Chapter 458 Contradiction

Menzies believed that a higher-definition photo should be obtained first, but at the same time, Menzies did not want the Germans to realize that the Allies had noticed this "iron frame."

So Menzies spent a lot of effort to establish a relationship with American bombers and asked them to formulate a plan to bomb Algiers... Bombing Algiers itself was in the interests of the Allies, and the Allies could not defend the Gabes Line There is no way to break through, but bombing the Algerian capital can demoralize the Algerians and the Darlan government.

Of course, this was not Menzies’ main purpose.

After bombing Algiers, these bombers pretended to circle back from the desert and "accidentally" passed the location where the last photo was taken... Two of the bombers were equipped with high-power telescopes on the bottom and flew at a lower altitude. Highly photographed.

This time, a very clear photo was successfully taken, and when Menzies was analyzing the photo, he noticed a suspicious spot. After magnification, it could be clearly distinguished that it was something like an airplane on the "iron frame" .

Menzies immediately sent the photo to Churchill.

"You are right to worry, Your Excellency Prime Minister!" Menzies said to Churchill: "Although I don't know what this is, they are definitely a new type of German weapon! We estimate that this iron frame is a launcher , just like we eject reconnaissance aircraft from warships, they use it to eject this small aircraft!"

"Ejection? On land?" Churchill couldn't help but be confused after hearing this.

Churchill had served as a soldier when he was young, so he knew a little bit about military affairs. He knew that aircraft only need to eject to take off from warships, and long runways can be built on land, so ejection to take off is unnecessary.

"We're not sure what's going on!" Menzies replied: "The specific weapon needs further investigation!"

Churchill nodded and said: "We must find out, and we must do it quickly!"

Churchill was so anxious because he was going to meet Roosevelt in a few days. Churchill knew that because of the failure of "Sicily", he would not be able to convince Roosevelt without more evidence.

While Menzies was actively organizing the investigation, Qin Chuan and others in Sarat also held a meeting.

"Are we exposed?" Conrad asked.

"I think so, Colonel!" Qin Chuan replied.

"Why couldn't this be an accident?" Von Braun asked: "We have investigated and found out that the B17 that flew over us for the first time was bombing the oil fields in the Timrag Basin, and the second time it was bombing Alger Damn, maybe they didn’t notice anything!”

"I don't think that's the case, professor!" Qin Chuan said: "You have to know that the launcher we set up is 48 meters long. It is not a gadget. It is easy to spot in the air! If the B17 appeared for the first time, If it’s an accident, then the second time will be a cover-up!”

"I think the captain is right!" Hannah said: "We can't take chances, we should change to another experimental base!"

"No, Hannah!" Von Braun said: "Do you know what changing a base means? We have to dismantle all the launchers and then move them to another place and put them up again. This will take at least ten days!"

"And this seems pointless!" Colonel Conrad said: "Because we still have to set up a 48-meter launcher, and the enemy can easily find us again in the air!"

Hannah couldn't help but be speechless, because in a way, both of them were right.

So everyone turned their attention to Qin Chuan. After all, Qin Chuan was responsible for the security issues here.

After thinking about it, Qin Chuan asked, "Professor, how is the plan for the vehicle-mounted launcher going?"

"We chose the second option!" Braun replied: "That is to use a retractable launcher!"

"Is it because the thrust of the catapult is difficult to lift?" Qin Chuan asked.

"No, Captain!" Braun replied: "We can definitely do this. The problem is that the body of the 'target drone' is too fragile. If it is ejected at a short distance with such a large instantaneous thrust, the 'target drone' is likely to It will disintegrate as soon as it pops out!”

Qin Chuan nodded to express his understanding. This is also the reason why the structure of carrier-based aircraft used by modern aircraft carriers must be particularly strong. For example, the landing gear and keel are more demanding than land-based fighters.

Otherwise, ejection during takeoff and hooking during landing may cause structural problems in the fighter aircraft.

The same goes for "target drones".

"When will it be completed?" Qin Chuan asked again: "I mean, it can be put into use!"

"Maybe it will take a month!" Von Braun said: "Captain, you are not going to ask us to conduct the test again after a month!"

"For safety and confidentiality reasons, maybe we should do this!" Qin Chuan nodded: "You know, once the vehicle-mounted launcher is put into use, we can build a tunnel for it and hide in the tunnel when it is not launching. Inside, you can drive out of the tunnel before launching, and you can even make preparations in the tunnel before driving out... The exposure time will not exceed one hour, so you can effectively avoid enemy reconnaissance! "

"But Captain!" von Braun objected: "We may only need one or two more test flights to complete it. It may only take a few days, and you are making us wait more than a month!"

"Captain!" Colonel Conrad interjected: "As far as I know, the African Corps urgently needs the 'target drone' to complete the test flight and use it to attack the island of Malta. If you wait more than a month... you don't think this will happen. Will it have serious consequences for the entire battlefield situation? "

When Colonel Conrad said this, Qin Chuan could not refute.

This is true, and now there is a contradiction: the safety and confidentiality of the "target drone" and the strategic needs of the African Corps must be chosen one or the other.

Thinking further, Qin Chuan believed that it might not be a bad thing to let the Allies get some news, because this would at least give Britain some reason to stay in the Mediterranean.

As for issues of safety and confidentiality...

What can the British do? This is the hinterland of Algeria. There is a German airport dozens of kilometers east of Salat. They can provide reinforcements to Salat at any time.

Moreover, his own troops are not vegetarians.

Thinking of this, Qin Chuan nodded: "Professor, Colonel, for the safety of the entire scientific research team and the 'target drone', we recommend that the final test flight be completed in a short time!"

"No problem, Captain!" Von Braun patted Qin Chuan on the shoulder to express his gratitude.