I can upgrade the shelter-Chapter 723 - 621: Dispute Over Design Ideas

Regarding the design of the land carrier escort ship, Chen Xin consulted with both army and navy weapons experts.

The land carrier naturally belongs to the category of land vehicles. When it comes to designing the defense of the escort ship and deciding which weapons to use in combat, the army's weapons experts undoubtedly have the most say.

However, such a large weapon platform is unprecedented for the army. Even with the Mobile Base as a reference, input from navy weapons experts is needed for valuable experience.

After all, compared to the army, the navy are the seasoned veterans when it comes to such big equipment.

"For a land escort ship like this, I suggest not designing it too large." The first to voice an opinion was the navy's weapons expert, who said to Chen Xin, "As an escort ship, its primary purpose is to protect the land carrier, so everything should revolve around this purpose.

The navy's ships were large based on practical needs; deep-sea navigation requires a certain size, being too small wouldn't work.

After all, the sea's waves are so huge, if the hull is small, its ability to withstand waves is small too. A wave could throw the whole ship into the air, rendering combat impossible.

But since this is for land use, as long as it can carry enough defensive weapons, there's no need to consider oceanic self-sustainment, so it doesn't need to be that large."

As Chen Xin listened to the navy weapons expert, he nodded slightly, thinking the point was reasonable, while on the side, the army weapons expert became discontented, "What do you mean by saying the army doesn't need to make it large? So only the navy can make big things, right?"

Of course, the army weapons expert was just joking and didn't really have any objections.

However, for the army, having the opportunity to create something big is something they've always dreamed of.

After all, the navy talks about ships of several thousand or tens of thousands of tons as though they're dumplings, while the army seldom has anything over a hundred tons, inevitably becoming a topic of mockery sometimes, even self-mockery within the army.

But jokes aside, when the discussion is serious, the army weapons expert earnestly said, "I suggest using a more mature design method: first design a general-use chassis, then mount different weapons and equipment on the chassis based on different functions.

Such a design can adjust the escort ship's configuration according to different mission needs, meeting air defense, land assault, and other combat requirements. A unified chassis part can facilitate maintenance and logistics, which can greatly improve the fleet's sustained combat capability when deployed."

Using a unified general-purpose chassis and then swapping different modules for various functions is indeed a great design concept.

A unified chassis means uniform parts, saving a lot of effort and consumption whether in production or logistical maintenance.

The benefits of a general-purpose chassis also include the interchangeability of different functional modules, allowing for damaged modules or chassis to be replaced with spare parts, maintaining combat capability.

If different chassis designs are used, this convenient feature would be lost, and having an additional type of part would also add extra burdens to production and logistics.

Not only would it require twice the parts preparation, but an entirely new production line would need to be designed, causing more waste.

So on this point, both army and navy weapons experts expressed agreement, though they began to dispute again on how large the chassis should be.

"I still think it shouldn't be made too large, not only because being too large makes it inflexible, but it's also inconvenient in terms of production, maintenance, and use." The navy weapons expert still insisted the escort ship shouldn't be too large.

However, the army weapons expert argued, clearly not wanting the escort ship to be too small: "What's the use of making it too small? If it's too small, I might as well use a 4-25 anti-aircraft gun and tank groups with helicopters!

The land carrier escort ship needs to move with the land carrier, undertaking multiple combat tasks such as escort, clearing obstacles, air defense, and reconnaissance. How can it effectively perform these tasks if it's too small?"

"Even so, with such a large tonnage, not to mention construction, just moving it with all that weight seems impossible, right? Besides, land isn't like the ocean; except for flat plains, where can you find places that can accommodate such large tonnage equipment? And going out as a fleet is simply impractical on land!" The navy weapons expert, after some argument, was nearly slamming the table in frustration.

However, the army weapons expert was well aware of this but still hoped to provide the army with a sufficiently large asset.

Listening to the argument, Chen Xin had to step in to mediate, telling both weapons experts, "Calm down, both of you. In fact, regarding mobility, I have already solved the issue. Land mobility is not a limiting factor for the land escort ship's tonnage."

"What? Solved?" The army and navy weapons experts looked at Chen Xin in unison, unaware that the land carrier possessed an Anti-gravity Device that enabled it to fly.

This matter is also a military and high-level confidential matter and has not been disclosed to the public. Therefore, even the army and navy weapons experts were unaware.

But this matter wasn't something that couldn't be disclosed to the two weapons experts since they were brought here to assist in designing the escort ship, and they needed to be informed of the necessary information.

So Chen Xin explained to the two weapons experts about the Anti-gravity Device.

Upon hearing Chen Xin's explanation, the two weapons experts were momentarily stunned, taking a while to process the information.

"If that's the case... doesn't it mean the carrier can fly?" the navy weapons expert pondered aloud, thinking of the land carrier preparing to set sail.

"Indeed, it can fly, but it still needs to be used with a propulsion system. The Anti-gravity Device itself can only enable hovering in the air." Chen Xin nodded affirmatively.

Upon hearing that it could fly, the eyes of the two weapons experts met, with a sparkle appearing simultaneously in their gazes.

The army weapons expert said, "In that case, we should design with the assumption that the escort ship is in flight. More considerations are needed for flying in the air than moving on the ground."

"Right, in the air, the weapon firing arcs are completely different, and the platform's overall structure and weapon placements need to be reconsidered." The navy weapons expert also nodded in agreement.

Seeing both sides reach a consensus, Chen Xin breathed a slight sigh of relief and began discussing with the two weapons experts on how to design this escort ship for the land carrier.