Chapter 1390: Coveted
Although Huo Shaoheng was excited, he didn’t show it on his face.
“… I think so,” he said lightly. “Can the mechanical arm find a fixed position?”
The idea of the assembly experts was to use the mechanical arm to grab the small submarine and then use mechanical strength to pull the submarine up.
It didn’t sound like it needed much technology, as long as the horsepower was enough.
But when it was actually implemented, it was not only a physical job, but also a technical job.
First of all, it was necessary to operate the camera on the robotic arm to record all aspects, so as to get more data parameters. Otherwise, if the grip wasn’t right, it would cause great damage to the submarine.
Second of all, the robotic arm had to carry out metal detection on the seabed around the submarine, in case there were traps and explosives. It was better to be safe than sorry.
Finally, the robotic arm had to grasp the most reliable and energy-saving position. It also had to ensure that the steel spines could be inserted into the submarine for internal sampling. This was a comprehensive task that involved various aspects such as material engineering, fluid dynamics, and marine geology.
The assembly experts controlled the robotic arm to film the Mini submarine. They analyzed it and said, “It looks like this submarine has been here for a long time. Look at the shellfish and seaweed on the submarine. They are black like a large piece of air-dried rock. Tsk Tsk, the titanium alloy material is ruined like this…”
The main material of a submarine was titanium alloy. The better the quality of the titanium alloy, the higher the performance of the submarine.
Sometimes, technology was no longer the limit, but the resource material would always be.
Even if a big country didn’t safeguard its technology, just safeguarding its resource materials was enough to make a small country have its hands tied.
Huo Shaoheng’s face was dark, and he didn’t say another word.
Four hours passed, and the camera on the robotic arm finally captured the entire mini submarine from top to bottom, left to right.
Then, they went to check whether there were mines or other explosives on the seabed around the submarine.
At this time, the other general assembly experts, along with Huo Shaoheng and Zhao Liangze, replayed the images they had just taken.
Even Zhao Liangze had never captured close-up high-definition pictures.
That was because he didn’t have a large-scale device like the robotic arm, which allowed him to dive deep into the sea to take close-up pictures.
He only had the flood dragon, the unmanned aerial vehicle. He could only sink for five kilometers before he couldn’t continue sinking anymore.
The place where the submarine sank happened to be a trench. It was at least eight kilometers away from the surface of the sea. It was one of the few deep sea trenches left in the world.
He focused his attention on the high-definition picture displayed on the sixty-inch large screen and silently compared it with the picture he took.
The experts in the final assembly were professionals after all. They could roughly analyze the material and structure of this mini-submarine with just a glance at the high-definition image.
Facing the high-definition image and preliminary technical analysis of the mini-submarine in front of them, the experts were so shocked that their eyeballs almost popped out.
“… this, this, this, this submarine isn’t made of titanium alloy! Could it be… a cement submarine?!”
“Oh my god! In my lifetime! I never thought I would be able to see a cement submarine go out to sea for service!”
Their hands trembling as they caressed the high-definition picture of the submarine on the big screen, a few general assembly experts practically pounced in front of the big screen, as if they could touch the real shell of the submarine just like that.
“A cement submarine?” Huo Shaoheng and Zhao Liangze looked at each other and saw the confusion in each other’s eyes. “Isn’t the cement submarine still in the model stage of the laboratory?”
“It’s in the model stage, but all the benefits are obvious to everyone!” An equipment specialist in general assembly started to gesture excitedly. “We all know that no matter how powerful a submarine is, as soon as it’s discovered, it would only become a target for the enemy.”
“Therefore, how to conceal oneself has always been the utmost important part of submarine research and development.”
“While we were searching for all kinds of concealment materials, Germany’s World War II anti-magnetic armor made of cement entered everyone’s field of vision. That was simply a genius invention, and it had also inspired weaponry experts from all over the world.
“If the shell of a submarine was made of special cement that had been added with special chemical ingredients and was covered with a soundproof tile on the outer layer of the submarine, the outer layer of the submarine can be coated with an anti-submarine effect of double sound insulation and demagnetization.
“That was because the cement shell can absorb the sound waves of the enemy’s detection sonar, and it can also shield the sound waves produced by itself. Moreover, it won’t cause the abnormal magnetic field of the seabed that is usually caused by a traditional titanium alloy submarine while it is submerged under the seabed.
“The existing submarines are all made of special titanium alloy materials. This kind of material has benefits. For example, it is light, strong, and durable. However, it also has many innate defects that all countries are unable to overcome. For example, it can’t block sound waves, and it can’t eliminate the magnetic field variation that is produced whenever it moves.
“That was all until a few years ago. When the Ruby Central Weapons Design Bureau of Russia proposed the idea of a ‘cement submarine’, all these problems were instantly solved.
“Because first of all, a submarine with a cement shell can easily break through the limit of a normal submarine’s diving depth of 1,800 feet. It can sink to the deepest seabed by relying on its own gravity.
“Second of all, its coating can disable all anti-submarine detection systems that rely on sound and magnetic fields.
“Finally, it’s a cement fortress! It’s simply an indestructible shield! If it’s built properly, even nuclear weapons can’t blast it apart!”
As if he had seen a rare treasure, the assembly expert’s eyes lit up, and he gave a long speech on the benefits of a “cement submarine”.
Huo Shaoheng had heard of a “cement submarine” before.
He had sent his own people to infiltrate the Russian KGB several years ago, in part because of the new type of submarine, the “cement submarine”.
However, as far as he knew, the Russian “cement submarine” was still in the blueprint and model stage, and they hadn’t developed a submarine that could be used in actual combat yet. Moreover, it was very small, much smaller than the mini submarine in front of him.
They had previously identified this submarine as a “mini”, compared to a traditional titanium alloy submarine.
If this was really a “cement submarine”, then its size would already be relatively large in comparison.
“It’s really a cement submarine?! That’s really impressive,” Zhao Liangze muttered to himself. “But it’s so heavy, so how can it rise from the bottom of the sea?”
“Look at its flank. Yes, this is the place.” The general assembly expert used a laser pen to delineate a category on the big screen. “When it moves, there will be a sliding wing sticking out here. It can reduce drag and increase speed. If it uses nuclear power as its power system, then it will be able to sail indefinitely under the sea!”
“In fact, the power system of a cement submarine and its operating system are inherently superior to traditional submarines. Because the power system of a cement submarine doesn’t need to consider weight, it can be added as much as possible.”
The introduction from the assembly experts finally made Huo Shaoheng and Zhao Liangze understand.
The cement submarine in front of them, called “Cereus I” was at least 20 years ahead of the submarine technology of this world!
“Sir, even without what’s inside the submarine, even if there’s only a shell left of the submarine, it’s still worth the trip!”
“That’s right, that’s right! I really didn’t expect such good stuff to be here!”
“No wonder this operation was so confidential! It’s worth it! It’s more than worth it!”
The Huaxia Empire’s military was filled with people who knew quality. Before this, they had worked hard just to complete a mission that their superiors had given them.
But now, from the bottom of their hearts, they were determined to salvage the submarine!
Many of them wished they that a military order stating that if they couldn’t salvage the submarine they couldn’t leave, would be issued!
Because they were also experts in naval weapons research, and several of them were submarine experts.
They rushed to Huo Shaoheng and shook hands with him one by one. They said earnestly, “Chief, if this submarine can’t be salvaged, we’ll apply to stay here.”
“We heard that you’ve set up a base here. That’s amazing! Your strategic vision is unparalleled! Can we use your base? We guarantee we’ll pay the rental fee!”
Hoping that he would agree to their request, a few experts in their forties and fifties looked at Huo Shaoheng eagerly.
Huo Shaoheng didn’t know how to react, but he still looked calm and composed. He said, “Don’t worry, everyone. We’ll salvage this submarine no matter what. We’ll give it to you guys to do research on when we get back.”
He paused and added, “If the owner of the submarine allows it.”
“The owner of the submarine? This submarine has an owner? Who is it?” An expert asked curiously.
“Cereus.” His heart suddenly softening, Huo Shaoheng said slowly.
The name popped out from the tip of his tongue and his tongue collided with his lips. It reminded him of Gu Nianzhi’s soft lips.
Huo Shaoheng closed his eyes and quickly drove the inappropriate flirtatious feeling out of his mind. He adjusted his expression. “As long as she agrees.”
“Cereus? There really is such a person?”The general assembly experts were even more surprised.
They thought it was just the name of the submarine.
Gu Nianzhi’s English name was known only to her close friends and colleagues. Ordinary people, such as these military general assembly experts, naturally wouldn’t know.
Huo Shaoheng nodded and said with a smile, “Since that name was written on it, it must be that person. As long as you guys find her and get her permission, you guys can do research on this submarine.”
The experts looked at each other and wisely shut up. They didn’t continue to argue with Huo Shaoheng about the ownership of the name “Cereus.”.
He was the one who had discovered it anyway, so he was right no matter what.
If they were to make things difficult for him, they would probably never have the chance to do research on this submarine that they had always dreamed of working on.
Everyone quieted down and continued to operate the robotic arm.
Soon, eight hours had passed. It was time for the second group of experts to go on stage.
Song Jinning had yet to wake up, so Huo Shaoheng had Zhao Liangze take the lead there and found a place to sleep.
Huo Shaoheng didn’t know whether it was because there was a problem with the magnetic field, or because he had been too exhausted for the past few days, so he started dreaming. Huo Shaoheng had just closed his eyes when he saw a tall and thin man in a khaki trench coat standing in front of him.
The man looked at him and smiled with deep regret. Then, he bowed to him and disappeared.
Huo Shaoheng snapped out of his dream. The man’s regretful smile flashed through his mind! Wasn’t that how Gu Xiangwen’s face appeared in Ye Xuan’s photo?!