle will change this situation.
"The Central Military Commission issued a new policy, adjusting the policy of arms industry construction to focus on ammunition and supplement it with firearms, requiring us to produce large quantities of hand grenades and landmines for distribution to the army, militia and the masses."
Xie Ning was puzzled. He knew that because the Eight Desolate Army was expanding rapidly, there was a severe shortage of guns. The arsenal was mainly producing guns in order to increase the army's gun equipment rate. After all, how could they fight against the enemy's rifles with broadswords and red-tasseled spears?
Thanks to the efforts of the past few years, the weapon equipping rate has indeed improved a lot. Broadswords and other weapons are used as supplementary weapons. When bullets run out, people have to fight with broadswords and bayonets.
Xu He then said, "Because of the previous breakthrough battle, the Japanese army began a retaliatory and frenzied 'mopping-up' operation, which forced many arsenals in the base area to be compressed and dispersed. The Jizhong base area even moved its arsenals to the reed marshes and tunnels of Baiyangdian Lake..."
Xie Ning still disagreed with stopping rifle manufacturing. "I suggest that the rifle manufacturing task remain unchanged, and that we add grenade factories, artillery shell factories, and explosives factories to increase production in these areas. In addition, we should establish a special group to study and overcome chemical and metallurgical technologies, especially chemical technology, as we still have too few talents in this area."
If we rely solely on skilled workers to improve their techniques during production, the efficiency will be too slow. We should also improve their theoretical foundation at the same time…
When the matter was almost settled, Xie Ning brought out the improved new rifle. This type of rifle did not have any performance improvements, but it was more suitable for women to use.
There was a moment of silence at the meeting. "Vice Minister Xie, you must understand that we are currently facing a tight schedule and heavy workload. Getting the workers to adapt to manufacturing a different type of rifle would be very time-consuming and energy-intensive. Moreover, the cost of this rifle is higher than the rifles we are currently producing. I believe we do not need a new type of rifle; we only need to manufacture the rifles we are currently producing."
This statement won the agreement of many people.
Xie Ning raised an eyebrow slightly and said with a faint smile, "I'm not asking for your opinions, this is just a routine notification. You just need to follow it."
Given her rank, many things didn't require "discussion" and she could simply issue orders directly. Even though she was only the deputy minister of the Ministry of Military Industry, she was still the chief engineer.
and,
Xie Ning's gaze fell on the face of the person who had just raised an objection. "I never said that this rifle would cost more to manufacture than the rifles we currently produce. On the contrary, it would cost less, it just has one more step in the manufacturing process than the rifles we currently use."
Given this, Section Chief Fang wonders whether this type of rifle should replace the currently produced C49 and become the main rifle manufactured by the arsenal?
"no!"
Fang Mincheng frowned. "You said yourself that this rifle is more suitable for female comrades, but our soldiers on the battlefield are mostly male. Making them use rifles that are not suitable for them would reduce their combat effectiveness and chances of survival, which is absolutely unacceptable!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Fang Mincheng realized the inappropriateness of his words.
Before he could make amends, Political Commissar Chen, sitting opposite him, immediately darkened his face. "Section Chief Fang, so you think that female comrades fighting on the battlefield are unimportant? On the battlefield, the number of female soldiers is indeed less than that of male soldiers, but their contributions are indelible!"
The rescue and publicity work done by women comrades in the rear should not be overlooked!
Male soldiers can't use rifles that aren't suitable for them, but female soldiers can? Are their combat capabilities and survival rates not worth considering?
Section Chief Fang, I think there's a very serious problem with your thinking! You need to seriously examine yourself!
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