Chapter 93: Twenty tons

　　 Various technical problems will be solved easily. After the Panther tank is lightened, there is no need to worry about the technology being too advanced, which will cause an arms race in other countries. You can safely and boldly equip it in Germany instead of just deploying it in the desert.
　　 At the same time, because the basic skeleton is still there, in the later stage, when the war needs it, you can add armor at any time to become a medium or even heavy tank again.
　　 After seven or eight years, with the development of metallurgical technology, high-quality torsion bars should be technically passed, right? At that time, change the torsion bar again, and the upper body can bear more weight!
　　 At that time, it will not only be 30 tons, but it can also develop to 40 tons like the Panther tank of later generations!
　　Even, on the basis of the Panther tank, it can be further upgraded to become the majestic Tiger style of later generations, or even the Tiger King tank!
　　 Now, first reduce the technical requirements and become a 20-ton tank!
　　 In addition to temporarily reducing the requirements, it can be used in a large number of services, another aspect is to become an excellent crawler chassis, on this chassis, other deformed vehicles can also be developed! Such as self-propelled artillery, fire tank and so on.
Cyric thought of many benefits, so he finally made up his mind: "Since the quality of the torsion bar cannot be improved now, in order to be able to manufacture our tanks in large quantities, consider reducing the weight of the tank first. , Become a 20-ton tank. We will produce our 30-ton Panthers in small batches and mass-produce 20-ton tanks. Well, they will be named Panther 1 and Panther 2 respectively."
　　 In short, the No. 1 tank with only 2 people can never be put into production in large quantities. It is really too backward and can only solve the problem of existence and cannot give the armored soldiers confidence!
　　 And the current 20-ton tank is very similar to the historical No. 3 or No. 4 tanks, so let's talk about the quantity first!
　　 However, although the requirement is lowered, the other requirement cannot be changed.
"Our tanks must maintain versatility." Cyric said: "This simplified Panther 2 tank must maintain the versatility of the prototype Panther, exceeding 60%, and each component must be standardized. Design to meet the needs of mass production."
　　Universal! Standardized design!
　　 The American Sherman tank is one of the representative masterpieces.
　　 The United States has strong industrial productivity. Sherman tanks are not completed by a single manufacturer. The various standardized parts are separately produced by various manufacturers.
　　The production plant only engages in the production methods it is good at. After all the standardized parts are produced, the parts that constitute the car body have a high degree of compatibility.
　　These methods made the Sherman tank one of the largest production tanks in World War II, with an output of 49,234 vehicles!
　　 In contrast, if you look at Germany, there is no systematic and standardized design and manufacturing.
　　 Look at No. 1 to No. 4, they are all different, just look at the walking mechanism, No. 3 and No. 4 are also different, No. 3 is a big road wheel, and No. 4 is a small road wheel. The tiger poses, panthers, etc. at the back are also different.
　　 Streamlined production is the prerequisite for mass manufacturing! In this regard, German systems engineering really scores zero!
　　 Therefore, in Cyric’s mind, he had already started planning to straighten out the production of military and civilian products so as to facilitate the use of civilians transferred to the military in wartime, and establish a standardization unification committee to unify various industrial product standards in production.
　　 These are all very important, otherwise there will be a tragedy in the future that two tanks, aircraft, and warships of the same model cannot be interchanged.
At the same time, the National Defense Science and Technology Industry Commission, the General Armament Department, and the General Logistics Department were established to unify equipment manufacturing and technological level, etc., and adopt American assembly line industrial production methods. Otherwise, with the urgency of those proud engineers, any preparations are often made. The tragedy of adding water to the noodles, and then making the noodles.
　　In World War II, the various parts of German tanks had almost no versatility!
　　 Now, let’s start with the Panther Tank!
　　 In addition to standardized production of the car body, suspension, etc., the engine is one of the most important points!
　　 The current 12-cylinder V-type diesel engine is already in this era, and can output 500 horsepower stably. This diesel engine will be the main power of future tanks!
　　 Based on this diesel engine, a series of diesel engines have been developed to unify the standards of cylinders and pistons, and mass production can be carried out! For example, the current 20-ton tank does not need a 500-horsepower diesel engine. You can replace the V12 engine with a V8. In addition to changes in the cylinder block and crankshaft, many other components can be used in common!
　　 can even make a V6 engine for use in cars, armored vehicles, etc.!
"In addition to the torsion bar, there is also the problem of the barrel. We process and produce the current long-barreled 75mm tank gun, which takes a lot of time." Gustav said: "If you change it now, If it becomes a 50mm tank gun, it can greatly improve the production schedule."
　　 Now, although the tank has been reduced to a 20-ton level, if you move around in Germany now, you will still be alert if you are seen by Britain and France. This kind of firepower is too abnormal!
　　 It’s not so shocking to change to a 50mm tank gun first, and the production process is greatly simplified, which can improve production efficiency!
　　 When designing the turret, it has been considering the issue of versatility, so that it will be convenient to change to 88mm or even 100mm tank guns in the future. Now, it is quite simple to change to 50mm tank guns.
　　 Cyric nodded: "Krupp, we must come up with a plan as soon as possible. After the prototype is no problem, it will be put into mass production. We have been waiting for several years and can't wait any longer."
　　 Gustav agreed: "In this case, the cost of each new Panther may be reduced to less than 100,000 marks."
　　 Historically, the cost of the Panther was 117,100 marks, the Type 4 tank was 103,462 marks, and the Tiger was 250,800 marks. The Panther is only 10,000 marks more expensive than the Type 4 tank, and its performance has doubled. The price/performance ratio is still very high.
　　 And now, if the application of standardized large-scale assembly line production can significantly improve efficiency and reduce costs, Gustav is fully confident that it will be reduced to less than 100,000 marks. This is only a rough estimate, and it will even be reduced to less than 80,000 marks in the future.
　　 "Minister Cyrek, these proposals of yours can be regarded as solving the current problems. However, we still have another problem that must be paid attention to, which is the source of our rubber." Kneberkamp said.