World War: Battleship Arms Dealers

"This is... a welded hull?" a shipbuilding expert from Merica whispered to his colleague. "Look at these seams, almost perfect. Our warships still use riveting extensively."

His colleague crouched down and touched the coating on the deck surface with his fingers: "It has excellent anti-slip properties, but it's not rough. We don't have this kind of material yet."

Rodman heard the whispers but remained unfazed. Guided by Zhang Haitao, he walked towards the foredeck.

The first turret came into view.

If it already seems enormous from a distance, standing beneath it truly amplifies the sense of oppression. Four 380mm gun barrels, each nearly 20 meters long, point slightly upwards towards the sky. The turret's frontal armor is meticulously angled, appearing to be over 350mm thick.

"This is the main gun turret," Zhang Haitao introduced. "Each gun carries 120 rounds of ammunition, with a rate of fire of three rounds per minute and a maximum range of 42 kilometers."

"Forty-two kilometers?" a Merika artillery expert blurted out. "Our 356mm guns only have a maximum range of twenty kilometers!"

He regretted it as soon as the words left his mouth, but it was too late.

Zhang Haitao smiled politely: "Yes, we used a longer barrel and more advanced propellant. Would you like to go up and take a look?"

They entered the turret through a small hatch on the side. The sight inside shocked the officers in Merika once again.

Traditional turrets are typically cramped, dark, and filled with various mechanical handles and microphones. But here, the spacious interior is lined with neatly arranged ammunition racks, the mechanical loading system operates semi-automatically, and most importantly—each gun position has an independent aiming device, which is connected not only to the optical system but also to several circular screens that flash green fluorescent light.

"This is a radar-assisted targeting system," Zhang Haitao said, pointing to a screen. "It can track targets in real time, regardless of weather or visibility."

Rodman stared at the screens. He knew about radar technology; the British and the Melaka were both researching it, but it was still in the laboratory stage. Here, however, it had already been integrated into the warship's fire control system.

"Have you used it in actual combat?" he asked.

"The results have been verified multiple times in training and exercises, and the effects are remarkable." Zhang Haitao's answer was subtle, but the meaning was clear.

The tour continued. They walked across the bridge and saw the integrated command and control center, with multiple screens displaying different information above a huge chart table. They toured the engine room and saw the more efficient high-pressure steam turbines and the more compact transmission system. They passed through the living quarters and found that the soldiers' bunk beds were not traditional hammocks, but fixed double beds, each with its own locker.

What silenced the officers in the beautiful country the most was the damage control center.

This is a compartment located deep within the ship's hull, with walls covered in various indicator lights, valve control panels, and communication equipment. In the center is a huge cross-sectional model of a warship, adorned with hundreds of small lights.

"This is the ship's overall status monitoring system," Zhang Haitao explained. "If any compartment floods, catches fire, or loses power, it will be immediately displayed here. The commander can directly close watertight doors, start fire pumps, and adjust power distribution from here."

A skilled card damage expert murmured, "We're still using megaphones and messengers..."

Throughout the visit, the officers from the Meilika gradually went from initial shock to a complex silence. They saw far too many things beyond their comprehension: from welding techniques to radar technology, from fire control systems to damage management concepts, this warship demonstrated a level of sophistication ahead of its time in almost every detail.

The young sailors and junior officers couldn't hide the amazement and envy in their eyes. They touched the gleaming bulkheads, observed the sophisticated equipment, and whispered among themselves. Meanwhile, the senior officers—including Rodman—were pondering deeper questions.

When the visiting group arrived at the flight deck, two AR-1 seaplanes were parked to the side. Captain Li Zhenhua stood there as the pilot representative.

"This aircraft..." A Marine naval aviation officer stepped forward, carefully examining the AR-1's all-metal fuselage and streamlined design, "What's its maximum speed?"

"It has a speed of 320 kilometers per hour, a range of 1200 kilometers, and can carry two 100-kilogram bombs or one aerial torpedo," Li Zhenhua replied.

"Engine power?"

"Two 550-horsepower, liquid-cooled engines."

The officer in charge of the Merikah remained silent. Their best seaplanes had a speed of no more than 250 kilometers per hour and a range of only 800 kilometers.

Rodman walked to the ship's side and looked down at Pearl Harbor. From this height, he could see the entire harbor, his fleet, and the warships he had once been so proud of.

"Captain Zhang," he suddenly spoke, "what is the design philosophy of the 'Huaihe'? I see advanced technology, but more importantly, I sense a... unified concept."

Zhang Haitao thought for a moment and replied seriously, "General, our Commander-in-Chief often says that a warship is not simply a collection of weapons, but a complete system. Firepower, protection, and maneuverability must be balanced, but more importantly, the integration of command, control, communication, and intelligence capabilities is crucial. The strength of a warship does not lie in the size of its largest gun, but in the strength of its weakest link."

It was a philosophical answer, but Rodman understood. Looking at the simple yet efficient design of the "Huaihe" and recalling the advanced but unintegrated systems on the "Arizona," he suddenly realized the essential difference between the two.

This is not a generational gap, but a gap in mindset.

Before the tour ended, Rodman asked one last question: "How many of these warships did Lanfang have?"

Zhang Haitao maintained his smile: "General, this is a military secret. But I can tell you that the Lanfang Navy is developing rapidly to meet the needs of protecting national interests."

It was a diplomatic response, but Rodman had already obtained enough information.

As they left the "Huaihe," the officers of the Meilika were unusually quiet. As the transport boat sailed away from the giant ship, some couldn't help but look back, their expressions complex.

On the way back to the dock, a young captain finally couldn't help but whisper, "Sir, Lan Fang and those men were on our ship just now...were their expressions of surprise faked?"

His superior—a lieutenant colonel—smiled bitterly: "Now you understand?"

Rodman overheard the conversation but remained silent. He sat at the bow of the boat, gazing at the calm waters of Pearl Harbor, but his mind was in turmoil.

How many USS Arizonas would it take to take on one USS Huaihe? Three? Five? Or more? More importantly, if war breaks out, the Pacific Fleet might face more than just one of these warships.

He thought of the politicians in Washington, those still debating whether or not to participate in the war. Did they understand the changes happening in the world? Did they understand the chain reaction that a war in Europe might trigger in the Pacific?