I Became a Plutocrat in World War I: Starting with Saving France
Chapter 262: After Modification - 262 The Role of the Formula

Chapter 262: After Modification: Chapter 262 The Role of the Formula

During this period, the general explosive used in torpedo warheads was TNT.

For ordinary bombs or shells, TNT was sufficient and did not require improvement. In fact, TNT was quite advanced for its time.

(Note: TNT began to be used as an explosive around 1907. Before that, picric acid was used. TNT was mainly used as a bright yellow dye for nearly forty years before it was ever used as an explosive. It was used to dye cotton, silk, and even hair.)

(The image above shows hair dyed yellow with TNT, which was called ’Tol’ at the time.)

But if used in torpedoes, TNT might not suffice because torpedoes need to save as much space as possible to carry more compressed air.

The first to think about improving the explosive was the Germans. In 1907, they mixed 60% TNT with 40% Hexanitrodiphenylamine (HND) and found that its explosive power was 7% stronger than 100% TNT.

This meant that the volume of the torpedo explosive charge could be reduced by about 7% to penetrate the same battleship.

This was a German military secret, and the Allies were unaware of it at the time.

However, Shire knew about a more advanced formula, the WW2 torpedo explosive SW9a: 50% TNT, 10% HND, 5% aluminum nitrate, 35% aluminum.

The key here was aluminum, which released a large amount of heat when it burned, making the explosive power about 70% stronger than 100% TNT.

Furthermore, aluminum’s density is nearly twice that of TNT, so the charge volume of warheads using this formula could almost be halved.

If the fuel was changed to decahydronaphthalene, which has a higher combustion value, the torpedo’s range could be easily doubled or even more.

(Note: Torpedoes using this explosive and fuel during World War II could achieve a range of 6 kilometers at a speed of 44 knots, and even 14 kilometers at a speed of 20 knots.)

These improvements were not difficult; the key was the formula.

Knowing the formula, one would just have to find the raw materials. Without knowing the formula, it would be useless to think hard about it; one would still need to experiment with the proportions of various raw materials bit by bit.

Shire didn’t plan to give out the answer so quickly.

The primary reason was that France did not have much demand for torpedoes, and the German Navy had the Royal Navy to contend with. Shire’s ultimate aim was to suppress the Royal Navy with improved torpedoes, which was a long-term plan and not urgent.

At the same time, Shire believed that he should give Wells the information bit by bit, like squeezing toothpaste, to keep him continuously supportive.

If he gave all the technology to this guy at once, the nature of capitalists would be to turn around and ignore him, aligning with Schneider again.

Alternatively, Shire thought that the advanced formula could be kept for himself.

For instance, start with the Germans’ original formula of 60% TNT and 40% HND, then move to SW18, SW36, and SW39, and finally SW39a.

With so many intermediate formulas plus various fuels, wouldn’t he have Wells completely entangled?

But Shire frustratingly found that he only remembered the final form SW39a’s proportions and had no impression of the others.

This was troublesome.

However, Shire thought, maybe it didn’t matter. He could modify the correct formula, adding aluminum nitrate first, then aluminum, then tweaking the proportions randomly. As long as there was some progress each time to keep Wells dizzy, it would be sufficient.

Shire was secretly proud of himself. Shire could even think of such a method.

At this moment, a staff officer standing by the telegraph machine exclaimed, "The Navy has launched an attack on the Dardanelles Strait!"

As he spoke, the staff officer quickly brought the telegram to Gallieni’s desk; such an emergency telegram could be sent directly to him without going through Shire.

Gallieni glanced at the telegram and looked at the staff officer in confusion, "Yesterday’s event?"

"Yes." The staff officer nodded, "Possibly for confidentiality reasons."

Gallieni nodded, not paying it much heed. The Navy’s actions indeed didn’t need to notify the Army too early.

However, to Shire, this was a joke.

The Germans might have already known about this from Hari, possibly in detail, yet France’s second-tier command only learned about it a day after.

Gallieni thought for a moment, gathered the staff officers including Shire for a brief meeting, and waved the telegram in his hand:

"The first batch of main battleships includes 16 battleships, with 4 from France and 12 from Britain."

"It’s quite a lineup. They seem to hope to force the Ottoman Empire to surrender with the Navy."

"But yesterday’s battle did not go well. They failed to break through the Dardanelles Strait and did not even destroy a single turret!"

"If the situation continues like this, it may require the Army to launch a frontal attack to hold back the Germans. Do you know what to do?"

The staff officers replied in succession:

"Yes, General."

"Understood!"

...

Before the big battle, preparations for manpower, materials, transportation, medical care, and even equipment updates were familiar tasks for the staff officers.

As everyone dispersed and got busy, Shire was called over by Gallieni.

"Colonel," Gallieni looked at Shire meaningfully, "Don’t you have any opinions?"

The advice Shire had given to Albert I was to land from the north. Now that the Allies’ fleet was attacking from the south, did it mean that Shire’s advice was ignored?

"No, General," Shire replied calmly. "I have nothing to say."

Gallieni was stunned for a moment, then smiled gently and nodded. Shire’s attitude had already given him the answer.

Shire’s calmness meant that his advice was not discarded. What the Allies were doing was likely following his plan.

In other words, the attack on the Dardanelles Strait was a feint, with the Allies’ main attack direction still being the north.

What Gallieni did not expect was that while he guessed the beginning part correctly, he didn’t guess the latter part correctly.

The Allies were indeed following Shire’s plan, but within the plan, there was another strategy with a twist, leading Gallieni, the shrewd old General, to be confused.

Gallieni didn’t dwell on it too much. He took out a document from his drawer and handed it to Shire: "This is a light machine gun designed by the Pito Armory. I want to hear your opinion!"

No one understood armaments better than Shire, the capitalist. Gallieni believed that he needed Shire’s approval before placing an order.

Shire took the document and looked at it. It was indeed the "Chauchat" machine gun.

It seemed that Steed had successfully transferred the design to the Pito Armory.

Shire pretended to think for a moment and then answered with a somewhat uncertain expression, "There doesn’t seem to be any major problems. After all, our army lacks light machine guns. On the other hand, the performance of machine guns is hard to see just from blueprints. It often requires battlefield use to identify any shortcomings."

The first part was to encourage Gallieni to make the purchase, while the latter part was to lay the groundwork for any potential problems.

If the "Chauchat" machine gun later revealed many issues, it wouldn’t be Shire’s fault.

Gallieni agreed: "I think so too. The battlefield urgently needs light machine guns. Let’s order a batch first and see how it goes!"

It was necessary, Shire thought. Only if the military ordered and possibly continued to place orders, the Pito Armory would expand production.

The higher they climb, the harder they fall!

That’s what Shire wanted, for this newly transformed armory to take a harsh fall!