Chapter 272: Aircraft Carrier
In terms of fighter aircraft, the Tiger-3 fighter has seen a huge improvement compared to the previous generation.
Arthur had once jokingly commented that the least useful of the three military aircraft was the fighter, but now, the situation has completely changed.
The current Tiger-3 fighter has an average flight speed of 210 kilometers per hour, with a maximum speed of 240 kilometers per hour, only slightly slower than the Eagle-3 reconnaissance aircraft.
The reason for the slower speed is that the Tiger-3 fighter not only comes equipped with two MA-107 Maxim heavy machine guns but also has significantly improved armor protection.
Additionally, the ammunition capacity has been increased greatly. The previous generation of fighters could only carry 1,500 rounds of ammunition, after which the pilot would either have to rely on personal weapons or return to base to reload.
The Tiger-3 fighter, however, can now carry 3,000 rounds, doubling its ammunition capacity and greatly enhancing its continuous combat and firepower output capabilities.
The Tiger-3 fighter is now considered quite effective, with enhanced protection, firepower, and speed. It could potentially face multiple enemy aircraft at once.
However, the range of the Tiger-3 fighter is not as impressive as that of the reconnaissance aircraft. Without auxiliary fuel tanks, its maximum range is 570 kilometers, but with two auxiliary fuel tanks, the range can be increased to 890 kilometers.
These performance figures not only greatly surpass the aircraft of other countries at the time but also outperform the aircraft of World War I in terms of their performance.
It's no exaggeration to say that Australasia's aircraft would be a famous model in World War I, capable of creating several air combat legends.
Currently, Arthur considers the most practical military aircraft to be the Ghost-3 bomber. The last time, when it quickly wiped out the Portuguese army, the bomber proved its worth.
At present, most countries in the world have yet to develop effective air defense capabilities, and anti-aircraft weapons are still nonexistent. The best they can do is use rifles and machine guns to shoot at planes.
However, Australasia's three military aircraft are far more advanced than the basic designs other nations possess. Not only are they fast, but their armor protection is also quite decent.
While shooting down a plane with rifles and machine guns is possible, the likelihood of Australasia's advanced aircraft defeating a more outdated enemy aircraft is much higher.
The Ghost-3 bomber is the slowest of the three military aircraft, with an average flight speed of only 195 kilometers per hour and a maximum speed of 215 kilometers per hour.
This is because the bomber is equipped with a large number of bombs, and there are three types of bombs it can carry: 45-pound small fragmentation bombs, 75-pound medium-small fragmentation bombs, and 120-pound explosive bombs.
The bomb carrying capacity for each type is 42 bombs, 24 bombs, and 12 bombs, respectively.
The release method involves firing two bombs at a time by pressing the release button once, which leads to a frequency of bombing depending on the pilot's speed.
Of course, if the pilot presses the button too quickly, there is a possibility of a malfunction, but this is rare, as pilots are trained not to act impulsively.
The increased bomb capacity and the greater explosive power have significantly boosted the bomber's destructive capability.
One Ghost-3 bomber has the power to surpass ten GA1906 semi-automatic cannons in terms of destructive force.
Before any anti-aircraft weapons or enemy aircraft have been developed, Arthur is confident that with Australasia's current aircraft, the nation can ensure its security.
However, looking at the bomber in front of him, Arthur suddenly remembered something very important.
Although countries around the world have been heavily developing navies and battleships, Arthur understands that the end of the battleship era is already near.
What truly led to the gradual obsolescence of battleships wasn't the emergence of stronger warships, but the birth and rise of aircraft.
The armor protection of battleships was designed to withstand the parabolic trajectory of artillery shells, but the bombing from aircraft does not rely on parabolas—it is directed straight downward.
This has made aircraft carriers the nemesis of powerful battleships, and the mighty battleships of the late 19th and early 20th centuries were eventually replaced by aircraft carriers.
But although aircraft carriers were developed during World War I, these early versions were far rudimentary compared to the ones in later history.
What does an aircraft carrier need for research? First and foremost, aircraft. Without aircraft, the concept of an aircraft carrier is meaningless.
Secondly, shipbuilding technology. Currently, Australasia has mastered the technology of constructing dreadnoughts, and its shipbuilding capabilities are more than adequate for the creation of a basic aircraft carrier.
Since Australasia is already capable of building aircraft carriers, why not build one?
Arthur suddenly came to a realization and seriously asked Theodore, the head of the aviation laboratory, "Theodore, what is the shortest takeoff distance for our aircraft at the moment?"
Theodore responded, "Your Majesty, the shortest takeoff distance for our fastest reconnaissance aircraft is about 1,400 meters."
Arthur nodded. This level of performance is already close to the takeoff distances of World War II-era aircraft, proving that the researchers at the aviation laboratory have indeed made great progress.
However, this is still not enough. If we want to equip aircraft on aircraft carriers, it must be understood that even the largest warships today are only about one to two hundred meters in length.
This means that aircraft carriers must have a takeoff distance of at most two hundred meters, which places significant demands on both aircraft and carrier construction technology.
Arthur thought carefully but couldn't recall how aircraft were launched from aircraft carriers in later years. He vaguely remembered that there were catapult launches and vertical takeoffs, but he didn't know the exact details or principles.
Shaking his head slightly, Arthur decided to leave the professional matters to the experts.
Seeing Theodore's expectant expression, Arthur smiled and said, "Theodore, your efforts are commendable. I am very satisfied with the development of these three military aircraft. On behalf of the military, I promise that we will equip at least 500 aircraft within three years."
Theodore smiled widely and respectfully replied, "It is all thanks to Your Majesty's support. Otherwise, we would still be mere assistants in airship development."
"The improvements for the third-generation aircraft and the research on the fourth-generation aircraft must not fall behind. At the same time, there is an important task I want to assign to you and all the researchers," Arthur continued.
"Your Majesty, please give your orders," Theodore said, attentively listening.
"I've heard a suggestion asking whether it is possible to equip aircraft on warships, allowing the aircraft to take off from the sea and expand the range and combat area of our planes. What do you think of this idea, Theodore?" Arthur asked, nodding.
"The Majesty, may I ask who made this suggestion?" Theodore inquired cautiously.
It's not surprising that Theodore was cautious, as anyone capable of making suggestions to Arthur must be someone highly trusted by him.
In a monarchic state, even if the suggestion is impractical, Theodore wouldn't dare to refute it. After all, if the minister who proposed the idea is displeased with Theodore, they could easily suggest his dismissal to Arthur, which would spell disaster for Theodore.
Arthur smiled, understanding Theodore's thoughts, and said, "Feel free to speak your mind. Don't worry, when it comes to aviation, the advice of experts like you is more valuable."
Reassured by Arthur's words, Theodore boldly said, "Your Majesty, I think this idea is quite bold. From an imaginative perspective, if we could equip aircraft on warships, it would indeed greatly increase the aircraft's combat capability and range. But currently, the shortest takeoff distance for our planes is 1,400 meters. We can't possibly build a warship that's longer than 1,400 meters, can we?"
Even in later years, the largest ship in the world, the famous Sea Giant, is only 485 meters long.
Such an enormous warship would have a displacement of 820,000 tons, which is dozens of times larger than the largest battleships of the time.
Setting aside whether it's technologically feasible to build such a ship, the costs alone would be enough to bankrupt a secondary power.
Arthur smiled and explained, "What if we use a special method for takeoff? For example, adding additional thrust to the aircraft to allow it to reach takeoff speed immediately, or adjusting the ship's deck to curve slightly upwards, providing the plane with a better takeoff angle. Would this reduce the takeoff distance and make it possible for aircraft to be stationed on warships?"
The fact that aircraft carriers were developed during World War I shows that significant progress had already been made in reducing takeoff distances for aircraft back then.
Currently, Australasia's aircraft are far ahead of the rest of the world. Arthur believes the development of aircraft carriers won't be hindered by such a small issue as takeoff distance.
Focusing all of Australasia's research power for a few years, Arthur doesn't think the country will fall behind other nations in developing an aircraft carrier.
After listening to Arthur's explanation, Theodore carefully pondered for a moment and then replied cautiously, "Your Majesty, it's not impossible. But let's face it, worldwide research on naval takeoff platforms is virtually nonexistent. Even if this idea can become a reality, it would take time to develop."
Arthur nodded and smiled, "This is not urgent, Theodore. You can treat it as an important but not pressing task. There's no rush within three years. Our primary task for now is to equip a large number of aircraft, build a true air force, and construct a powerful navy. This idea may become a major goal for Australasia's future naval development, but it will take several years to achieve. You can discuss it further with the shipyard experts. I'm giving you three years. Any progress within that time will be considered a success."
The real role of aircraft carriers will only be fully realized in World War II. Arthur hopes that in three to five years, Australasia will have developed an aircraft carrier with real operational capabilities.
If a functional aircraft carrier can be built within this timeframe, it will be considered a significant success.
(End of Chapter)
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