That's for sure. It's a 125mm smoothbore cannon from the same manufacturer, and Huang Jingxiu has been dealing with this cannon for over a decade.
The T-64B1M tank of Jihuo Defense no longer uses the original 48-caliber 2A46 gun barrel, but has been replaced with a 50-caliber 125mm smoothbore gun that uses electroslag remelting, hydraulic autofrettage of the barrel, and chrome-plated hardening of the inner surface.
It can withstand higher chamber pressure, more propellant, and more shots.
Xia Yu estimated that he didn't need any maintenance. 700 rounds throughout its lifespan would be enough to keep the T-64B1M in service until it was retired, at which point it would go straight to a museum.
Therefore, the modification of the Panda vehicle crew is more about adapting to the new vehicle platform, rather than the weaponry mounted on the platform.
In comparison, the Weasel crew faced more challenges, which is why their performance was not as impressive as their sibling crews.
"That means it will take more time. At most, we can conduct joint training for another week before this batch of equipment has to be loaded onto the ship and set sail."
Xia Yu discussed the company's upcoming plans.
The sea voyage from Konluga to Suez is a little over 6,000 nautical miles. Including the time it takes to travel overland from Yopi to Syria, it will take at least two weeks, so we must set off early.
However, it only affects joint training; the equipment training of the two crews is not affected, because both the T-64B1M and the Marder Anka mechanized infantry battalion have them.
"Understood, we will keep an eye on the progress."
Kuhn nodded.
"That's all for now, I'll head back now."
As darkness fell, Xia Yu prepared to leave.
After taking off, it flew only a few kilometers towards Bogo Village before turning and heading towards the canyon.
He will have to work overtime this time. After returning to the cave sub-base, he will collect the crushed stone that has been spun over the past day and night into the storage warehouse, print the special shield tunnel segments required for rectangular cross-section tunnels, and lay and pour them.
The progress is already very fast. Once Xia Yu returns from the mine in a few days, we can officially begin the installation and debugging of the equipment, as well as the double-leaf armored hangar doors.
It's so big, honestly, it's a good thing the system comes with a machining center, otherwise it would be hard to explain why you would order this thing.
The electro-hydraulic system on the gate is something Xia Yu can't handle, but it's actually the least sensitive part.
After finishing my work for the day, it was already late at night when I returned to Bogo Village.
It feels like I'm back on a construction site.
That's how it is when only one person builds a secret base. Those foreigners on video websites who build log cabins in North America take years to complete one.
You might say he's just slacking off and making a mess of things, but it does look more realistic than those Southeast Asian videos where two people with a knife dig a swimming pool and build a bamboo house in a day.
Manufacturing vehicles requires manpower, and building large facilities requires even more. Hollowing out a mountain requires tens of thousands of people, more than a decade, and billions of dollars.
Soon, news came from the mine that the airport runway had been repaired.
Without further ado, they set off to Zhongfei to dig a well.
They transported the drilling equipment to the airport, and seeing that the cargo hold of the C-160 could still fit it, they added another container.
These highly integrated container barracks cannot be airdropped, so they can only be delivered once the runway is built. We'll try sending one over first.
"Buzz"
The C-160, carrying both people and cargo, took off and sped towards Chung Fei Pi Lao.
The distance is more than 2,000 kilometers. If it were just an airdrop, Li Deling could fly a round trip. However, with the cargo hold at its maximum capacity, the transport plane is only able to fly one way.
Therefore, it is necessary to build a jet fuel storage facility with a capacity of about 100 tons at the mine, not to mention that construction machinery also consumes a lot of fuel.
The transport convoy brought over a semi-trailer oil tanker with a capacity of only 40 tons of diesel, which can only be used temporarily. A larger one will have to be used for subsequent construction.
As for the source of diesel and jet fuel, it certainly wasn't from Jiban, which is far away and separated from the war zone.
The Republic of the Philippines, which has certain oil resources but no production capacity, is among the top 10 countries in the world in terms of oil prices because it relies entirely on imports.
The location of Jihuo Defense's mine is quite good. It is located next to Zhado, an oil-exporting country, and with China's assistance, a refinery with an annual output of 1 million tons has been built.
Xia Yu has already secured a contract for oil supply, which will absolutely guarantee production at the mine and make it an air transit hub for the company's operations in the Sahel region.
More recently, there's the stable rear area for Jihuo Defense's next step in intervening in the Philippine market.
Otherwise, if Guo also had uranium mines, why would he go through all that trouble to go to Zhongfei? There are reasons for this. Xia Yu's business plans are mostly about killing multiple birds with one stone, solving multiple problems with a single investment.
This time is no exception. The core reason for choosing to develop uranium mines instead of gold mines is the product itself.
For those outside the industry, getting raw materials is a very sensitive matter, but mining makes things much easier. Plus, Xia Yu doesn't need refining, so high-grade ore is enough to meet his needs.
Several hours passed in the blink of an eye. After flying over the coordinates of the mining area, a runway paved with crushed sand and gravel came into view.
Xia Yu did not intervene this time because Li Deling, who has multiple turboprop transport aircraft flight qualifications, is more experienced in this kind of field take-off and landing.
After contacting the ground to confirm that there were no dangerous factors, he controlled the transport plane to align with the runway and began to decelerate.
There's no need for a single flight to fly five-sided landings anymore; it can just touch down on three sides.
"Splash!"
Yellow dust was lifted high by the airflow and gathered on the runway, forming a plume of smoke.
This is field takeoff and landing, which turbofan transport aircraft can also do after modification, and the original batch of MiG-29s with grille-shaped shark gill auxiliary air intakes can also do it.
The end of the Cold War led to the abandonment of this design concept, which was based on the destruction of airport runways and the need for field takeoffs. Just as the British, who developed the Harrier, retired all their Harriers, while the Americans continued to use them.
The plane came to a stop less than 600 meters from the runway. After the dust outside had settled, Xia Yu, wearing sunglasses, disembarked.
This was the first time he had set foot on this land. The last time he came, he was in a Mi-24V to empty the ammunition. The remaining armed groups wisely left and went to set up checkpoints near Pilao to collect taxes.
It's still poor. There are many people who buy gold ore, but uranium ore is not only sensitive, but it also doesn't fetch a good price, so there are no illegal miners here.
The local residents still rely on simple farming and extensive herding for a living, making it probably the poorest place in Zhongfei!
In times of national turmoil, being poorer is actually a good thing, as the relatively wealthy areas have been ravaged.
"boss!"
Old Ke drove an Odyssey all-terrain farm vehicle to the transport plane.
For getting around the mining area, this kind of small car is more suitable than a large SUV. It can seat three people in the front, and the back can carry more tools and groceries. Xia Yu bought seven or eight of several models. Two were brought over by truck, and another one was airdropped a couple of days ago. After taking proper precautions, we found that there was nothing wrong with it, and it can still be driven.
"Have someone bring a truck to haul the cargo from the plane back. Mole, you come with me in the truck first, let's see where it would be better to dig a well."
Xia Yu called over Kuhn, who had just come out of the stern.
Old Ke also used the radio to call people, and the entire mining area instantly became busy.
Stepping inside the wall from the gate, what's called a campsite is actually just a tent area. The saying "everything is difficult at the beginning" is absolutely true.
The good news is that the runway has been repaired, and supplies and energy are being delivered continuously.
“I spoke with the chiefs of nearby tribes, and they were willing to send people to work at our mine, but they wanted to exchange all the wages for living supplies.”
Christian and Xia Yu chatted about the local situation.
Yes, money is just paper here; it's not nearly as useful as necessities.
Although both are border areas, this place is far more backward and primitive than Dundu's hometown. Only the chief's family has a radio, which allows them to know some news from the outside world. Television is unthinkable, and people travel entirely by donkey and camel.
The armed group that Xia Yu wiped out last time left behind several broken pickup trucks, which the villagers dismantled to repair their houses and sharpen into knives and other items.
"Then this means there's a lot to do in training illiterate employees."
Xia Yu looked alright. He had hired professionals from China for production and management, so they would be the ones with headaches. He only cared about output.
Now that there's an airstrip at the mine, it's time to call these guys over.
The company set off for Suliya, and even if the daily output is only twenty or thirty kilograms, the mine will officially begin operation.
"The main part of the mine in the exploration report is in front of that mountain. There is some in the shallow surface layer, but 70% is located 100 meters underground."
Old Ke pointed to a hill that was included within the mine and explained.
Xia Yu had read the report. It was a sandstone-type uranium mine, and it couldn't really be considered a mountain. On the map, the entire area was a basin, and even the small hills, only a few dozen meters high, probably didn't reach sea level at their peaks.
It was precisely this geological environment that gave birth to such a small uranium mine.
Without concentrated firepower for defense, no one would invest in development until the situation in the Philippines is completely stable, because there are better options.
"Mole, pick a place that's far away from there."
Xia Yu said to Kuhn, who was looking around through binoculars.
In Afica, searching for dragon veins and exploring burial sites isn't very effective; you have to go with your gut feeling.
"Then let's lay the pipe in that section. I think we can get water within 100 meters there."
Kuhn determined the approximate location.
“Then let’s get started. Let’s dig a well for the mine first, and leave the equipment here. Next time we come, we’ll dig a well for each of the tribe’s villages as well.”
Xia Yu made a decision.
Once the food is gone, people forget about you. But if you dig a well, people will keep talking about you as long as the water doesn't dry up. That's the most effective way to win people's hearts.
As a neighbor of the mine and a source of basic miners, Xia Yu should take care of them if he can.
"Yes, boss!"
Kuhn assembled his drilling crew and headed straight for the selected site.
"Boom boom"
Amidst the roar of the machine, the drill bit pounded downwards, quickly reaching the rock strata.
Continue reading!
50 meters, no water.
75 meters, still no water.
100 meters, still no water.
Kuhn embarrassed himself; did he choose the wrong position?
However, since we've already hit it to 100 meters, hitting it another 50 or 60 meters down won't waste much effort.
At 125 meters, the sand and gravel that came up were a bit damp.
Kuhn felt a sense of relief, but why did the water taste strange?
He rubbed the damp gravel, put his hand under his nose, and smelled the unusual odor, his mind filled with questions, until…
137 meters, "poof"
Large amounts of brown liquid were ejected along with the gas, instantly filling the air with a pungent odor.
"Calling the boss, this is Mole, something's happened here."
Kuhn was one of the three people who were petrified, but he was the first to recover.
"This is butter. What happened? I saw something..."
Xia Yu stood on the hill and looked far into the distance. He saw water emerging, but the color of the water was a little off.
They immediately went down the mountain, got into a car, and drove to the other side of the mining area.
"So you didn't hit an aquifer, you hit crude oil instead."
Yes, it was such a coincidence. Xia Yu also recalled a passage he had read in the data earlier: "Sandstone uranium deposits are mainly distributed in sediments and are often associated with hydrocarbons such as natural gas and petroleum."
Looking at the still gushing brown liquid in front of him, he simply waved his hand and collected the associated crude oil gas dissipating in the air into the storage tank.
That's right, the company's small uranium mine also has one, or perhaps more, oil wells coexisting with it.
Moreover, unlike those low-yield oil wells that require pumps, what was "poke open" was a self-powered, self-flowing well.
I wouldn't say it will keep spraying forever, but it should be fine for two or three years. Then you can go back to the machine and keep smoking.
The problem is that none of them are industry professionals, and they can't tell the well's specific potential from the amount of water gushing out; we need to invite experts.
Xia Yu immediately retreated to the side and called for help.
Right next door, in the Ronier oil field of Zha De, some domestic professionals came to take a look.
"Calling Flybat, this is Weasel. Take off immediately for Jaenmena Airport and bring back the people and goods there."
After making the call, Xia Yu immediately called Li Deling, who was resting with her eyes closed on the plane.
"Yes, boss!"
Old Li quickly responded.
The C-160 has enough fuel to get back to Konluga and also to Zhad's capital, Jaenmena.
In addition to the expert team, he also arranged for someone to order an oil storage tank that could fit in the cargo hold of a C-160.
We can't waste this gushing crude oil. But collecting it directly isn't a good idea either. Let's buy a used oil storage tank and store it for now!
Crude oil stored in the open air has a shelf life of only two months, while sealed tank storage (with regular venting) can extend it to two years.
Of course, the subspace storage facility is the most convenient, as it can not only store materials indefinitely but also automatically decompose and refine various crude oil products.
As for whether the crude oil extracted from it belongs to the Philippine government, it just shows that the contract has been oversimplified.
The terms specify all the output on this land, rather than limiting it to a specific type of mineral, not to mention that the enclosed mining area is only a part of the area specified in the contract.
If new oil wells are found nearby, ownership will still belong to Jihuo Defense.
However, since it's a by-product mineral, the quantity is definitely not very large.
It was just an unexpected bonus from normal commercial development, so a little more or less wouldn't matter. However, Xia Yu still wanted to reward the well-digging crew who brought good luck.
If you ask what the reward is, it'll be a gold-plated M38 German entrenching tool for each person. Hopefully, they'll dig up some more "unexpected" things in the days to come.
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