I Became a Plutocrat in World War I: Starting with Saving France-Chapter 916: Differences of Opinion

In principle, there were already paratroopers during this period, and the first to use them was still the German Army.

Ordinary reconnaissance on the battlefield required scouts to cross several defenses from the ground, surviving with great difficulty, often only a few could infiltrate behind enemy lines to conduct reconnaissance.

The probability of successfully completing the task and then relaying the information back to the German Army was almost zero.

Thus, the German Army used a creative tactic where their scouts would use the cover of night to board aircraft, cross enemy lines, then parachute down to carry out their mission.

This was considered the prototype of airborne troops.

(Note: The earliest combat record was in 1918 when the Italian army used modified bombers to air-drop a unit behind Austria-Hungary for sabotage missions. The first regular airborne troops were formed by the Soviet Union in 1930.)

Shire took out a sketch of a transport aircraft from his briefcase and handed it to Carter: "This is what we are developing, and we expect it to be mass-produced soon."

There was no need to keep this from Carter, as he needed to train paratroopers and allocate pilots to train and fly these transport aircraft.

Carter took a look and said, with excitement and curiosity in his voice, "An all-metal aircraft, and it's fully enclosed? So, where are the machine guns?"

"No machine guns," Shire replied.

The original "Junkers 52" usually came equipped with 2 to 3 machine guns: one on the back, one on the side, and another could be added to the underbelly depending on circumstances.

However, the original "Junkers 52" had engine power exceeding 500 horsepower, requiring three engines for such a load capacity.

Shire's engines at this time only had 390 horsepower, so weight had to be reduced by all means possible.

"No machine guns?" Carter's curiosity grew: "Then how will she fight?"

"This is a transport aircraft, Colonel," Shire's response was straightforward: "It's designed to carry people. We estimate it can carry 17 to 20 fully armed soldiers, and under extreme circumstances, it can accommodate 25 by removing the seats."

Carter understood Shire's meaning. He stared wide-eyed at Shire, seemingly forgetting to breathe.

After a while, he gasped for breath and waved the sketch in his hand:

"God, Vice Admiral, do you intend to, intend to use her to parachute troops onto enemy positions?"

"I must remind you, this is too dangerous."

"I mean, the danger isn't just the parachuting itself, although that's not easy, but more importantly, they'll be surrounded by the enemy!"

The more Carter thought about it, the paler he became:

"Not to mention anything else, just the issue of ammunition supply is already a big problem."

"How can we ensure the paratroopers' ammunition supply?"

"Without ammunition, when surrounded by the enemy, they have no other choice but to surrender!"

Shire nodded silently, Carter was no longer just a club operator who only understood how to fly planes; he'd acquired some necessary military knowledge.

This was good, it would aid future air-ground coordination.

"So." Shire replied: "You have to consider not just training infantry to parachute, but also how to air-drop supplies to them."

Carter suddenly understood, supplies were also air-dropped with transport aircraft, meaning an aerial supply line had to be established.

Then, many more issues needed consideration.

Air superiority, transport aircraft sorties, drop locations, and the configuration and safety of the airdropped supplies, among others.

This was the creation of an entirely new type of force, a whole operational system.

Carter wore a troubled expression: "Vice Admiral, I'm not sure I can do this, especially in terms of tactics…"

Tactics were Carter's weak spot; he was an aviator, his commanding experience was all in aerial combat.

"You don't need to worry about that, Colonel." Shire said: "You just need to handle the aerial part; I'll send people to assist with the rest."

Carter breathed a sigh of relief: "Yes, Vice Admiral, I'll do my best!"

As a soldier, he should have given a confident answer, but Carter felt this was beyond his competencies, thus lacked confidence.

Before long, Carter found his worries were entirely unnecessary because Shire frequently sent him training manuals and advice, resolving the difficulties he faced in training, just as Shire had done when training the aviation regiment.

...

Toulon Shipyard, a new day begins with the rising sun.

Workers, stepping on the white snow, entered the factory one after another, and the previously silent dock resounded with the sounds of hammering and machines roaring.

However, some were still producing or modifying artillery for the army.

The shipyard had many advanced facilities, which had to shoulder the burden of war, and Toulon Shipyard was no exception.

In the conference room, the representatives of the British advisory group entered one after another after breakfast, their current mission to persuade or reach a consensus with the engineers and commanders across from them from the French Shipbuilding Bureau.

Stephen, the leader of the advisory group, lounged in a chair and lit a cigarette, casually nodded across through the smoke: "So, have you made a decision?"

Fabio, the head of the Shipbuilding Bureau, stood and nodded: "Yes, Colonel, we agree with your proposal."

Colonel Stephen flashed a triumphant smile, as if he had won a battle: "Wise choice, Director." 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

He pushed the document on his right forward, his tone arrogant:

"We have ample data and experiments to prove it, what do you have? Before, you didn't even know planes could take off from ships."

"This is an entirely new field, understand? And we are at the forefront of it."

"So, do not doubt our ideas. This will save a lot of time for you, and for us..."

Across from him, a middle-aged French Major General could not bear it any longer, he stood up with a "thud" and countered: "But you haven't given a reasonable explanation for the retention of the ship's cannon!"

"Is an explanation still needed?" Colonel Stephen spread his hands:

"I've emphasized many times, our planes can take off and land on a 50 to 80-meter deck, why would we need to extend the deck?"

"And the benefit of retaining the rear cannon is obvious, it gives the carrier self-defense capabilities."

"Do you really want her loaded with airplanes to be weaker than a fishing boat?"

The Vice Admiral replied: "But that's simply impractical, do you expect a carrier loaded with aircraft to engage in naval battles?"

Stephen rose angrily, pointing his finger in the air in the Vice Admiral's direction several times: "Whether it engages is not up to you, General Pierre. That's the battlefield, even if you don't want it, it has to engage!"

At this point, a figure walked into the meeting room, asking in a slightly naive voice: "What happened? It seems there is a disagreement in your opinions?"