Chapter 186 Tank Gun

In the meeting room of the Ritz Hotel, Steed asked people to move the mortars produced to the display stand in the meeting room.

Steed took some effort for this.

The display stand was made of wood. It was originally used to place small samples for guests at the meeting for explanation, but the mortar Steed brought weighed 47 kilograms and needed a larger space, and the display stand obviously could not support it.

Steed immediately called the hotel manager and asked him to replace the display stand with a more solid table, and asked someone to bring a sandbag to support the chassis, which was satisfactory.

Charles made some preparations before coming. This time he changed into casual clothes to avoid attracting attention like last time.

Then Charles found that it was very awkward to put casual clothes on top of each other, and he was even a little uncomfortable.

When he entered the conference room, Steed immediately came up to him with a smile. He politely took Charles to the display stand, and said with some pride: "I hope it will satisfy you, Charles!"

Charles looked up and down at the mortar for a while and asked: "How far can it hit?"

"731 meters!" Steed answered with precise data: "Although the accuracy is not high, as you estimated, it can fire 25 shells a minute!"

Charles nodded with satisfaction: "This is what I want, Mr. Steed."

Then Charles added: "I need a complete set of standardized operating procedures, and at least 10 skilled gunners to operate it. These gunners will become instructors to train others!"

"Of course." Steed replied with a somewhat excited expression.

This is the standard procedure for new equipment to enter the battlefield and the army, but the Saint-Etienne Arsenal has not developed new equipment for too long, and the procedures have almost been thrown out of the window.

Now, it is waving to Steed like a triumphant warrior, and there will be more and more in the future.

"In addition." Charles turned his eyes to Steed: "I should thank you for your help in the UK last time!"

"No, no, that's what I should do." Steed replied: "I'm honored, Charles, if there is anything else I need in the future, I'm very happy to help!"

This is what he really said. If this can't be done, it's not an alliance at all.

Charles nodded and didn't say anything polite to Steed.

When he sat down on the chair, Deyoka took out the blueprint from his briefcase and handed it to Steed.

"This is the new equipment I need!" Charles said.

Steed took the blueprint excitedly, but after flipping it, his smile gradually disappeared, replaced by a puzzled look.

"This is..." Steed looked up at Charles, his expression slightly embarrassed.

"You see, this is a cannon!" Charles said calmly.

"Yes, but..." Steed looked strange. He hesitated for a while and said seriously: "Charles, do you have any doubts about Saint-Etienne's technology?"

"No!" Charles shook his head and asked: "Why do you think so?"

"Look at this gun!" Steed picked up the drawing, his face full of doubts: "It's like a small water pipe!"

"Yes." Charles did not deny: "The caliber is only 37MM."

"The length is only..." Steed looked at the drawing: "Less than 1 meter, I even think it's a gun!"

"That's what I need." Charles' voice was not loud, but he was very sure: "Can your arsenal produce it?"

"Of course!" Steed laughed: "But what can it do?"

Steed thought that Charles would give a large-caliber artillery this time, but he didn't expect it to be a small cannon. Its caliber is even much smaller than the 76MM mortar.

Are we going to use this small cannon to challenge Schneider's 105MM caliber howitzer?

This is ridiculous!

Steed even thought that Charles was another test for him.

But Charles was serious.

"This is a cannon for infantry, Mr. Steed." Charles explained: "Its function is similar to that of a mortar, or more precisely, an auxiliary one."

"What do you mean?" Steed was confused.

"Mortars are indirect-fire cannons, and they are more suitable for attacking hidden positions." Charles said: "For example, in trenches and behind rocks."

"Yes, I know!" Steed nodded.

"But some targets require direct-fire cannons!" Charles glanced at the drawings in Steed's hand: "For example, enemy bunkers and fortifications hidden in caves."

Steed suddenly realized: "Mortars cannot pose a threat to such fortifications, but direct-fire cannons can easily destroy them!"

Charles nodded, his eyes always as calm as water, without a ripple.

Steed turned his eyes to the drawings in his hand again, and said with interest while flipping through them: "So, it is still a mobile and portable artillery, am I right?"

"That's right, Mr. Steed." Charles replied: "We can't ask ourselves to compete with Schneider right away. Schneider has many years of experience in producing artillery, and they have very mature technology. But..."

Steed nodded repeatedly in agreement: "But there are still some needs of the army that Schneider has not discovered. We can start from this aspect and develop artillery that he doesn't have, so that we can be ahead of him in some areas!"

"Yes, that's what I think!" Charles replied.

Steed nodded slowly, looking at Charles with admiration, and his tone was not without emotion: "Forgive my ignorance, Charles, you are right, not only in artillery, but also in the strategy to deal with Schneider!"

Steed even felt a little ashamed. He was already old, but he was not as patient as Charles.

Perhaps this was related to the fact that Saint-Etienne had been in decline for too long. After being suppressed for too long, Steed finally saw hope and couldn't wait to make a splash.

But Steed knew that it was Charles who could really succeed by unraveling the mystery bit by bit.

Charles didn't say anything. There were some things he didn't tell Steed.

Steed thought he was developing a direct-fire infantry gun, and it was.

However, it was also a tank gun that could be used on Renault tanks!

Steed didn't need to know this. It should be kept secret. It would be best if the enemy suddenly discovered that the Renault tank had a gun when it was on the battlefield.

"There is one more thing, Mr. Steed." Charles said, "It's about the media."

Steed said, "Hmm," "I was just about to mention this. It's obviously not convenient for your "Meritorious Newspaper" to clarify. Let's leave it to "Little Daily"!"

Dyoka asked anxiously, "How are you going to clarify, Mr. Steed?"

Steed smiled lightly, "If we clarify, we will lose. The price difference is there, and it will only make things worse!"

"Then what should we do?" Dyoka leaned forward unconsciously. Compared with the artillery, he cared more about this matter.

"It's very simple!" Steed replied, "We just need to talk about where the extra money is spent, Mr. Dyoka."

Seeing that Dyoka still didn't understand, Steed explained, "For example, the field hospital that Charles has been funding."

Dyoka said, "Oh," and suddenly realized it.

It's indeed a good idea. Not only does it not need to be clarified, but it can also be easily reversed, and arouse another wave of patriotic feelings!