Chapter 1370
Fire Prevention Task Force Established, Tank Battle, Modification of Type 59
Inside the office of Minister Teng of the Ministry of Railways.
Leader Teng took the materials handed over by Chief Engineer Liao, looking somewhat surprised.
The materials cover a wide range of topics, from vehicle body modifications to insulation layers for boiler pipes, and the installation of insulating pads on lighting and generator terminals, as well as the bundling and securing of wiring.
Leader Teng flipped through the pages again and found a fire prevention training outline and assessment mechanism specifically for railway employees.
It's fair to say that implementing this system would be extremely costly.
"Who came up with this idea?" Leader Teng raised his head and asked Chief Engineer Liao.
Chief Engineer Liao stood up and replied, "It was Comrade Aiguo's idea, but I strongly agree with it. With the development of our railway industry, fire prevention has become a crucial aspect of railway transportation safety."
Leader Teng nodded, "Only Li Aiguo has such audacity."
"Patriotism and fire prevention are indeed important issues, but they are also quite costly, especially now that our railways are developing rapidly and manpower is relatively scarce. Tell me, why do we need to carry out fire prevention at this critical juncture?"
It's important to understand that fire prevention on trains isn't given much importance right now, and there aren't even unified standards abroad.
We are in a stage where everything needs to be rebuilt, and all resources and efforts must be used for construction.
To persuade other leaders, you need a plausible reason.
Li Aiguo was well-prepared.
"Sir, fires on trains are common, and once they happen, the consequences are particularly serious."
To take a recent example, there was the fire at the St. Clair underwater tunnel near Xiao Mei's home.
The entire freight train was destroyed in the tunnel due to a locomotive fire, causing the line to be shut down for several days and resulting in incalculable losses.
"There was also the Munich-Berlin Express train owned by San Dezi, where a fire broke out due to a leak of flammable rubber solvent inside the carriage. Because it was inside a closed operating carriage, the fire spread rapidly, ultimately resulting in a tragedy in which dozens of people were killed or injured."
Li Aiguo cited several examples of devastating railway fires abroad, and Leader Teng's expression gradually changed.
This kid really knows a lot.
Li Aiguo continued speaking.
“Now, other countries have actually begun to realize this problem and are starting to formulate relevant fire prevention regulations.”
For example, in the older brother's country, there are explicit regulations requiring that spark extinguishing devices and ash box spray systems be installed on locomotives when they return to or leave the factory.
"Xiao Mei's hometown also mandates that locomotives operating in the tunnel be equipped with sprinkler systems."
"Although they have not yet formed a unified and complete set of standards like ours, the general trend is moving in this direction."
Our railway system started relatively late. Previously, the number of trains was small, and transport capacity was weak, so the problems weren't yet apparent.
"But things are different now, once our railway transportation is fully developed."
Furthermore, with the Beijing subway about to open, if we are negligent in our safety measures and a serious fire occurs…
Li Aiguo paused deliberately at this point and did not continue speaking.
But the unspoken meaning was clear to all the intelligent people present.
Leader Teng's expression had completely changed.
The other ministers present also abandoned their relaxed expressions and became extremely solemn.
In fact, fires have occurred on our railways before, but they were relatively small in scale, and thanks to the timely discovery by the staff, they were able to avert disaster.
However, with the increase in railway transport volume and the increase in the number of passenger and freight trains, manpower has begun to become scarce.
If nothing goes wrong, that's fine, but if something does happen, it'll be a big deal.
"Great! Comrade Aiguo has timely sounded the alarm for us. Fire prevention is a major issue on our railway, related to the safety of passengers and goods, and we must take it seriously."
"I suggest that a special fire prevention task force be set up immediately to coordinate this matter."
That's how things are done these days.
They act swiftly and decisively; once they recognize the seriousness of a problem, they immediately establish a specialized team to concentrate their efforts on solving it, making them exceptionally efficient.
But who should be the leader of the special fire prevention team?
This position is not only of great importance, but it also requires someone who is technically skilled, prestigious, and capable of maintaining order to take on the responsibility.
For a moment, the office fell silent.
The leaders from those ministries exchanged glances, and then simultaneously turned their gazes to Li Aiguo, who was standing there.
Li Aiguo: "."
Well, now I've become a brick in the cabinet, to be moved wherever I'm needed.
Seeing Li Aiguo's somewhat helpless expression, Leader Teng smiled and said, "Comrade Aiguo, I know you have many projects on your hands right now and are very busy with work."
However, fire prevention is of paramount importance. Since you proposed this plan, no one knows it better than you.
"Please, just bear with it a little longer and take on this responsibility as well."
"Leader, I am a member of the organization. When I joined, I swore an oath to resolutely obey the organization's arrangements!" Upon hearing this, Li Aiguo immediately straightened his back and loudly declared.
"Okay, it's settled then."
Leader Teng nodded in satisfaction. Li Aiguo's ideological awareness was indeed high.
The fire prevention task force was of a very high level, and its members included not only officials from ministries but also engineers from locomotive factories.
On the very first day the group was established, a special meeting was held.
The meeting had only one purpose: to figure out how to do a good job in fire prevention.
Li Aiguo divided the fire prevention work into two parts.
The first part is the hardware, namely the modification of the train body itself and the mandatory standards.
For example, all locomotives must be equipped with multi-layered composite Mars nets.
The core fire source areas, such as the firebox, grate, and ash box, need to undergo strict sealing modifications.
Boilers, pipes, and insulation materials must meet the new fireproof and heat insulation standards.
Other modifications include the locomotive electrical system and the fireproofing and insulation upgrades to the driver's cab.
The second part is the software, which is designed for flight attendants.
All railway employees must receive fire prevention training, and detailed rules for fire prevention operation and management have been formulated.
The locomotive crew has a clear division of fire prevention responsibilities.
The driver is responsible for monitoring the operation of electrical equipment and the smoke extraction status.
The stoker strictly controls the size of the fire, the use of the sprinkler system, and the standardized operation of cleaning the furnace.
With the experience gained in later generations, detailed rules for fire prevention were quickly formulated.
Next, each locomotive depot established a special fire prevention office.
Li Aiguo's work became much more relaxed, and he focused on manufacturing electric trains and tank anti-stabilization fire control systems.
The progress in tank anti-stabilization and fire control is encouraging.
With the lenses polished in the optical laboratory, the first batch of tank anti-image stabilization fire control systems was transported to a test site in Northwest China a week later.
Amidst the rolling yellow sands, the vast Gobi Desert stretches as far as the eye can see.
Two tank teams, more than ten kilometers apart, assembled at opposite ends of the Gobi Desert, preparing for a live-fire exercise.
On the high ground of the Gobi Desert, several military tents were erected as temporary command posts for this exercise.
The person in charge of this exercise was Leader Zhang.
Standing beside him were the first and second captains of the opposing team, as well as Zhang Tan, an old acquaintance of Li Aiguo.
Zhang Tan was specially invited here as a military industry expert.
"Everyone, although this is a combat exercise."
But everyone should be clear that our specific experimental objective this time is this new 'tank anti-image stabilization fire control system'.
In order to test the system's limits to the greatest extent possible.
Therefore, we decided that the number of tanks in the first squad should be far greater than that in the second squad, adopting a two-against-one force ratio.
Zhang Tan looked at the commanders and announced the rules of the exercise.
Upon hearing this, Captain Zhang Ming was immediately displeased.
"Expert Zhang, Commander! Our team is a renowned heroic regiment!"
Back then on the northern battlefield, we drove T-34s and still managed to make the American tanks scream!
We've always been good at tackling tough challenges, and we're not good at bullying the weak with numbers!
Isn't that insulting?
Zhang Ming protested loudly.
Second Captain Wang Tieshan grunted, "Old Zhang, you'd better stop bragging."
Back then on the northern battlefield, you guys were lucky; you just happened to run into a lone tank regiment from the US.
If it were our second team going up against them, we could just as easily turn them into scrap metal and earn a first-class merit!
"You're talking nonsense! Wang Tieshan, are you not convinced? If you're not convinced, let's have a one-on-one duel today!" Zhang Ming glared at him, his temper flaring up.
Watching the two team leaders argue in front of the experts, Leader Zhang didn't stop them. Instead, he stood by, happily smoking and watching the show.
Zhang Ming and Wang Tieshan were both outstanding commanders he had personally trained. Although the two always bickered when they met, they actually had a life-or-death friendship in private.
Back then on the battlefield, Zhang Ming's tank was hit by enemy artillery fire and lost power.
After receiving the telegram, Wang Tieshan led his troops in a desperate charge amidst a hail of bullets and rescued Zhang Ming.
"Alright, stop spouting nonsense. This combat exercise was ordered directly from above; it's of great importance, and we must unconditionally follow the experts' instructions."
Seeing that the two had almost finished arguing, Leader Zhang stubbed out his cigarette and set the tone.
"Team One will provide ten tanks, and Team Two will provide five tanks. That's settled!"
Zhang Ming, Wang Tieshan, you two go down immediately to mobilize and prepare the troops. The exercise will begin promptly at 1:00 PM!
"Yes, sir!" The two commanders' expressions instantly turned serious. They gave Leader Zhang a standard military salute in unison, then turned and strode out of the tent.
After the two left, Leader Zhang handed Zhang Tan a cigarette, a hint of inquiry flashing in his eyes.
"Comrade Zhang Tan, are you really that confident in this new fire control system?"
"Two against one, it wouldn't look good to lose if we lost."
"To be honest, I do have a little confidence, but this is the perfect opportunity for us to identify and address our shortcomings in actual combat."
Zhang Tan took the cigarette, gave a wry smile, and was actually a little uneasy.
This story begins with the successful development of tank anti-stabilization fire control.
Although theoretically and based on paper data...
The tank's anti-image fire control system uses computer assistance, which is many generations more advanced than the old-fashioned one-way hydraulic elevation stabilizer and gunner's optical sight used in the current Type 59 tank.
However, on the real battlefield, advanced technology on paper is never the same as practical application.
Xiao Mei's family has suffered greatly in this regard.
Towards the end of World War II, they developed the M26 Pershing, which was touted as the most advanced heavy tank in the world at the time.
However, on the northern battlefield, they were soundly defeated by our outdated T-34s.
There is no other reason.
The Pershing tank was so unreliable in cold weather that it would break down frequently.
In contrast, the T34, though crude, has a simple structure and is durable and resistant to low temperatures.
There's also the M14 rifle from the US, which, when it was developed, was hailed as the benchmark of Western technology and invincible.
And what was the result? When they arrived at the Southeast Asian battlefield, they were completely eliminated in just a few short years.
Because the M14 is too heavy and 1.12 meters long, it is extremely difficult to maneuver in jungles, mountains, and tunnels.
Moreover, it has extremely poor environmental adaptability; it is easy to get stuck if even a little sand or mud gets in.
Therefore, among the many commanders and soldiers in the military who have been fighting on the front lines for many years, there is even a saying that "the more advanced the technology, the worse the performance in actual combat."
They especially placed high hopes on the new tanks.
If the fire control system malfunctions, the resulting losses will be substantial.
Therefore, both the military and frontline commanders and soldiers held a skeptical attitude towards tank anti-stabilization fire control.
At this point, Li Aiguo made a suggestion: let's put it to the test and see what it's really like.
The prototype of the new tank has not yet been built, but it can be temporarily modified onto a Type 59 tank for a live-fire exercise. In order to maximize the advantages of the tank's anti-image fire control system, Li Aiguo also proposed that the number of tanks in the two sides be 2:1.
This kid is really audacious... In this exercise, as long as Team Two can achieve a draw, then this anti-stabilized fire control system will be considered a victory.
Zhang Tan took a deep drag of his cigarette, lifted the tent flap, and stepped outside. Looking at the dust rising in the distance, he silently prayed.
At this moment, the tank crews of Team One and Team Two shared the same fluctuating emotions as Zhang Tan.
When Zhang Ming and Wang Tieshan announced the details of the exercise, the tank crew of the second team were immediately in an uproar.
"Two against one? Isn't that blatant bullying?"
"Yeah! Even if the experts rave about how amazing this anti-stabilized fire control system is, it can't make up for the fact that we're outnumbered by a full 100%! They have ten cannons pointed at our five!"
"I think this expert has just been sitting in his office too long; he's just making a fool of himself!"
"Alright, everyone, keep your voices down!" The instructor of the second team stepped forward.
"Perhaps the higher-ups didn't expect us to win this exercise at all, but rather wanted to test the resilience of this new fire control system to the greatest extent possible?"
"Yes, yes, yes, they're definitely being used as live targets for testing. So later, everyone, give it your all! Even if we lose, we have to take a few bites out of their team!"
On the other side, the tank crews of one team were feeling quite different.
"Brothers, two against one! If we still can't win, we might as well go home and take care of our kids!"
"Yeah, we and Team Two are evenly matched in our usual drills, our skill levels are pretty much the same. Now that we have twice as many of them, if we can't crush them, we might as well go home and drive a tractor!"
"However, we absolutely cannot hold back. This is out of respect for the second team and for the entire exercise."
Upon hearing the soldiers' discussion, Captain Zhang Ming stood on the tank tracks and shouted loudly.
"Listen up, all of you! On the battlefield, the enemy is on the other side! Anyone who dares to show me mercy during the exercise will be dismissed from their post when we get back!"
The tank crews straightened up and nodded emphatically.
The training ground is the real battlefield, so they naturally won't hold back in the slightest.
Time flew by and it was already one o'clock in the afternoon.
With two red signal flares launched into the sky, the exercise officially began!
Tank groups from the first and second teams started simultaneously from opposite ends of the Gobi Desert, heading towards each other.
The exercise focused on the most demanding fire control response speed: an encounter battle.
A dozen tanks kicked up clouds of yellow sand on the Gobi Desert, creating a spectacular sight. If Li Aiguo were here, he would definitely give a thumbs up: "What a tank battle!"
Zhang Tan and Leader Zhang were standing on a high ground with a wide view, holding binoculars and overlooking the entire battlefield.
"The distance between the two sides is rapidly closing, and they will soon be within visual range. An encounter is about to begin."
Squad leader Zhang Ming stood on the turret of the command vehicle, raised his wrist to check the time, and grabbed the throat-mounted call device.
"This is the command vehicle! All vehicles, take note, has anyone spotted Team Two?"
"Report, Captain! No target detected in vehicle number one!"
"Car number two hasn't been found either!"
"I……"
boom!
Just then, a loud roar rang out.
Zhang Ming's heart tightened suddenly.
With ten vehicles and a dozen pairs of eyes on their side, they still couldn't spot the Second Team in the sandstorm. Where was the Second Team firing?
Was it just a lucky guess?
However, given the distance and the hasty firing of the tanks at high speeds, the command would certainly not have determined that the tanks had been hit.
It should be noted that the hit rate of old-fashioned fire control systems when firing on the move is almost zero.
Laser-based simulated combat systems, like those of later generations, did not exist at that time.
In tank combat exercises, blank training rounds were used uniformly.
As for whether the target was hit.
The direction of the gunfire was determined by dozens of professional observation posts scattered on the high ground on both sides, which used binoculars to closely monitor the direction of the guns fired by both sides and the relative positions of the tanks.
The core basis for judgment is the direction and distance of the gunner's aiming line.
However, just when Zhang Ming thought the other party was bluffing, he suddenly heard Zhang's voice in his earpiece.
"Team 1, vehicle number 5! Turret hit by enemy fire! Determined to be severely disabled in a localized area. Immediately shut down and withdraw from combat!"
Upon hearing this, Zhang Ming's eyes widened in disbelief, and he grabbed the communicator: "Commander-in-Chief, this can't be!!"
They fired while moving at high speed; how could they possibly hit them from that distance?!
"Captain, all three observation posts have observed that the gunner's aiming line is aimed at the turret the entire time, the muzzle is straight, and the distance is within range. According to the exercise rules, it can be determined that there is localized severe incapacity."
Zhang Ming's expression instantly turned extremely serious.
The other party actually spotted me first in the sandstorm from such a distance!
And even amidst the bumps and jolts of high-speed travel, it completed locking, stopping, and firing in just a few seconds!
Not only Zhang Ming, but even Leader Zhang found it unbelievable at this moment.
He saw it clearly just now: when they were more than a thousand meters away, the tanks of the second team spotted the tanks of the first team and adjusted their gun barrels while moving at high speed.
If it weren't for the old-fashioned exercise regulations that require effective firing to be from a stationary position,
Leader Zhang even believed that the fifth vehicle could have been destroyed at least a few minutes earlier!
"Comrade Zhang Tan...you might have really come up with something good this time! This exercise is getting interesting."
Leader Zhang began.
As Zhang had predicted, the ensuing battle unfolded as a one-sided massacre.
In the ensuing intense exercise, while the tanks of the first team were still habitually slowing down and moving at low speed in an attempt to make out the vehicles of the second team in the sandstorm, before they had completed target identification.
However, thanks to the powerful on-the-move search and aiming capabilities of the stabilized fire control system, the second team was always able to gain the first perfect firing window.
Furthermore, the shooting accuracy is very high, almost always hitting the target.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The roar of blank rounds echoed across the Gobi Desert.
Less than two hours later, the exercise ended with the final cannon shot signaling its conclusion.
"10:5, the team with fewer tanks actually won! It's unbelievable!" Leader Zhang was also excited.
"Could it be that when Comrade Patriot insisted on a two-against-one fight, he had already foreseen this one-sided massacre?"
Zhang Tan wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and muttered to himself.
How does that kid's brain work?
Captain Zhang Ming and Captain Wang Tieshan, along with their respective tank crews, also came over at this time, ready to summarize the experience after the exercise.
The tank crew members were all dejected, like wilted eggplants.
"There's no way to fight them. I spotted them first, but by the time I stopped and adjusted the tank's gun, they had already opened fire."
"Yeah! This is so frustrating! I heard that their new fire control system has some kind of computer installed, which is the same as that supercomputer they just developed."
It can calculate the trajectory and turbulence itself, and its reaction speed is comparable to that of dozens of gunners.
"We can't fight, we really can't fight anymore."
The tank crew of the second team were immediately displeased upon hearing this.
"Hey, hey, hey, what are you all saying, so discouragingly! We're here to test a new fire control system! Since this thing is so amazing, it means that this fire control system will definitely be implemented in the future!"
"Yes, yes."
The tank crew members instantly became excited.
Which tank crewman wouldn't want to open fire the moment they spot the enemy?
Zhang Ming is someone who can take things on and let them go easily.
He gave Wang Tieshan a thumbs-up after they lost.
"Old Wang, you won this time! You won beautifully! I, Old Zhang, am completely convinced!"
Wang Tieshan coughed twice, somewhat embarrassed: "Ahem, Lao Zhang, to be honest, the reason we were able to achieve such a great victory is entirely due to that 'anti-image stabilization fire control system' installed on the vehicle. To be honest, it really has little to do with our own technical level; that thing is just too amazing."
"I think so too. If it were our squad driving your tanks equipped with the new fire control system, you would definitely be the ones wiped out today!"
"You son of a bitch..." Wang Tieshan laughed and cursed, feeling that Zhang Ming was still the same scumbag even after losing.
The two entered the tent and spoke at the same time.
"Expert Zhang, when will this fire control system be installed on our tanks?"
"Haha, with this fire control system, our tank combat effectiveness can be increased by at least one-third."
Upon hearing this, Zhang Tan stood up and explained somewhat helplessly, "To be honest, this 'tank anti-stabilization fire control' system was actually specially developed by Comrade Li Aiguo for the new main battle tank that is currently under development."
Although it has been tested on the Type 59 medium tank with some difficulty, it is only a temporary external installation solution.
If mass modifications are to be carried out to fully adapt to the internal space of the Type 59 turret, Comrade Li Aiguo would have to personally revise the design drawings.
After saying that, Zhang Tan added, "Comrade Li Aiguo is the sole inventor and chief designer of this tank anti-stabilization fire control system."
He was initially worried that the two captains, who were on the front lines leading troops year-round, wouldn't know who Li Aiguo was.
Unexpectedly, upon hearing the name, the two burst into laughter as if they had suddenly realized what was going on.
"So it was patriotic comrades who did it! No wonder!"
"I heard from an old comrade-in-arms from the frontier regiment a while ago."
In the past two years, the patriotic comrades have developed a lot of good things for their border troops, such as armed helicopters and medical vehicles.
Now it's finally our armored troops' turn to have good equipment!
Leader Zhang also realized the importance of tank anti-stabilization fire control.
While Zhang Tan was reporting the results of the exercise, he also personally sought out the old leader of Junwei and requested that the Type 59 medium tank be equipped with a tank anti-stabilization fire control system.
"So, this tank anti-image fire control system is indeed better than the old-fashioned one?" The old leader was surprised. Leader Zhang was usually very steady, what was wrong with him today?
"It's not just a little better, it's a complete rout!"
Upon hearing this, the old leader stood up.
"I understand. I'll contact Comrade Li Aiguo at the Qianmen Locomotive Depot immediately and handle this as a special case!"
Two days later.
"What? We also need to develop a tank anti-image stabilization fire control system that can truly be adapted to the Type 59 tank?"
When Section Chief Xing received the call and arrived at Junwei with Li Aiguo, he was completely stunned.
Li Aiguo has been tinkering with some kind of fire control system lately, and he knows a little about the inside story.
But wasn't that thing a supporting project for that new tank that's still just on paper?
Why are we suddenly using the Type 59?
"Section Chief Xing, we now have more than two hundred Type 59 medium tanks."
Furthermore, mass production resumed after the 601 armor steel was finalized.
"The production of the Type 59 medium tank is increasing, and replacing it with a new fire control system will significantly enhance its armored capabilities," the old leader said.
Section Chief Xing understood the strategic significance of the matter, turned to look at Li Aiguo beside him, and hesitated for a moment: "Comrade Aiguo, this temporarily assigned task..."
Li Aiguo has more and more tasks on his shoulders.
"Of course we accepted it. Please rest assured, leader, we will definitely develop an anti-image stabilization fire control system that is compatible with the Type 59 tank as soon as possible."
Li Aiguo was somewhat agitated at this moment.
The Type 59 medium tank was our first mass-produced main battle tank.
The technology is somewhat immature.
However, its chassis and basic design do not actually have any major shortcomings.
In its original timeline, this classic "five-road-wheel" machine served in the military for decades.
It has even spawned countless modified versions, becoming a legendary medium tank with a huge presence in the world.
Now, once the shortcomings of its fire control system are addressed in advance, coupled with the previously developed 601 homogeneous armor steel...
That Type 59 might be called the "Type 59 Master" ahead of time.
(End of this chapter)