Republic of China: Ace Pilot

Chapter 441 Military Supplies Shipped Domestically; New Equipment Requires Training

A bomb factory in northern Myanmar.

Fang Wen and Huo Duanyang are talking with an old worker in the factory.

This man is named Chen Dayu, 40 years old, and he was among the first batch of explosives loading workers recruited from Liuyang.

His family has been involved in gunpowder-related work for generations.

Back in my great-grandfather's time, he used to run a fireworks factory, but a gunpowder explosion killed people and wiped out his entire fortune, so he could only work for others.

This time, he used his family's secret recipe, combined with modern gunpowder, to create a smokeless propellant.

Fang Wen said, "If this formula works, I will offer to buy it. Let's see how it works first."

Chen Dayu replied, "I don't want the recipe for free. Consider it my Chen family's contribution to fighting the Japanese. I can now reconstitute it for you to see the effect."

“Okay.” Fang Wen looked at Huo Duanyang beside him: “Take him there, and prepare the dosage according to the standard rocket grenades.”

Huo Duanyang got up and left with Chen Dayu.

The two obtained the raw materials, with Chen Dayu operating the equipment and Huo Duanyang recording the process, and produced a large dose of smokeless propellant.

These propellants are loaded into prefabricated rocket propellant components.

This rocket model without a warhead was test-fired.

With the trigger switch pulled remotely, the battery ignites, and the propellant burns rapidly.

Just as Chen Dayu said, the amount of smoke was much less, and the tail fins spewed out orange-red flames, carrying the rocket out of the rocket launcher.

Because of the lack of counterweight for the warhead, the excessive amount of propellant caused the warhead to crash into houses near the test firing site midway through its flight.

However, the launch distance was 350 meters, exceeding Fang Wen's expectations.

Based on this calculation, with the addition of a warhead, the range could reach 250-300 meters, which is similar to the future Bazooka rocket.

Fang Wen was thrilled; he hadn't expected the research and development process to go so smoothly.

As someone who made significant contributions to this research and development, Chen Dayu said he didn't want a reward, but I couldn't let him down because of it.

Subsequently, Fang Wen increased Chen Dayu's salary and promoted him to engineer at the artillery shell factory, specifically responsible for the preparation of smokeless propellants to ensure confidentiality in each step.

One explosives loader became an engineer, setting an example for others in the bomb factory and becoming a legend in the industrial region of northern Myanmar.

The successful development of smokeless propellant allowed the development of man-portable rockets to avoid the technological trap set by the Americans and successfully solve the range problem.

Next, we'll see if the complete rocket launcher, equipped with its warhead and propulsion unit, can achieve the desired effect.

Immediately afterwards, the five live rounds that had been prepared were tested again.

After the first unmanned test firing was successful, the shell factory prepared to arrange for a manned test firing.

Fang Wen decided to go in person.

Huo Duanyang firmly disagreed, but at Fang Wen's insistence, he demanded that Fang Wen wear a canvas safety suit and a helmet before the test firing operation could begin.

Fang Wen agreed to this.

He put on a heavy canvas protective suit and a helmet.

Gong Xiuneng, as the loader, also entered the field wearing the same protective suit and helmet.

Although it was a test launch, Fang Wen had already planned to standardize the entire operation so that it could be carried out according to this standard in the future.

He asked Huo Duanyang to take notes.

"First, the operator must check the equipment to ensure that the rocket launcher's tube, grip, sight, and electric firing assembly are intact and correctly assembled. Check the circuitry to ensure it is working properly, including whether the battery is working and whether the bulbs on the circuit components light up."

Huo Duanyang quickly picked up his pen and wrote down these words.

Fang Wen begins.

On the surface, Fang Wen was checking each component of the rocket launcher one by one as instructed.

In fact, he has already attempted to activate his superpowers.

The completed individual rocket launcher was connected to a supernatural ability.

Fang Wen had a clear understanding of the rocket launcher's structure.

no problem.

He then continued:
"Rocket loading must be done by two people. The operator carries the rocket launcher on his shoulder, while the loader inserts the rocket into the tail of the launcher. During loading, the loader must ensure that the safety pin is removed."

The safety pin mentioned here refers to the safety feature of man-portable rocket launchers.

The outer casing and tail fins of a rocket have unpainted metal contact parts. After being inserted into the rocket launcher, these parts connect with the contact points inside the launcher, thus forming a circuit during launch and triggering the rocket.

When loading, the loader needs to pull out the safety pin at the end of the white line drawn on the side of the rocket to activate the rocket's fire-ready state.

After Fang Wen finished speaking, he slung the rocket launcher over his right shoulder.

Gong Xiuneng carefully removed the safety pin from behind and loaded the rocket into the rocket launcher from behind.

With everything ready, Fang Wen turned his head and aimed.

This process requires ranging and adjusting the rocket launcher's elevation angle based on the distance.

Then align your eyes with the crosshair, aiming at the target in front of you.

He pulled the trigger, and the light bulb indicating that the circuit was working properly lit up.

Then, smoothly press the trigger button.

Instantly, the battery releases current, which enters the propulsion section through the closed circuit, instantly igniting the rocket propellant.

The man-portable rocket, trailing a plume of flame, was launched from its launch tube and flew toward a target 200 meters away.

The steel plate, which was used as a target, exploded instantly upon being hit.

The energy generated by the metal jet from the rocket's warhead tore a large hole in the steel plate and propelled it a great distance.

The effect is good; it can penetrate steel plates that are 10 centimeters thick, making it the most armor-piercing weapon among all individual weapons on the market.

But this is the ideal situation. In actual combat, enemy tanks will not provide the gunner with the best firing angle.

Fang Wen then fired the remaining live ammunition to test different firing angles.

Armor-piercing capability varies greatly depending on the firing angle.

The final test results showed that, in actual combat, a single-soldier rocket could penetrate 6-10 centimeters of steel plate.

This means that soldiers using it could destroy Japanese light tanks, fortifications, and the tracks of medium tanks within a 200-meter firing range.

In response, Fang Wen excitedly requested that the bomb factory begin producing individual rocket launchers, while the rocket launchers would be produced by the team at the aircraft manufacturing plant.

Early July of the 38th year.

The first batch of military supplies was ready. Fang Wen led Bai Yunfei, who had been waiting in Yangon, to the warehouse.

In the warehouse of the aircraft manufacturing plant in the Yangon Industrial Park, boxes of supplies are stacked up.

Fang Wen took out a list and handed it to Bai Yunfei: "This is the first batch of military supplies, including 10 pocket radio transmitters and receivers, 25 eavesdropping devices and wireless receivers with a range of 300 meters, 10 radio detection devices, and 20 pen guns. Also, 10 rounds of 7.92mm ammunition, 2000 bags of compressed military rations (one jin each), 100 grenade launchers with 2000 rounds of ammunition, and 50 new individual rocket launchers with 100 rounds of ammunition."

Bai Yunfei looked at the list in his hand and then at the boxes in the warehouse. "The higher-ups have approved the cigarette trading company. It will be launched first in the Jin-Cha-Ji base area. This is the perfect time to start summer tobacco planting, and the first batch of finished cigarettes is expected to be produced in September."

Fang Wen nodded: "The payment for this batch of supplies, as well as subsequent payments, will be combined with the cigarette company's profit expenditure. Now you decide where in China to ship them? I will airfreight them directly."

This is an excellent mode of transportation, especially for equipment used by special agents behind enemy lines. It saves a lot of time during transit and eliminates concerns about revealing one's identity during rendezvous.

However, there are also problems. Bai Yunfei replied, "Some of your military supplies are for the front-line troops, and some are for work behind enemy lines. They need to be distributed separately. Also, these supplies are all new, and there may be problems with their use. It would be best to have a training process. The higher-ups said to set up a training class in Yan'an."

Fang Wen nodded: "I put instruction manuals in the supply boxes. We can also stay in the country for a period of time to train a group of people on how to use these military supplies."

Bai Yunfei smiled and said, "That's good, thank you for your help."

Immediately, Fang Wen organized people to begin loading the supplies onto the aircraft.

The supplies were loaded onto two newly manufactured gunboats, marking the first batch of military aircraft sent from Taishan to Yan'an.

Fang Wen and Bai Yunfei were not the only ones returning with these two planes; two Eighth Route Army pilots who had made outstanding progress in their studies in Yangon were also on board.

They will become the first batch of Eighth Route Army gunnery and aircraft pilots to return to China to fight in the war.

Before setting off, Fang Wen gave the two flight trainees a special test.

After testing, the two men earned Fang Wen's approval with their hard-earned piloting skills, and were then allowed to fly one of the gunship aircraft in the follow-up flight.

Early morning on December 7th.

Two gunboats took off from Yangon Port Airport.

After takeoff, Fang Wen picked up the microphone.

"Eighth Route Army Number One calling Eighth Route Army Number Two, please respond."

The gunships equipped with new radio devices are now able to communicate in the air, allowing flight formations to communicate better.

A moment later, the radio relayed a reply: "Eighth Route Army No. 2 received, please give instructions."

"Follow me and keep your distance. If there are any situations that require changes in flight path or altitude, I will notify you in advance."

"receive."

Fang Wen put down the microphone and focused on flying.

Because of military purposes, he did not bring Zhao Junping with him on this trip to China; only Gong Xiu was able to accompany him.

Bai Yunfei, on the other hand, chose to sit in the gunboat behind him to experience the piloting skills of the Eighth Route Army pilots.

The two planes flew from Yangon to northern Myanmar, and then to Kunming.

After a brief stopover in Kunming, we flew to Sichuan, and from there to Shaanxi.

The plane made a brief stop in Yan'an to wait for a group of trainees to fly together to Fuping.

During this waiting period, Fang Wen spoke with the Yan'an Flight Team to learn about their current situation.

Outside the gunboat, several people sat on the ground.

Fang Wen was listening, while Qi Baoqian, the captain of the flight team, was speaking.

"Currently, we are conducting patrol missions to protect the airspace security around Yan'an. At the same time, we will also provide tactical support to the Jin-Cha-Ji base area. The day before yesterday, we also had an encounter with the Japanese over the North China Plain."

"How is the situation?" Fang Wen asked with concern. He was invincible in the air because of his superpower. If Qi Baoqian and the others encountered the Japanese army without him, the danger would be many times greater.

“We originally intended to assist in the attack on the Pinghan Railway. At that time, four enemy planes were returning from the south of the Yellow River, flying towards Chahar, which should be the secret air base in Chahar that you mentioned, Commander. They didn’t expect to encounter us and didn’t even have time to react.”

According to Qi Baoqian's account, in this encounter, they launched the first attack and shot down one of the fighter jets.

The other three planes did not avenge their comrades, but instead fled desperately towards Chahar. During the subsequent pursuit, the elite air force shot down another enemy plane. However, because continuing the pursuit would cause them to deviate significantly from their flight path and consume too much fuel, they let the other two planes return to base.

After listening to the story, Fang Wen nodded in satisfaction and looked at Fan Bosheng with approval.

Fan Bosheng, who was once the weakest member of the elite air force, finally showed his mettle, shooting down an aircraft on his own in this air battle.

He stood up: "I'm very happy that you can all stand on your own now."

Rao Minghe asked, "Commander, are you really not going to lead us in battle anymore?"

To be honest, Fang Wen was a little tired.

It's that feeling of giving it your all, but never quite enough.

That's why he understood that no matter how strong an individual's power was, it couldn't change the overall situation, after all, this was a battle involving millions of troops.

That's why they chose to develop the military industry.

He replied with a smile, "Probably not for the time being. Once the new fighter jets from Taishan are produced, I will fly them and continue fighting the Japanese devils."

The elite air force pilots were immediately delighted, as they were aware of the commander's company's aircraft manufacturing and modification capabilities.

The pilots asked all at once, "What kind of new fighter jet is it?" "It's better than the Il-16, I guess."

Faced with these eager inquiries, Fang Wen described his ideal fighter jet: "It's definitely better than the Il-16. My target is the German Messerschmitt Bf 109."

The elite air force had seen this aircraft during the Spanish Civil War and was deeply impressed by it.

Indeed, it is a fantastic fighter jet.

If compared to the Messerschmitt Bf 109, then the new fighter jet is quite interesting.

Just as the pilots were looking forward to it, a group of people arrived at the airport.

The leader was Bai Yunfei, who was probably going to Fuping for training.

Fang Wen finished his conversation with the elite air force pilots and walked over.

Bai Yunfei explained, “They come from different regions, including the New Fourth Army, local Yan'an residents, and those working behind enemy lines. The military supplies you provided will greatly help their future work, and they all hope to take control of them as soon as possible and transport the supplies back home.”

Fang Wen smiled and said, "I also hope that you can master these military supplies as soon as possible and use them on the battlefield and behind enemy lines. Now, let's go."

The group then boarded two gunboats, took off from a land-based airfield, crossed the Yellow River, and arrived in Shanxi Province.

As the war progressed, Shanxi province, including Taiyuan, Datong, Linfen, and Jincheng, fell to the Japanese.

However, the Central Army, Jin-Sui Army, and Eighth Route Army operating in the Lüliang Mountains, Zhongtiao Mountains, and Taihang Mountains continued to fight against the Japanese army.

It can be said that this area is in a state of chaos, with enemies among us.

However, due to the lack of large-scale battles, Japanese aircraft rarely appeared here.

After Fang Wen failed to detect any aircraft within a 300-kilometer radius using his radar search device, he swaggered over the enemy-occupied area and headed north towards the Taihang Mountains.

(End of this chapter)