What the hell is a private enterprise?

Chapter 136: Quick Action

"Shuttle reset!"

At the starting point of the No. 1 catapult on the front deck of the Hornet, a group of researchers are securing a modified trailer to the catapult.

Testing steam catapults usually requires a specialized vehicle, but since none was available, they resorted to DIY, using a trailer and parts from an aircraft carrier to create a test vehicle weighing approximately 7 tons.

There are machine shops and sufficient tools on the aircraft carrier, so it is not difficult to do this.

John Li stood in the middle of the crowd and directed the researchers' actions in a clear and decisive manner:
"Drawbar connected!"

"Lift the limiter and install the green dogbone!"

"Release the brakes!"

With his voice, the traction rod welded at the front of the simulated car was connected, and the limit rod at the rear was reset through the "dog bone".

The "dog bone" is a metal block that is thick at both ends and thin in the middle. It is responsible for connecting the limit rod to pull the ejected aircraft during ejection. It breaks when the ejection force reaches the requirement, thereby ensuring that the pressure of the aircraft during ejection is sufficient and it will not fall into the sea due to insufficient initial velocity.

Because it looks like the bones that dogs like in cartoons, it is called "dog bone". In order to catapult aircraft of different weights, the breaking force of dog bones is also different, and they are distinguished by color.

The 7-ton simulation car is too light, so only the lowest gear green dog bone can be used.

But in the hearts of others, they have great respect for Li John, whose identity is mysterious.

No one knows whether his identity is true or false, but no one knows how to operate an aircraft carrier better than John Lee.

Although he claimed that he was just a familiar mid-level officer, researchers and officers all felt that this guy understood aircraft carriers better than a real captain. He knew everything from the most basic ground staff postures to catapult procedures and deck scheduling. He was definitely a perfect captain.

How could someone who knows so much retire at such a young age?

"CAT! (catapult)"

At Li John's command, the researcher standing at the take-off position acting as ground staff immediately squatted down and made a non-standard release gesture.

The steam that had been pressurized for a long time immediately rushed into the chute, leaking a large amount of white steam. The dog bone in the limit rod broke immediately, and the simulated car with added counterweight instantly shot out like an arrow from a string, flew out of the deck in the blink of an eye, and landed in the sea in the distance in a parabola.

A group of researchers immediately started celebrating. The final speed they had just observed was at least 300 kilometers per hour, which fully proved that the catapult was working properly and met the technical requirements!
On the high bridge, the old man holding the telescope smiled and said, looking at the car that fell into the water:
"Have you found any information about John Lee?"

A voice sounded nearby:
"No, but based on the conversations many of our officers had with him, we believe that this person has probably served on an aircraft carrier for more than 15 years and is familiar with the operations of almost all positions and is not unfamiliar with any situation.

In addition, there were so many Chinese people who served on the Kitty Hawk that it was difficult to track them down, and this name was probably a pseudonym."

"That's not necessary. Is there any news from above?"

The person who just spoke couldn't help but smile bitterly:

"They were really shocked because, judging by shipbuilding experts, this ship is only a few months old, so it's too new. And based on our comparison with some leaked Yorktown-class aircraft carrier blueprints, we found that this aircraft carrier is indeed a replica of the Hornet, with modern improvements.

Our assessment is that it is fully capable of operating modern jets, and overall performance is good, with no issues for 20 years."

"The instructions from above are that the aircraft carrier must stay, but be careful about contact with the Nanyang organization and the channels through which they enter."

Hearing this answer, the old man said dissatisfiedly:
"What's the point of investigating? It's obvious that it came in by water. If our navy wasn't like this, how could they have brought so much stuff in so easily... Did they get the money approved?"

"This requires agreement from the meeting, which may take about a month."

The old man immediately waved his hand and said, "I don't want a month, I just want a day, an hour. If anyone disagrees, please let him fly over and stand on the aircraft carrier to talk to me!"
I promised to pay you in three days, and I won't break my promise! Otherwise, go buy an aircraft carrier from Spain right now. I don't care what kind of aircraft carrier it is, if it's an aircraft carrier, I want it. If you don't have it, it's bullshit!"

In fact, just last May, the Bazan Shipyard in Occidental Spain contacted China and provided a design plan for a light aircraft carrier weighing about 5 tons, equipped with a US steam catapult and F18 carrier-based aircraft, which was very attractive to China. The price was between US$2.5 million and US$4.5 million.

Although I knew the hope was slim, I still tried to contact him in China for more than a year, but the result was...

After finally finding a ready-made one, the old man couldn't wait to start painting it to avoid any problems if he delayed.

……

The higher-ups moved really quickly. The next evening, the aircraft carrier procurement negotiation team arrived—a high-level group that included almost all the top brass from the three major fleets.

But the negotiation process was extremely brief, or perhaps the negotiating party was not Tang Wen.

They left behind an account with 1 billion RMB in it, then started spitting at each other over the ownership of the aircraft carrier and went to the open space outside to compete.

Instead, Old Zhang, who was supposed to be there as a bystander, and Su Weiguo, who happened to join in the fun, became the main negotiators.

Su Weiguo: Me?

He had only heard that Tang Wen wanted to rent an island, but as soon as he entered the village, he saw an aircraft carrier, and then he was inexplicably pulled into the aircraft carrier purchase negotiation team.

After finally figuring out the reason for the incident, Tang Wen's position in Su Weiguo's heart immediately became unfathomable.

Shi Juzhu's plan to buy an aircraft carrier is still a long way off, and the Varyag is still only a semi-finished product, so it is unknown when it will be put into service.

As a result, Tang Wen quietly got an aircraft carrier that could be put into service immediately. Look, this is what it means to do big things!

A dog that bites doesn't...ahem, this analogy doesn't seem quite appropriate.

But no matter what, Tang Wen is now like a superman in his heart.

"Ugh!"

Old Zhang suddenly sighed. Tang Wen immediately became curious when he saw this, and then he heard him say:
"Things are unpredictable. Your aircraft carrier is almost ready for service. It has the most important catapults, landing aid mirrors, and arresting cables. At most, you need to modify the radar and install a 381A. It will take at most one or two months, right?

But we don’t have carrier-based aircraft, we don’t have carrier-based pilots, and we can’t even find the people to operate an aircraft carrier – this is too outrageous.”

Lao Zhang is telling the truth. An aircraft carrier requires more than 2,000 crew members, which is equivalent to more than a dozen destroyers and frigates. The navy cannot actually fill such a large gap.

Not to mention the carrier-based aircraft and pilots, etc. Although the most difficult part has been solved, even the other minor details are annoying.

Seeing this, Tang Wen could only spread his hands helplessly. This was not something he could solve by himself. Then he took the passbook on the table and counted the string of zeros on it.

The higher-ups were really generous. After signing an agreement on the maintenance, modification and provision of consumables for the aircraft carrier, they immediately received 1 billion yuan.

Theoretically speaking, this aircraft carrier is now registered under the name of the military and is a legitimate military asset, and has nothing to do with him.

But more and more people came to Da Wan, and there was no intention of stopping, so Tang Wen had to temporarily stop the work at the shipyard. Fortunately, all the previous orders had been completed.

Tang Wen was very happy after receiving 1 billion. This was equivalent to more than 20 million silver coins, enough to build a fleet.

Moreover, this money will allow him to do many of the things he had planned before, such as controlling one or two chip companies in advance.

Ignoring the fox-like Old Zhang, Tang Wen looked at Su Weiguo, full of confidence with a huge sum of money in hand:
"Leader, can the islands and reefs in the Nansha Islands be built?"

Hearing his own name, Su Weiguo finally shifted his attention from the aircraft carrier, regained his composure, and nodded vigorously:
"Of course, no problem. You can have as many reefs as you want. The Navy will certainly have no objection. On behalf of the Qiongzhou Marine Surveillance, I can provide a maximum subsidy of 20 yuan per year, but the prerequisite is to ensure that you can ensure a permanent population there."

Tang Wen was not surprised to hear that there were subsidies. Unlike the two large islands of Chiwei Island and Diaoyutai Island in Fujian Province last time, the reefs and beaches in Nansha were really barren and there was not even much land. This was actually reasonable.

But...

Tang Wen continued to ask:

"By allowing me to stay permanently and build a port, does that mean I've obtained some kind of qualification certificate for island and reef development?"

Su Weiguo was stunned, then smiled and said:

"Boss Tang did a lot of homework in advance, of course it's like that."

Tang Wen: "If I want to extract oil, can I get an oil and gas exploration license?"

Old Zhang, who had been listening with great interest, sat up straight in an instant, and Su Weiguo was also startled:
"oil recovery?"

(End of this chapter)