Another World: Naval Storm

Chapter 170 Land Cruiser

"Leo, what are you doing? You don't even come out to greet your old friend?" Vasir shouted as he pushed open the door of Leo's study. Leo was writing furiously behind his desk.

"You're here? Sit down first, I'll be done soon!" Leo responded while writing without raising his head.

"Let me see! What are these?" Vasir pulled out the paper from Leo's pen, looking puzzled.

"You, if you dared to snatch things from me if we weren't at home, my guards would kill you!" Leo shook his head and smiled bitterly.

"Nonsense, how could I dare to be so presumptuous in the base! Nicolas, take a look too, I can understand some parts of Leo's painting, but some parts are too weird!"

Nicholas was also confused after reading it. It was a new type of weapon on paper, but it seemed to have nothing to do with the navy because it had tracks and could not go into the sea.

"This is a new weapon I designed for the army, a weapon that can break the stalemate on the East-West Front!" Leo introduced confidently.

"Just based on this iron box-like thing?" Alex asked in disbelief, and Nicholas had a similar expression.

"Of course! I also need to explain that this is not an iron box! This is the land cruiser of the Drake Empire!" Leo picked up the blueprint and let the two of them observe it carefully.

"Land Cruiser, this name is good! But isn't the barrel of your weapon too small? It's marked with a caliber of only 37mm. Oh, and there's a machine gun. It doesn't deserve the name of a cruiser at all!" Nicholas frowned.

"That's right, a large caliber is what a true man loves!" Vasir nodded in agreement.

"This weapon is designed for the army. It won't work if used with the navy's large-caliber naval guns. In addition, our Marine Corps will also be equipped with a small amount!" Leo explained.

"When did you become so close to the Army? And even designed weapons for them?"

"Last time I went to visit the wounded, and it happened that the other building was occupied by army personnel, so I chatted with them. They were having a very difficult time on the East-West Front, so I thought about giving them a hand!"

"It's really not easy for them. The casualties are very heavy. It's far from being as smooth as what is published in the newspapers! According to news from my family, the Imperial Army had the highest casualties in a single day with 10,000 people killed and injured!" Nicholas spoke slowly with a heavy face.

"The Empire is a traditional land power, so it is necessary to support the army! Tomorrow this blueprint will be handed over to Marshal Hindenburg, and the rest will be handed over to the Imperial Factory!"

"I don't know if the army will accept your kindness. They are very arrogant!" Vasir was not optimistic that Leo could gain goodwill. Nicolas came from a traditional aristocratic family, and he was well aware of the army's stubbornness in some areas.

"It doesn't matter. Hindenburg and Ludendorff will not refuse. At least they will not say no to new weapons! From what I have observed, they are both very pragmatic!"

As expected, Hindenburg and Ludendorff thanked Leo for his selfless dedication, gladly adopted the design drawings, and ordered the military factory to make this weapon with all its strength.

The only drawback was that they both thought the name of this weapon was not Army-friendly at all, so they changed the Land Cruiser to Leo 1 Armored Assault Vehicle. However, due to Leo's sense of shame, he strongly suggested removing the word Leo, so in the end the weapon was named Mark 1 Armored Assault Vehicle.

In addition, the Army Department designed an armored assault vehicle called A7V based on Leo's drawings. The main difference between the two is that the Mark 1 is a light tank with a rotatable turret, equipped with a 37mm cannon and a coaxial machine gun, a capacity of 3 people, and armor thickness of 6-22mm.

The A7V is terrifying, with a crew of 18 people, a front armor thickness of 30mm, and side armor of 15mm. It is completely a walking mobile fortress. Its main weapon is a 1mm low-speed artillery with an ammunition base of 57 rounds and a maximum range of 180 meters.

辅助武器为6挺马克辛7.92㎜重机枪，车体两侧各2挺，车体后部2挺，弹药基数为18 000发，由12名乘员来操纵这6挺机枪。

The powerful firepower is very popular with the Drake Army. After all, Talen's secret weapon, the tank, has not yet been born. The two sides do not need to engage in armored confrontation, and dealing with infantry is their main task.

Leo also persuaded that Mark 1 was the direction of development of armored weapons, but Hindenburg and Ludendorff said, you are right, we will not change it.

"By the way, how did you two have time to come and see me? Aren't you guys busy at work?" Leo put away the drawings and asked his two old friends. Even though they looked relaxed and comfortable since they entered the door, Leo could still see through the sadness in their eyes.

The two looked at each other, and Vasir pushed Nikolas and let him speak first.

"Have you read today's newspaper?" Nicholas put away his smile and asked seriously.

"No, it's too late. What happened?" This time it was Leo's turn to look confused.

"Hey! Look here! Leo, you are in big trouble!" Nicolas pointed his finger at a large area on the newspaper for Leo to see. In addition to the dense text, Leo's photo was also clearly visible.

"Nikolas, Vasir, I have been mentally prepared. There are indeed many people in the empire who want to bring me down, but they are wrong. These despicable means can only inspire my fighting spirit more!" Leo stood up straight and looked out the window. The sun was high outside.

In April, early spring has quietly arrived, and Platinum, the largest city in the Drake Empire, has been bathed in the sun. But the citizens of Platinum did not feel a trace of warmth, and the news in the Platinum Daily was shocking and puzzling.

"The Imperial Navy Department announced that it would hold an emergency high-level meeting on the afternoon of April 4 to discuss whether to accept General Leo Sivens' resignation and allow the Navy Procuratorate and Military Police to investigate the incident!"

"Newspapers like Platinum Daily should be closed down. They actually published false rumors in the newspaper!"

"It doesn't seem fake! Look at mine, it also publishes the news!" People gathered together and found that all major newspapers in Drake were printing the news.

"What the hell is going on? The general must be being persecuted! This is political persecution!" A middle-aged man wearing glasses and looking well-educated crumpled up the newspaper and shouted angrily while standing on a bench.

"Professor Meli is right, the general is a hero, and the newspapers are full of slander against him!" Some Platinum citizens recognized that the middle-aged man was a professor at Platinum University and had a high prestige.

"Spread the news. We are going to hold a demonstration to support the general! We cannot let the general leave the Ocean Fleet!"

"That's right!" "Always support the general!" The gathered crowd began to disperse and gather more people.