Chapter 344 Submarine Technology
As time entered April of 1913, Arthur also entered a relatively relaxed and enjoyable leisure time.
With the arrival of aid from the UK in batches, Australasia once again entered a stage of rapid development.
Because of the talent support from the UK, Australasia can quickly master the newly acquired British and French technologies and technologies.
One of the technologies that Arthur attaches greater importance to is submarine technology from France.
Thanks to the efforts of a group of British and Australasian experts, the Royal Dockyard quickly conquered French submarine technology and even planned to build one or two for experimentation.
France's submarine technology was ahead of other European countries in the early days, but due to many detours, the current lead has narrowed a lot.
One of the more important ones is the French's vacillation in the choice of submarine power.
In terms of submarines, France was one of the first countries to use a combination of diesel engines and electric motors. However, it has been in a wavering state and is also using steam engines and electric motors.
Although this seemed to be an exploration of diversifying submarine power, it actually wasted the advantage France had always maintained in submarines, and was later overtaken by the United Kingdom and Germany, which came from behind.
In contrast, British submarines and German U-shaped submarines established the torpedo-carrying method based on torpedo launch tubes early, and eliminated the Jewitzky hanger that would break the appearance. The appearance development is more reasonable, and in addition, in The power system selection is relatively specific, and it has been ahead of French submarines for a long time in the important speed of submarines.
As for the French submarines before and after World War I, the most impressive one should be the "cannon-carrying" cruise submarine Surcouf. This type of 4,330-ton submarine equipped with twin 203mm turrets, although it seems to have powerful firepower , but it’s still the “wrong technology tree” type.
On the one hand, the turret is slow in combat, has sealing problems and damages the appearance of the submarine. On the other hand, the vibration and recoil generated by the huge cannon are unbearable for the hull. It is far less reliable than the small and medium-caliber deck guns and is standard. of flashy existence.
However, for the current Australasia, there is still a lot to learn from French submarine technology.
Australasia currently possesses German submarine U-3 technology and is the last of seven groups of submarines.
You know, when Germany built submarines, it adopted a group construction method.
This also makes the actual performance of the seven groups of U-3 submarines differ greatly from each other.
Germany equipped diesel engines on submarines, starting from the seventh group of U-3 submarines.
After the evolution of a total of seven groups of 22 submarines, the performance of the current U-22 submarine is already very advanced.
Because it is equipped with two eight-cylinder two-stroke diesel engines, the total power reaches 1,700 horsepower, which also allows the submarine's displacement to reach 837 tons, the maximum surface speed reaches 15.4 knots, and the maximum underwater speed reaches 9.5 knots.
In addition, the submarine's main weapon was also replaced with a 500mm torpedo tube. A torpedo launch tube with such a large caliber is a fatal blow to cruise ships and transport ships that lack armor protection.
This also gives submarines a unique strategic significance. Under the deep sea, submarines are elusive assassins for cruise ships and transport ships.
Of course, because the performance of current submarines is not very advanced, submarines have no room for resistance when facing regular main battleships.
Compared with German submarines, which have a relatively single level and series, the series and levels currently developed by French submarines are relatively diverse.
As one of the founding countries of modern submarines, France has so far had more than ten classes of submarines, including large, medium and small submarines.
France currently has world-class submarine models, including the Gustave Zeide-class submarines, the Amphitrite-class submarines, the Belon-class submarines, the Dupuy-Delemay-class submarines, and the Diana-class submarines. -class submarines, Amide-class submarines, Jossel-class submarines, and Lagrange-class submarines.
Except for the Amphitrite-class submarine, which has a cruising range of only 2,400 kilometers, all other types of submarines have a cruising range of more than 4,000 kilometers and can perform long-distance combat missions.
Even the latter two Jossel-class submarines and Lagrange-class submarines have a terrifying cruising range of 8,000 kilometers at a speed of 11 knots, which greatly increases the submarine's combat range and strengthens the submarine's strategic position.
These two classes of submarines can be said to be true ocean-going submarines, extending the threat of submarines to the Atlantic Ocean.
The cruising range of German submarines is only more than 2,000 kilometers. Compared with French submarines, the gap is not even a tiny bit.
Except for the Gustav Zeid-class submarines, which began construction in 1911, other types of submarines began to be built or planned to be built this year.
This is enough to show the sincerity of the French. At least the French are really good at these submarine technologies!
However, this does not mean that the French are generous. According to Arthur's estimation, the French should have a more advanced submarine design, but the current construction plan has not yet started.
But in any case, the performance of several levels of submarine technology currently handed over to Australasia by France is indeed more advanced than that of German submarine technology.
When Australasia fully understands French submarine technology, combines the respective advantages of German and French submarines, and independently develops Australasia's own submarine technology, it will be the time for Australasian submarines to show their prestige.
The French submarine technology currently mastered in Australasia is actually the Gustave Zeide-class submarine that the French started building two years ago.
The Gustave Zed class submarine has a total length of 74 meters, a width of 6 meters, and an underwater displacement of 1,098 tons. It has begun to enter the ranks of medium and large submarines and serves as a pilot submarine in the French Navy. Although it is larger than a German submarine, it is equipped with a power system including two 1750-horsepower steam engines and two 810-horsepower electric motors with a total power of 5120 horsepower, allowing the speed to reach a world-class surface speed of 17 knots and an underwater speed of 10-11 knots. .
The Gustav Zeid-class submarine also has excellent endurance, with a total travel range of 5,780 kilometers/10 knots and can carry 47 officers and soldiers.
The submarine's main armament is eight 450mm torpedoes, two in torpedo tubes and six on twin external mounts. There is also a 75mm deck gun and a 47mm deck gun, which are basically the same as those of other countries' medium and large submarines.
In general, the Gustav Zeid-class submarine is a submarine that can keep up with the world's advanced level, and its overall technological level is among the best in the world.
Arthur quickly agreed to the application of experts from the Royal Dockyard to build several Gustav Zedd-class submarines, and named the two Gustav Zedd-class submarines to be built Q03 and Q04 respectively.
Australasia uses submarines built by other countries, code-named Q, currently equipped with two, and is expected to build two more.
Although the current technology of French submarines is very good, they are basically world-class or even leading.
But for Arthur, this technology, which other countries also know the basics of, can only serve as the basis for Australasian submarines.
Only when Australasia develops equally advanced submarine technology of its own can Arthur dare to use it with confidence.
Fortunately, the submarine technology of this era was actually not that complicated, and the technology was not as good as that of later generations.
As long as you master the submarine technology of Germany and France, and then take the best and discard the dross, it is not difficult to develop an advanced submarine belonging to Australasia.
After all, Australasia currently has the ability to independently design and build dreadnoughts and super-dreadnoughts. Compared with dreadnoughts and super-dreadnoughts, is submarine technology still difficult?
Even if it weren't for the experts at the shipyard to master the French submarine series early, Arthur would have already given the task to the experts to start developing a new submarine series.
The good news for Arthur is that although Australasia has joined the Allied Powers, Australasia does not need to withstand naval pressure from Germany.
The naval mission in Australasia is only to help Britain maintain order on the west and north shores of the Indian Ocean, that is, the east coast of Africa and the southern coast of India.
Generally speaking, the German fleet will not appear in this sea area at all. After all, if they break through this sea area, they need to be chased and intercepted by the Allied fleet.
What's more, the British will never allow the German fleet to appear in this area.
Because this sea area is not only an important transportation route from Australasia to Europe, but also related to the connection between the British mainland and the Indian colonies.
This also means that even if a war breaks out in the future, Australasia will still have a lot of time to build its own army.
And because of Australasia's excellent geographical location, it was basically impossible for Australasia to be invaded throughout World War I.
The only possibility of being invaded is that either the island country joins the Allies, or the United States joins the Allies.
But these two conditions are unrealistic. Before the UK cut off aid, the island country was only a loyal brother of the UK.
Their relationship with Germany is not that good. If the island country wants to join the Allies, it has to weigh the strength of the British Empire.
In the United States, the same is true. Although it is already a real great power in terms of economy and industry, its military strength, especially its army, cannot be matched by some sub-powerful countries, let alone a great power.
And throughout World War I, the mainland of Australasia would be protected by the Allies.
Whoever is an enemy of Australasia is equivalent to being an enemy of the entire Entente Powers.
Even after World War I in history, the combined remaining power of Britain and France was much stronger than the military strength displayed by the United States.
What's more, in this current situation that has already changed the world, it is basically impossible for the United States to develop as rapidly as it did in World War I in history.
In this way, the strength of Britain, France and the United States will become stronger after World War I. At least until the outbreak of World War II and the strength of Britain and France was completely exhausted, the United States could not be a joint opponent of Britain and France.
Even as long as the colonial system of Britain and France does not collapse, the British Empire and France will always be old powers and one of the most powerful countries in the world.
Today, Australasia is also part of the world colonial system. If the United States wants to easily destroy the British and French colonial systems after World War II as it did in history, it depends on whether Australasia agrees.
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(End of chapter)