CHAPTER 281: TORPEDO CHARGES AND TACTICAL BOMBS

"Use torpedo charges for the explosives," said Shire.

Tijani nodded in agreement. With the same volume and weight, the mixed explosive made from TNT and hexanitrodiphenylamine has 7% more power, meaning a higher chance of destroying submarines.

"This thing aims for simplicity and cost-effectiveness," Shire continued, "We can currently use a time fuse. After it’s produced, test its sinking speed. Then estimate the submarine’s sinking speed to determine the depth..."

"Then we can drop the bomb in the direction or position where the submarine might escape," Tijani said excitedly, "It doesn’t even need to directly hit; exploding near the submarine might still succeed!"

Shire was quite surprised; this guy actually knew these things?

This was Shire underestimating Tijani. The principle was the same as that of torpedoes.

The reason why torpedoes, with only a few dozen kilograms of explosives, can easily breach a battleship’s thick armor is due to the immense power of the explosion under water pressure.

Deep water bombs are similar. Even without a direct hit, the massive shock waves and sudden change in water pressure can make submarines leak or malfunction, especially since submarines of this period were quite rudimentary.

The downside is that deep water bombs need to be used in conjunction with sonar for better effectiveness: sonar finds the submarine’s exact location and depth, deep water bombs set the depth and drop down, almost hitting the target.

However, sonar hasn’t been invented yet, so after discovering the submarine, bombs can only be dropped at guessed depths based on its direction of submergence.

This approach has a much lower success rate, but it’s still better than having no means at all and being forced to do nothing.

Besides, the Germans only have one submarine.

Other so-called "coastal submarines" are too small to operate beyond their bases; they even need warships to tow them near battlefields.

Meaning Shire only has to deal with one large submarine to largely neutralize the submarine threat.

At least in the Dardanelles Strait.

...

Just then, Wells had finished a phone call with the Minister of the Navy.

For Tijani’s special "artistic" interests, Wells, as a father, was extremely worried.

The training at the Toulon naval base and the battlefield arrangements of the squadron of the battleship "Gauls" were all organized by Wells.

Although France didn’t allow capitalists like Wells to have dealings with the military, Wells also held the status of a member of parliament.

Moreover, Wells had control over the construction of most of the navy’s warships, so there was no need to say much; everyone would give Wells some face.

However, a large part of why the arrangements went so smoothly was due to Shire.

The Minister of the Navy responded:

"I understand, Mr. Wells."

"Actually, you don’t need to ask; I should have organized these things for you."

"Tijani becoming the commander of the 105th landing regiment and fighting alongside Shire in the Dardanelles Strait battle represents France. This is our honor, pride, and hope."

Wells worried about the squadron’s situation: "I heard there have been German submarines around recently. The British have ordered battleships to retreat to anchor points for safety. Is this true?"

"Yes," the Minister of the Navy replied, "Right now, only limited reinforcement tasks are being carried out, with battleships mobilized only in emergencies."

"Then, I hope my requests for the battleship ’Gauls’ won’t trouble you too much." Wells sounded somewhat guilty, given that it was wartime and his request would risk a squadron for his son, including the main target for submarines: battleships.

"No, no, please don’t say that," the Minister of the Navy explained, "This is war, Mr. Wells. It’s not for your son; please believe me on this. Many British people hope Shire can head to the Dardanelles Strait to solve this issue."

When he said "many," it meant that some did not want Shire involved.

Like the British Secretary of State for Defense and the Minister of the Army.

If Shire entered the battlefield.

If they lost, people would say, "Even Shire couldn’t turn the tide; Shire warned you before!"

If they won, it would be "Shire saved everything."

But from France’s perspective, it would be different: if Shire won, it would be France’s glory. He would have defeated both the Ottoman Empire and Germany, and more importantly, "defeated" Britain.

Therefore, the Minister of the Navy fully supported Shire and offered anything needed. He even worried one battleship might not be enough, emphasized during the call:

"If Shire needs it, we can deploy more warships."

"Anyway, they’re just anchored and doing nothing."

"But we need to let the British know they’re the ones doing nothing, not us!"

Those hateful Brits, they think they can naturally command our warships just because they have more battleships. We need to show them the reality!"

Wells realized it’s largely about "Shire" rather than Bres Shipyard.

As he hung up, Wells felt somewhat unbalanced: Bres Shipyard’s influence couldn’t even match Shire’s? These fickle bastards!

At that moment, the phone rang. It was Tijani calling.

"Do you need anything else?" Wells asked sarcastically, "Or should I suggest you command the French Navy?"

"No, father," Tijani replied, "Shire just mentioned an equipment we need to produce within a week..."

"You must be joking?" Wells almost laughed, "Produce in a week? Rushing it to the battlefield?"

Wells’s first reaction was it’s impossible.

This might be due to his stereotypical view on shipbuilding, whether warships or anything else, taking years or even longer.

If anything could be produced in a week, it must be junk, Wells thought.

"Yes, a week," Tijani said confidently, "It’s simple. We think about 200 kilograms is suitable, a cylindrical barrel of explosives, like a gasoline barrel, with a time fuse attached."

Wells was stunned.

Indeed, it could be produced in a week, and many could be produced.

But...

"What’s the use of this?" Wells asked in confusion, "You plan to blow up enemy artillery with this?"

"No, father," Tijani replied, "We plan to use it to blow up enemy submarines!"

Wells jumped up like he was pricked by a needle.

Blowing up submarines?

A timed explosive barrel, sinking near submarines and exploding.

God, yet another simple but practical invention, and quite cheap, almost just the cost of explosives, without any technical threshold!