I Became a Plutocrat in World War I: Starting with Saving France
Chapter 174: The Primitive Suspension

Chapter 174: Chapter 174: The Primitive Suspension

Shire simultaneously meets Estiny and Matthew in the R&D department.

To be precise, it’s not a "meeting"; they encounter each other in the R&D department.

The R&D department is a warehouse of more than two hundred square meters, with a "Mark I" tank placed in the center. Surrounding it are various tools for production or machining, along with some workers ready for any task.

As long as the designers have their ideas, workers can immediately produce parts to improve or assemble the tank.

Shire believes this can better tap into the designers’ potential.

Of course, those who can enter the R&D department, be it designers or workers, are strictly vetted and confirmed to have no issues.

This time, Shire came to the R&D department alone, without Dejoka.

Dejoka thinks he doesn’t understand tanks anyway and is also an outsider in both military and mechanical matters, so he’d rather read reports in the office.

Estiny is staring at the "Mark I" tank, looking thoughtful as if considering something.

Matthew, on the other hand, is fiddling with something in front of a small model with Joseph.

When they see Shire come in, they stand up almost simultaneously and greet:

"Hey, Shire, good to see you!"

"I have an idea, Shire!"

The two are surprised, and then Colonel Estiny courteously waves his hand to Matthew: "My question is rather lengthy, you go first, sir!"

"Thank you, Colonel!" Matthew graciously accepts. His personality is one that doesn’t care about the other’s identity, treating both colonels and ordinary workers the same.

Matthew leans on his cane and steps aside, presenting the model behind him to Shire, saying: "Although there has been a breakthrough with the engine, I think you should look at this first!"

"What is it?" Shire steps forward.

What meets the eye is a small circle of tracks, obviously simulating the "Mark I" tank, with some spring mechanisms and levers between the tracks.

"It’s like this!" Matthew explains: "Tracks have always been a major problem for the Mechanical Division. It has become a burden for everyone. The tank needs maintenance every ten kilometers or so; the mechanical division has to replace cracked or deformed track plates, and after thirty kilometers, the entire track might have to be replaced. This workload is simply a nightmare and is one of the main reasons why the tank cannot move for long periods!"

Colonel Estiny suddenly becomes excited: "Do you have a solution, sir?"

"You could say that!" Matthew answers, looking unexpectedly at Estiny, as if to say what does this have to do with you? Aren’t you training the tank troops?

Shire bends down to take a closer look at Matthew’s model and soon understands: "You plan to use spring structures to reduce the tension on the tracks?"

"Yes!" Matthew steps forward and pats the tracks on the model with his dirty gloved hand, explaining: "I found that the tracks are prone to breaking not solely due to the tank’s weight but because of the tension within the tracks themselves. It’s like a tightly stretched rope that breaks with just a bit of force. In reality, it’s a bit of a hazard. But if it’s an elastic rope, it won’t break no matter how you pull it!"

Shire nods, acknowledging that this is another problem with rigid suspension: tracks are prone to breaking, making tank maintenance and upkeep extremely difficult, and limiting actual combat use.

For example, in the last battle at Lafox, after winning, the tank units couldn’t expand their results and continue deep encirclement of the enemy.

If this was attempted, one would have to consider replacing the tracks, requiring a set of tracks and tools to be transported along, plus several hours for replacement.

This is clearly impractical!

"Makes sense!" Colonel Estiny naturally joins the discussion, looking at the model with great interest: "If we use several spring-structured wheels to support the tracks, it’s like giving the tracks elasticity, making them as resilient as elastic ropes and less prone to breaking."

"Yes!" Matthew responds: "I think this can increase the tracks’ lifespan and also affect the tank’s speed!"

"Speed?" Colonel Estiny’s eyes light up.

"Yes!" Matthew explains: "If the tracks’ maximum impact tolerance is a fixed upper limit, adding spring structures reduces the ground impact on them..."

Estiny realizes: "Meaning the tank speed needs to reach another level to exceed the track impact limit, allowing higher speeds before the tracks break?"

This is actually the "shortcoming principle." If the suspension is inadequate, no matter how powerful the engine, the speed won’t improve... The tracks break when the speed rises, and the tank stops moving.

"That’s the idea!" Matthew nods, "But without experimental proof, I’m not sure if it’s feasible!"

"Worth a try!" Estiny nods heavily, eyes filled with unexpected admiration: "It may take tanks to another level, sir. It’s very creative and meaningful!"

The two then simultaneously turn their gaze to Shire, expectations in their eyes.

Shire nods approvingly; the primitive elastic suspension system is about to appear.

"Well done, Matthew!" Shire sincerely praises.

He didn’t expect Matthew to have so much potential. Matthew is only a middle school graduate with no professional knowledge, yet he conceived and designed the suspension system.

However, Shire thinks they can take it a step further: "But why don’t we use hydraulic shock absorbers instead of springs? I think it might be much more effective than springs!"

Matthew is stunned, then exclaims: "You are right, Shire, you are...you are genius! My God, you surpassed all my efforts with one sentence. I hate you, Shire! Everything I’ve done is simply rubbish!"

Though he says this, his face is full of excitement and enthusiasm. He doesn’t actually intend to compete with Shire.

Joseph, who hadn’t spoken before, also agrees with Shire’s suggestion: "Yes, with such heavy tanks, the cushioning from springs is clearly insufficient. We need hydraulic shock absorbers more, and they can be directly produced in motorcycle factories!"

Motorcycles at this time already use hydraulic shock absorbers, and Shire’s motorcycle factory has mature technology.

（Note: Hydraulic shock absorbers were invented in 1908）

Colonel Estiny, listening, is stunned, half-believing as he asks: "Does this mean we may achieve higher speeds?"

"Yes, certainly!" Matthew confidently responds: "Hydraulic shock absorbers will be much more effective than springs!"

Colonel Estiny deeply exhales several times, excitedly nodding: "Great, fantastic!"

Shire, however, thinks, since they are discussing this, why not...

（The above picture explains the principle of hydraulic shock absorbers, which use liquid in a sealed space to flow between upper and lower sections, replacing springs）