Chapter 451: Modified: Chapter 451 Bobod
Dominic arrived by train, despite Steed’s repeated reminders: "I hope to know the answer soon, this is very important to ’Saint Étienne’!"
However, after much hesitation, Dominic ultimately chose to travel by train.
This was not only because Dominic had not yet psychologically accepted airplanes as a means of transportation, but also because he disliked the feeling of instability in the sky.
He only felt safe with his feet on the ground and a pistol tucked between his ribs.
Paris is about 350 kilometers from Antwerp, and with the military train giving way along the way, this journey took a full 13 hours, spending an entire night on the train before arriving.
When the car stopped at the gates of Shire’s command post, Dominic was still yawning.
Granted permission to enter, he suddenly felt tense carrying his suitcase.
This submachine gun was not fully developed according to Shire’s idea, unsure if there might be any issues.
"Hey, Colonel." Shire enthusiastically met him at the door, shook hands with Dominic, and asked: "Have you had breakfast?"
Not good with words, Dominic felt overwhelmed: "No, no, General. But it’s okay, I’m not hungry actually."
"That won’t do." Shire immediately ordered the orderly to prepare some food and turned back to Dominic, saying: "Although we don’t have the delicacies you want here, there’s no shortage of food."
Shire led Dominic into the conference room. The less people knew about the new equipment, the better for future battles.
The airport conference room was somewhat chaotic, with the wall by the runway side still scorched and not yet repainted, and the room carried a slight burnt smell.
"Sorry." Shire sat down on a chair and said to Dominic who was gnawing bread with hot milk: "There was a sizable battle here not long ago."
"I heard about it." Dominic nodded, responding unclearly while eating, with a hint of envy in his eyes: "You launched a night attack and recaptured Antwerp in just a few hours, an amazing battle, General. Everyone is talking about it, the newspapers as well, even after so many days."
Shire smiled lightly, accepting the compliment.
This battle, which started from Combray and ended in Antwerp, fought over a day, had been revered as a classic, compiled into teaching materials sent to Saint-Cyr Military School, making it mandatory reading for every cadet and requiring discussion.
"Is that the new submachine gun?" Shire’s gaze turned to the gun case Dominic brought.
"Yes, yes, General." Dominic stuffed the remaining bread into his mouth in a few bites, took the gun case and pushed it in front of Shire, hesitating for a few seconds.
Under Shire’s inquisitive gaze, he finally summoned the courage to open it.
Upon seeing the submachine gun, Shire let out a surprised "hmm" with an unexpected look on his face.
He thought he would see the MP18, but what appeared was the Soviet-style PPD, which was developed around 1934, unexpectedly made by Dominic ahead by nearly 20 years.
(Shown above are PPD, PPSH, PPS submachine guns, translated respectively as Bobod, Bobosha, Bobos, equipped by the Soviet Army during early, mid, and late World War II. The first two are very similar, the biggest difference in appearance being the handguard: Bobod has a two-segment handguard, parts need milling which is not conducive to mass production, whereas Bobosha’s body and handguard are integrated, parts stamped, allowing rapid mass production.)
"I, I know General." Dominic nervously watched Shire, stammering:
"You mentioned before about moving the magazine to the side, but with its large capacity drum, issues would arise."
"You said magazine capacity is very important for submachine guns, so I tried to increase the capacity as much as possible."
"But with 71 rounds, the drum weight is 3.6 pounds, placing it on the side seems inappropriate."
"So I..."
Though Dominic’s speech was disjointed, Shire understood.
A 71-round drum was too heavy, designed on the side would make the gun unbalanced, thus it could only be adapted to the bottom.
Shire picked up the drum and weighed it, indeed it was substantial.
"This is excellent, Colonel." Shire praised: "Better than I imagined."
This was the truth, PPD was benchmarked against the German Army’s MP38, certainly more advanced than MP18.
"Really?" Dominic finally relaxed, looking pleased: "I was worried the battlefield might require the magazine to be placed on the side due to its rifling being too high."
"Though indeed there is this issue, having 71 rounds capacity makes it bearable." Shire aimed with the gun, without testing or asking specific data, directly ordered: "Start mass production immediately, I might need two hundred next month."
"Yes, General." Dominic’s speech became fluent again.
After pausing, Dominic hesitantly asked: "General, there may be something I shouldn’t ask, but my father is deeply concerned."
"Steed?" Shire looked at Dominic puzzled: "Concerned?"
"Yes."
"Why?" Shire asked, the next second he understood: "Because of my cooperation with FN?"
"Yes." Dominic nodded: "We know it’s your freedom, General. But after all, FN also produces light weapons with considerable strength."
Steed was worried, if Shire had FN, would he no longer need ’Saint Étienne’?
Shire laughed heartily: "Reassure him, the most trustworthy in military industry will always be compatriots."
The military industry highly reflects national characteristics, whereas private enterprises have considerable freedom, like Albert I easily controlling FN, governments of all nations exert different degrees of control over military enterprises.
One day, if France and Belgium were to fight, Shire and FN would undoubtedly become adversaries, this is indisputable and unchangeable.
Dominic thought the same: "He actually thinks so too, but still hopes to confirm with you. With your words, he would be reassured."
This was caring causing confusion.
Shire did not delve into this matter, he instructed the orderly outside the door, shortly two shotguns were brought into the conference room.
"These are two shotguns produced by FN." Shire nodded towards them: "The long barrel one is ’Browning A5’, the short barrel one is ’Winchester 1897’."
"I know." Dominic casually picked up one and tried it: "Our company studied these guns before, just..."
Dominic looked up at Shire, with some confusion in his eyes: "We unanimously think this gun range is too short, only suitable for hunting. What does the General mean..."
"Combine the advantages of these two guns." Shire said: "Shorten the barrel of ’Browning A5’, and add a bayonet lug."
Dominic said nothing.
These two improvements were not difficult, even quite simple.
However, modifying it to a military version indicated equipping the army, was it really suitable?