I Became a Plutocrat in World War I: Starting with Saving France-Chapter 797: Anti-Air Autocannon

Shire had eaten to about 80% full and was just raising his milk when he saw General Winter walk into the office with a smile.

"Shire, my friend." General Winter handed a gift box to Shire: "long time no see, this is a gift for you."

Shire glanced at it, high-end coffee beans produced in Guatemala.

Shire had heard of this coffee because it was on the list of embargoed items in French shipping, a luxury good rather than a necessity.

General Winter leaned closer, lightly patting the gift box in his hand and lowered his voice: "Produced in Antigua, General, please accept it with a smile."

The Antigua region is the creme de la creme.

The coffee beans there are excellent due to volcanic soil and microclimates, priced at over 300 US Dollars per box.

Shire calmly nodded his head.

General Winter underestimated Shire; now Shire had no feelings for a few hundred US Dollars.

Especially considering this is a military camp, soldiers are suffering, citizens are under a "wartime rationing system," and Shire is enjoying coffee worth over 300 US Dollars per tin.

This tin of coffee beans could even buy a American JN4 aircraft, it is simply a crime!

If this matter got out, it would immediately bring unnecessary negative impact to Shire.

Shire did not hesitate and nodded to the signalman, pushing the coffee forward: "Send to the warehouse, distribute it to the wounded."

"Yes, General." The signalman respectfully saluted Shire, carrying the coffee away with both hands.

General Winter was a bit embarrassed, he shrugged: "Sorry, I didn’t know you didn’t like it..."

"No, I like it very much." Shire stood up to shake hands with General Winter:

"I express my thanks on behalf of the wounded soldiers, General."

"However, this might be popular in the British Army, you are used to it."

"But it is not like this in my army."

General Winter forced a smile: "I know, this is one of the reasons for your victories."

"I suppose." Shire beckoned General Winter to sit on the sofa next to him, and the service soldier brought coffee for the two of them.

"You wouldn’t be here today just for this?" Shire asked.

"Of course." General Winter answered: "I heard you are producing a new type of warship, and this type of warship will be equipped with an antiaircraft machine gun?"

"That’s a rumor, General." Shire answered categorically.

General Winter was astonished: "You mean there is no antiaircraft machine gun?"

"None."

General Winter didn’t believe it: "But how do you deal with enemy aircraft? I mean your warship."

"My warship?" Shire laughed: "Do you think French warships need to deal with enemy aircraft?"

General Winter was speechless.

French warships indeed have no such need; they are at one end of the English Channel, based in Antwerp. German warships can’t break through from this direction; that would be tantamount to seeking death.

"Come on, General." General Winter was unwilling: "You invented torpedo planes, now the Germans have learned your tactics, they have moved torpedoes onto planes just like you, and this causes us great trouble."

"You mean I must be responsible for this?" Shire countered: "Or do you think I should go to the Germans to ask for royalty fees?"

General Winter quickly denied: "Of course not. But since torpedo planes are your invention, you must have a way to deal with them, right?"

Shire didn’t speak, which was tantamount to acquiescence.

General Winter’s eyes lit up, and his upper body inadvertently leaned forward, his eyes full of expectation: "So, you have a way to deal with them?"

Shire nodded: "It’s not an antiaircraft machine gun, it’s an antiaircraft cannon, General."

General Winter’s eyes suddenly widened: "Cannon? You mean it has a longer range than a machine gun?"

Shire pulled open the drawer and took out a sketch to hand over: "Maximum range 4389 meters, effective range 914 meters."

(Note: The maximum range of air defense is also significant, although the accuracy is not high, it can rely on fire density to hit. Effective range refers to excluding human aiming factors, where bullet dispersion is within an acceptable range and the probability of hitting the target is high.)

General Winter became excited upon seeing the sketch: "I knew it, I knew you had countermeasure equipment!"

Then he looked at Shire eagerly: "You will sell it to us, won’t you?"

"Unfortunately, General." Shire answered: "This is our latest equipment, not for sale externally."

"But we are allies..."

"Even allies can’t." Shire shook his head:

"You know, once this antiaircraft cannon leaks, it means Germans will use it against our bombers."

"Not only at sea but also on land. By then, it will threaten France’s air dominance." 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

"I must maintain adequate caution."

General Winter fell silent.

Shire’s reason was very sufficient.

France is the side with air supremacy, the sky is full of French planes, and German air force must avoid them.

If an antiaircraft cannon appeared in German hands, it would be tantamount to handing an object capable of restraining oneself to the enemy, potentially changing the entire battlefield situation.

So, it’s indeed not suitable for export, even if England is an ally.

Shire picked up the coffee and said unhurriedly: "Perhaps you can talk about what kind of trouble you encountered."

"Bergen Harbor." General Winter sighed softly:

"We are losing control of it."

"Germans use seaplanes loaded with torpedoes to drive our fleet, then dispatch warships to control the route."

"They are about to succeed, then Germans will be able to obtain the necessary supplies continuously from Bergen Harbor."

Shire knew about these; he merely wanted to hear General Winter say these words in person.

Shire wanted to see how the once invincible Sun Never Sets Empire, with the world’s strongest naval fleet, the Royal Navy, would be so embarrassed under the threat of German bombers.

"So, you thought of antiaircraft weapons?" Shire asked.

General Winter responded with a "hm":

"We noticed that German bombers must maintain stable flight and lower their speed and altitude when dropping torpedoes."

"We believe antiaircraft fire can play a very good role."

"Of course, I mean effective antiaircraft fire."

The existing warship’s air defense is too weak, Maxim Machine Gun bullets are too small to cause significant damage to wooden airframes, and it also has the disadvantage of short range, with too brief of a time window to hit the target.

(Note: Refers to the range for high-angle air defense firing)

Next, General Winter realized that this type of torpedo plane was invented by Shire, and he, of course, knows these characteristics, he was just showing off in front of an expert.

This made General Winter very discouraged.

The world’s number one power, and England’s Royal Navy, found themselves humbly in front of Shire.