Caliber Is Truth

"Your Highness, Krupp Company has only just completed the development of the 280mm Main Gun. We successfully made the 280mm Main Gun rapid-firing, greatly increasing its rate of fire. As for the 305mm Main Gun, we currently only have the older models. Furthermore, we have never manufactured a triple-mounted 305mm Main Gun. Our engineers believe that when the main guns fire a salvo, the muzzle blast created would have a fatal impact on their accuracy." Miss Beta Krupp shook her head.

"Miss Krupp, Krupp Company represents the most advanced level of artillery manufacturing in the German Empire. I believe Krupp Company will certainly be able to produce Naval Guns that meet my requirements." Oscar shook his head. The 280mm Main Gun was good, but its armor-piercing capability was ultimately too weak.

Although the 280mm Main Gun manufactured by Krupp Company had armor-piercing capability that even surpassed the British Navy's 305mm Main Gun, Oscar was still not entirely satisfied with it. In another time and space, among the German Navy's dreadnoughts, the Nassau-class Battleship carried 280mm Main Guns. Of the later Battleships, aside from the Bavaria-class Battleship, which carried 380mm Main Guns, all the rest carried 305mm Main Guns. The British Navy's Battleships, meanwhile, carried 305mm Main Guns, 343mm Main Guns, and 381mm Main Guns. In terms of main gun caliber, the German Navy was already at a disadvantage. Though their excellent performance meant the German Navy's main guns were no worse than the British Navy's, if the German Navy could avoid falling behind the British in caliber from the very beginning, its Battleships would undoubtedly possess even greater combat power.

They would pose an even greater threat to the British Navy in future naval battles. The British Navy had originally sacrificed defense in pursuit of firepower and speed. Before the German Navy's powerful main guns, they were clearly dumplings with thin skins and generous filling.

"Your Highness, this is truly asking the impossible. The triple-mounted 305mm 50-caliber Main Gun you require is completely beyond our current capabilities." Miss Beta Krupp shook her head. The Naval Gun currently promoted by Krupp Company was still the 280mm 45-caliber model. Compared to the 305mm 50-caliber Main Gun Oscar required, the gap was more than a little.

With Krupp Company's research strength, if it poured in enormous sums of money, it might not be unable to develop the main gun Oscar wanted in a short time. But such an investment would be far too great.

"Miss Krupp, our purchase will exceed twelve mounts, thirty-six guns. And this is only the first phase. There may be further purchases in the second phase. Such a quantity is already very substantial!" Oscar urged.

"More than twelve mounts, thirty-six guns?" Beta Krupp fell into thought. For large-caliber artillery, such a purchase quantity was not small. But after investing enormous funds into development, Krupp Company would not make much profit from it and might even suffer a certain loss.

"Miss Krupp, while Krupp Company is Germany's foremost arms manufacturer, I must admit that compared with British Arms Companies, we have already fallen seriously behind in main gun caliber. The British new 305mm Main Gun has likely already been finalized. They may even have begun researching main guns of even greater caliber. If we do not rise up and chase after them now, the British will leave us even farther behind. If that happens, once war breaks out, we may find ourselves at a disadvantage. I fear that is not something Miss Krupp wishes to see either!" Oscar said.

The Krupp family and the German Empire had long since been bound together; when one prospered, all prospered, and when one suffered, all suffered. If the German Empire were defeated in a future war, the Krupp family would inevitably suffer a severe blow as well.

Should war erupt in the future, the Krupp family naturally hoped that the German Empire would emerge victorious. In that case, their arms empire could also gain greater benefits alongside Germany's victory. After all, once war began, vast quantities of weapons, equipment, and ammunition would be needed. It was clearly impossible for the state to immediately produce cash to make purchases during the war. Payment would often only come after the war ended, drawn from the spoils of victory. If they lost, then naturally there would be nothing at all.

Miss Beta Krupp did not make a decision immediately, but considered the matter carefully. Indeed, Krupp Company would earn almost no profit from the 305mm Main Guns Oscar had ordered. But if Oscar went on to order more large-caliber main guns, Krupp Company would ultimately still have profits to make. It was merely that, because of the enormous investment in research and development, those profits would not be very large.

Of course, many times, accounts could not be calculated that way. Though on the surface they might not earn much profit, they could make up for it through other means.

"Your Highness, is German Shipyard ordering so much steel, armor, and so many main guns because it intends to build the Navy's next class of Capital Ships? But I have not received any relevant news!" Miss Beta Krupp frowned.

If the German Navy began constructing its next class of Capital Ships, it would definitely be a major event. From the information Miss Beta Krupp had received, the Navy seemed to have no such plan. The last three Braunschweig-class Battleships and the Deutschland-class Battleships were all still under intense construction. At the very least, they would wait until these Battleships under construction were nearing completion before considering the next class of Battleships.

Oscar nodded. "That is indeed the case. However, I am beginning construction ahead of time because of my promise to the Navy. But if the Battleships I build receive the Navy's approval, then they will become the Navy's next class of Capital Ships. The next class of Capital Ships may even be built by my shipyard.

I hope to cooperate with Krupp Company for a long time, because that would be highly beneficial to both of us."

"Your Highness, can you guarantee that the Battleships you build will certainly win the Navy's favor?" Miss Beta Krupp wore a grave expression.

"Of course. If they cannot be accepted by the Navy, then I will have to repay a debt of two hundred million Mark. Though that is nothing to me, two hundred million Mark is still a considerable sum." Oscar looked utterly confident.

Beta Krupp hesitated for a moment, then a flash of resolve passed through her eyes. "Very well, Your Highness. May our cooperation be pleasant!"

"A pleasant cooperation, Miss Krupp. You will soon discover that you made a wise choice today. But I must still remind you, Caliber is truth. The caliber of main guns must continue to grow. Fifty-caliber is best. That way, their power will be greater." Oscar reminded her.

Beta Krupp nodded heavily.