After hearing the name and looking at the real thing, Major Rüdel made a preliminary judgment on this new thing in a daze, but he was unsure of what the situation was on the ground. (The engineer saw that he was skeptical and simply pulled him directly to the "bulldozer". A professional sergeant skillfully turned on the device. After a moment, he suddenly saw a clear and blurry tank shadow appear on the screen. From an intuitive perspective, it was a No. 4 tank.

It is said to be clear because the outline and appearance can be seen very clearly, especially when you can't see your five fingers, this is simply a bright big goal; it is said to be blurry because the images you see on the screen always feel a bit strange, and it is as consistent with daily cognition without visual observation.

"Can you jump out of the car and have a look. Can we see us outside 2 oo meters?"

Rudel shook his head, and the bulldozer did not leak any light. In addition to relying on the sound of the motive, it could also vaguely determine that there was a tank, and it was impossible to see clearly without lighting.

"The farthest detection distance of this vehicle is about 2ooo meters, which is exactly the limit of the precise hit of the Tiger tank gun." The engineer said proudly, "We think this thing is a perfect match for the Tiger. With it, the night will no longer be an insurmountable challenge for tanks."

Rudel was excited. Since the tanks were found, there have been no shortage of overnight battles in tactical ideas, but the tanks were not well observed. If you bring a searchlight at night, it would be even more shaky targets. Therefore, at most, you can only imagine in your mind that if you can really engage in night battles as the engineers said, it would be very helpful to German armored soldiers.

The engineer did not brag at all. The code-named "Owl" is the latest successful infrared night vision device developed by Germany. Germany has systematically explored the night vision device since the early days and is actively preparing to enter the battlefield. In 1936, the Sixth Test Department of the German Weapons Bureau and Aeg Company discussed reconnaissance for drivers, and observed infrared night vision technology on optical instruments and formed a consensus: Since the reflection characteristics of infrared rays are no different from ordinary visible light, it was decided to use infrared rays to irradiate them and convert the reflected infrared light waves into visible light through special devices. Its academic foundation is basically the same as that of radar.

The entire set of equipment mainly includes two devices: one is a searchlight with a filter device to emit infrared light; the other is an image display that receives infrared light and converts infrared light into visible light. A high-power searchlight is called an illumination vehicle. It is firstly a semi-track armored vehicle equipped with a 6o cm diameter arc searchlight with infrared filter and corresponding high-voltage electrical device, which is equal to a powerful infrared illuminator. The scout can operate the illuminator for 36o degrees of illumination. It can be easily folded into the vehicle during the day so that it looks less swaggering. When using the maximum power, the illuminator is 10 times the magnification, and the search distance is 15oo meters.

Since Germany transformed a large number of Sherman tanks as service vehicles, a logistics officer habitually muttered: "Since this thing requires a lot of electricity, why don't you install it on a bulldozer with more power?" This sentence woke up the dreamer. The technical experts immediately installed this equipment on Sherman. Compared with the 251 semi-track vehicle, the illumination vehicle transformed by Sherman was slightly inferior, regardless of defense or interior space, the power was far higher. The experts used 2 8oo watt incandescent lamps as light projectors instead of arc lamps, and the working voltage was reduced to 36 volts. The new renovated facility reached 14 times the rate, with a farthest detection distance of 2ooo meters, and the 5oo horsepower motive (the HL42trkm used by semi-track armored vehicles usually only has 100 horsepower). Even without installing a battery, it can continue to work.

The receiver is installed in front of the vehicle and has a protective device similar to a windshield to avoid damage to the equipment. The cathode radiation tube converts the received infrared image into a naked eye visual image under the action of high voltage (operating voltage up to 17 ooo volts). What Rudel saw was only a single receiver, that is, it could only provide images for the leader of the car. The engineer told him that he was currently studying transformers of one to three and one to four to provide energy for multiple receivers so that drivers, machine gunners and other members could also see the situation around the night like the leader of the car.

This night vision device started a small-scale trial at the Farin Post Tank Military Academy half a year ago, and received unanimous praise and was improved many times based on practical opinions. Not only can the captain perform 36o-degree reconnaissance with the night vision device, but the device also has the aiming function and can be directly used for fire. Originally, this device could be put into actual combat in the army faster, but a major general with a Junker-born background in the Supreme Command said: "We don't need this kind of thing. Our soldiers will win this war with fair chivalry spirit." He delayed the on-site use for more than a month.

Although Sperer had already covered the production of military equipment, if the military did not use any method for the production, he could only angrily run to Hoffman to complain because he knew that Yuan Yiguan was very interested in new technology. Unexpectedly, the latter's reaction was even more intense than him. In anger, he called Kettle to train him for more than half an hour, and scolded him so hard that he didn't dare to say anything. The unlucky major general was dismissed by the furious Chief of Staff the next day and threw him into the reserve. No one expected that the matter was like this and that it was not over. Bauman heard the news from some channels, thinking that this guy was suspected of "cooperating with the enemy", so he took him away for investigation. He went to two weeks before he was released due to insufficient evidence.

When the engineer told Guderian this experience, he kept nodding: "Some officers have corrupt minds and old ideas. It was also this kind of virtue when we studied tank warfare. It was indeed time to purify..."

He told Rudel: "Give you a night to study tactics and get it done, have a good rest during the day tomorrow, go to fight the Americans at night, and give them a surprise."

Considering the tacit understanding of cooperation, Rudel did not choose the four best cars in the end, but chose a row of five Tiger tanks. The technical sergeants moved very quickly. Not only did they modify two bulldozers on the spot, but they also modified the Tiger muzzle and smoke exhaust device. The flash flame after firing was not seen in the distance, which greatly reduced the probability of being caught by the enemy.

Engineers told Rüdel that in addition to special illumination vehicles such as owls, technical experts are also studying and testing the "Sparrow Eater" FG125o night vision device, preparing to install infrared headlights directly on the tank to avoid special illumination vehicles. However, due to power limitations, the night vision distance of this system is less than 40 meters, and the field of view is only 10 meters when maneuvering. It is relatively poor in practicality. Except for some value in night marching, it is almost impossible to use in actual combat.

Through understanding the characteristics of the owl, the 5o1 Battalion quickly formulated targeted tactics: the bulldozer equipped with the owl guides the tiger tank remotely and indicates the target, and then the tiger type performs blind shooting, and only needs to ensure a distance of 10-15 meters behind the bulldozer.

The next night, the Tiger tanks were shipped out with everyone's expectations, and the tracks rumbled. Five tanks under the platoon leader Lieutenant Link lined up in two columns, following two owls. When the driver was driving, he saw three lights wrapped in cloth behind the bulldozer. This was for reminding him of the direction. The observation port of the coaxial machine gun also locked the direction in advance: only when seeing all three lights at the same time is to keep a straight line with the car in front. If he can only see two lights on the left, it means he is on the left. If he can only see two lights on the right, it will be on the right.

Although there are various inconveniences in use, compared to the scenes of dark eyes in night battles before, Link feels that he is completely confident now.

More than two hours later, the German tanks had reached less than 2 ooo meters from the US position.

"At 1 o'clock, 17oo meters, a tank..." Owl One conveyed the message to the tank behind him through the radio.

Immediately afterwards, Car No. 1, commanded by Link himself, automatically added 15 meters to himself. The gunner who had been prepared immediately hit a shell. After a moment, the news came back, "10 meters from the right".

Car No. 2, which was following behind, immediately fired again according to the revised trajectory. This time the shell accurately hit the enemy tank. A Sherman was pierced by an 88mm armor-piercing bullet, causing the fire to make the surroundings bright.

The American soldiers guarding in the trenches on the opposite position began to get nervous. At such a long distance, how did the Germans destroy the tanks in the circular defensive positions? They thought that German infantry had touched them at close range, because the several iron fist anti-tank weapons that Germany had put into use were not easy to mess with. Both the British and Americans suffered enough. In contrast, the Bazouka, which the United States received from the African battlefield, was not so easy to use.

The intense fireworks began to fire violently around, and even the Browning machine gun began to pour out the fire.

"First in front, 165o meters, high explosive bomb..." Owl No. 2 issued an order, and Car No. 4 immediately implemented it. After a "boom", the whole world was purified.

Some unwilling American soldiers tried to turn on the searchlight to see what happened, but they didn't see anything yet. The bright target was directly shattered by shells flying from a distance.

In just 2 minutes, the tank platoon where Link was located killed a sudden position. This undoubtedly stabbed a large hornet's nest, which immediately caused the US military's deep position to start to riot overall. Various artillery fires first sparsely forward, and then became more and more dense, as if they were not allowed to fire at will, but it was pitch black in their field of vision. Any fire was useless except exposing their own targets. The nearest shell was more than 20 meters away from the German tank.

After a night of fierce battle, Link obtained fruitful results from 6 tanks, 4 armored vehicles, 3 anti-tank guns, 4 machine gun fire points and about 1 oo infantry. He lost no losses, and even the record of being hit once was not easy to be almost equivalent to fixed target shooting at night.
Chapter completed!