"I think even if our cannons can solve most of the problems, we still need to have a backup plan. Diversification is the development trend of civilization, right? Now our enemies are still wooden ships. If one day our enemies also use armored ships, or if an ironed ship betrays our country, this confidential weapon can still come in handy."

Chu Yun was not optimistic about torpedoes at the Imperial Shipyard, and almost everyone only advocated the study of new weapons when they were the doctrine of the victory.

When his subordinates enjoyed the benefits of ships and cannons, their thinking also faced the risk of solidification, that is, they rely too much on the technology they already know and are resistant to the research of new technologies.

The uncertainty and cost brought by unfamiliar new technologies are unpredictable.

But Chu Yun from later generations can see the prospect of torpedoes.

He knew that torpedoes would become an effective weapon. Even if China does not study them, someone would definitely make them out in the future. These threatening technologies are best in his own hands.

"We will try our best to study and try to overcome difficulties such as depth, course control, and materials." Although the director of the Imperial Shipyard is not optimistic about the prospects of torpedoes, the Imperial Shipyard is an official factory and needs to obey the government's instructions to produce, which is different from private factories.

The factory can raise objections, but whether to decide whether to adopt it in the end is the government's business.

The passenger ship followed the torpedo boat to an unmanned sea outside the shipyard, where a shabby steam iron ship quietly broke down.

"Do you want to use a steam iron ship as a target ship? This is a bit expensive," an officer asked.

"That iron ship is an old ship we purchased from the private sector. It is 19 years old and is one of the earliest iron ships produced by our shipyard. The cost of dismantling such old ships is higher than the profit of selling scrap iron. We usually use it as a target ship. Before equipping new cannons for ships, we will use the target ship to test accuracy and destructive power. Our cannons are too powerful, and ordinary wooden ships can't see the power of blasting bombs at all. The fire generated by blasting bombs can easily burn the wooden ship."

"Using an iron ship as a target ship was a very luxurious thing in the past, because the iron ships used to be new ships, but now there are many aging iron ships. Using an iron ship as a target ship is no longer a luxury, but rather a final assignment for the retired iron ship. After being sunk, it can also be used as a waveproof tool."

"The torpedo heads we usually use to train are not filled with explosives, but are filled with sand and gravel. After all, using explosives for training is quite expensive and cannot be repeatedly launched and recycled."

The factory manager explained to Chu Yun and everyone on the passenger ship how they usually use torpedoes for testing.

The naval officers on the passenger ship were still very interested in the new weapon of torpedo. The older generation of officers went from the sailing era to the steam ironclad era, and then a new type of ship of torpedo boats appeared. They were also trying to accept new ships and tactics.

Officers will also resist new equipment, even senior officers are no exception. Just like when the rear-loading gun first appears, officers who are used to front-loading guns will think that rear-loading guns are unbearable.

Of course, if new technologies shine in a certain battle, everyone will start to praise new technologies again.

The first torpedo boat was ready, with only about 10 people operating the torpedo boat. They were going to launch the torpedo and let the torpedo hit the scrap iron ship parked in the harbor.

This time they did not train, but showed the generals of the Admiralty a technique currently being studied but controversial.

"Sir, telescope." Someone on the passenger ship sent a pair of telescopes to each of the officers to watch the scene when the torpedo hit the target.

"Let's see the power of torpedoes and see what new weapons that can match cannons will happen."

"The new weapon that the military leader is trying to study should play a great role."

A group of them stood on the deck, and scrap iron ships from offshore areas appeared in the telescope's view. The torpedo boats they saw were approaching the iron ship.

About 60 meters away from the iron ship, a crew member on the torpedo boat raised a flag indicating that the torpedo had been launched.

An officer on the passenger ship was looking at the pocket watch, as if he was calculating the time.

After a while, a water column appeared in the telescope, which was the movement caused by the explosive explosion after the torpedo hit the sailboat!

"The torpedo hit!"

"I don't know how powerful it is, can the torpedo explode in the water really produce enough destructive power?"

During the observation of everyone, the shock wave generated by the explosion soon spread to the hull, and it tore a big hole in the iron ship, and actually cut off the scrap iron ship in half!

The explosion of the torpedo and the shock waves generated eventually made the iron ship sink, and the iron ship of about 100 tons became part of the waveproof.

The officer who was originally suspicious of the power of torpedoes underwater was shocked!

They thought that there would be no other weapons that could be destroyed except for the large-caliber artillery produced by the Imperial Shipyard. Unexpectedly, this new weapon could actually kill an iron ship with one shot!

"Although our official ironclad ship has enough armor, this weapon called torpedo is too terrible. If it loads more explosives, it may not even be able to withstand the Dahan-class ironclad ship."

"I never expected that explosives would explode at the bottom of the water to cause such great destructive power."

Zheng Zhilong was also surprised at the power of the torpedo.

It is hard for him to imagine an iron ship being easily scrapped by a torpedo.

Don't underestimate the power of water. Chu Yun murmured in his heart. The power of torpedo is not only the terrible loading of explosives, but also the shock wave of water and the energy of foam that will destroy the hull. If it hits, it is even more terrible than a shell.

Not only were the officers who came to visit the torpedo tests shocked by the power of the torpedo, but even the director of the Imperial Shipyard was a little surprised and found a designer who specialized in the development of early torpedoes: "Why is the torpedo in this test much more powerful than last time? Last time, it was not as good as sinking an iron ship directly."

The torpedo designer wiped the sweat from his forehead: "Isn't this the military leader coming with the senior management of the Admiralty, so we filled more explosives in the new torpedo?"

"It seems that this torpedo thing will be a nightmare for the ironclad ship."

"The ironclad ship we spent hundreds of thousands of taels of silver to be scrapped by a torpedo of several thousand taels of silver. This is simply an unfair showdown." Many officers are optimistic about the prospects of torpedoes.

However, the torpedo designers poured them a basin of cold water: "This time the target ship is only easy to be hit if it is still in the water. In actual combat, the target ship is moving rapidly. In addition, the undercurrents in the outer sea are extremely complex, and the hit rate of torpedoes is extremely low. The torpedo boats are difficult to hit ironclad ships with artillery, especially the Imperial Arsenal. Recently, it seems that they are studying rapid-fire cannons. The torpedo boats are easily hit by ironclad ships. There are countless technical difficulties to improve the shortcomings of torpedoes."

"What if there is a ship that can hide at the bottom of the water and then launches torpedoes to attack the iron-clad ship on the water surface?" Chu Yun said at this time.

"A ship sailing under the water? Are there really such ships?" the factory director, ship designer and naval officer were puzzled.

"The torpedo you saw before can sail under the water? If you amplify the torpedo, you will be a ship that can sail under the sea."

Chu Yun thought of the submarines of later generations, and when he thought of the torpedo, he would naturally think of the submarines.

Maybe someone had the idea of ​​creating an underwater ship at this time, but no one had put it into practice.

Because this idea is too crazy, just like when an airship or plane appears, people can only watch birds flying in the air, and few people think that people can fly in the air one day. Not many people think that people can go down deep into the sea.

After being reminded by Chu Yun, many ship designers present fell into deep thought, and some showed a sudden enlightenment.

Torpedoes can advance on the seabed by engines and propellers. They use a fully enclosed structure to prevent seawater from entering and destroying the engines and explosives inside. Watertight technology seems to be beginning to mature.

After a brief thought, the designers of the Empire Shipyard gathered together to discuss the feasibility of building a ship similar to a torpedo but hundreds or thousands of times larger than the torpedo.

"Sir, there are no people torpedoes, so many problems do not need to be solved, and ships loaded with people sailing under the water are different. First, we must consider how to provide enough air for the engine to operate for a long time and enough oxygen for crew members in the closed cabin under the sea, and then turn under the water to resist the problem of water pressure..."

"The air problem may be solved by floating ventilation, ventilation pipes, chemical supplies, compressed air, etc. I just put forward an idea. The real solution to the problem depends on you." Chu Yun didn't know much about the submarine, and he really couldn't give any effective solution. "This kind of ship will definitely appear in the future, but we are not in a hurry to build it."

Whether it is a submarine or a torpedo, it is a "concept weapon" that is not very practical at this time and will have a huge effect in the future. At present, the giant cannons of ships are the most effective.

Not practical, there are still various technical difficulties, and secondly, there is no need. Should we use inaccurate torpedoes to attack wooden sailboats?

"Sir, you have all kinds of wonderful ideas. Who can think of ships and torpedoes built to sail underwater? I guess after I retire, the five fleets of the Admiralty will add many new members. I really hope to live to see the arrival of that day." Zheng Zhilong, an old man who has known Chu Yun for 30 years, said to him.

"It's hard to say whether we can see it, but our children can definitely see it." Chu Yun replied.

"I heard that your eldest son will get married after returning from Europe. I don't know which daughter of his family?"
Chapter completed!