I Became a Tycoon During World War I: Saving France from the Start

Chapter 148: Covering the Tank's Flanks

Charles continued the briefing, explaining, "This tank model is called the Mark I. It has an 83-horsepower engine, similar to the Saint-Chamond's 90 horsepower. However, the Saint-Chamond weighs 27 tons, whereas the Mark I is only 17 tons!"

This was largely thanks to Matthew, who had streamlined the Mark I's design by removing unnecessary components, such as fittings intended for converting tractors into bulldozers—features irrelevant for tanks.

"What's its top speed?" Estienne asked eagerly.

He had come to appreciate the importance of speed—not excessive speed, but just enough to escape enemy artillery fire. If a tank couldn't survive on the battlefield, it wouldn't be able to protect the infantry and could even become a liability. With similar horsepower but half the weight, he could already guess that the Mark I would be much faster.

Charles confirmed his hunch: "Initial tests on flat ground show a top speed of 11 kilometers per hour."

Estienne's eyes lit up. This was noticeably faster than the Saint-Chamond's 8.5 kilometers per hour.

"One point needs to be absolutely clear," Charles continued, gesturing to the machine guns on the tank's sides. "For now, any weapons on the tank are intended solely for self-defense, not for killing the enemy."

"I understand," Estienne replied, having had an epiphany. "Killing the enemy is the infantry's job. The tank's role is to press forward with its armor and help the infantry break through."

The Mark I was designed with this purpose in mind. Its distinctive rhomboid body and wrap-around tracks allowed it to cross nearly any obstacle in its path, including trenches, which it could descend and climb over without needing sandbags for support.

Estienne's expression darkened as a thought struck him. "Lieutenant, I heard the Germans may have strengthened their ammunition. It's rumored that their rifles can now penetrate the Saint-Chamond's 12mm frontal armor..."

Charles nodded. He knew about the Germans' so-called "K bullets," which had steel or even tungsten cores, capable of piercing 13mm armor.

"We accounted for that," Charles replied. "The Mark I has 17mm armor in the front and 11mm on the sides."

The front armor was sufficient to withstand German K bullets, while the side armor would protect against regular rifle fire. This was why the Mark I, despite having only a few machine guns and no cannon, still weighed 17 tons.

Upon hearing these specifications, Estienne relaxed. In his mind, he could already see the tank on a battlefield, advancing under enemy fire, with soldiers following behind as it crossed obstacles and pushed through enemy lines.

Yet he remained concerned about the sides. Frowning, he remarked, "Crossing a trench seems like the riskiest moment. The tank would slow down, and its side would be exposed. If the Germans in the trench had K bullets…"

Charles turned to the distracted Browning and said, "That's where the infantry comes in."

Browning, impatient with all the discussion, interrupted, "Enough talk, Lieutenant! Shouldn't we just get it moving and see how it performs in real conditions? We'll learn how to use it, just like before. You set it up, and we'll handle the rest."

True to his straightforward nature, Browning preferred action over theory. He trusted that Charles had thought everything through and would simply follow his lead to victory.

Charles responded calmly, "Not so fast, Colonel. I think you'll need to learn this first."

With a nod, Charles signaled Joseph, who gestured to a few workers to bring forward two long crates and place them before Colonel Browning.

Browning lifted one of the lids, revealing a pile of strange wooden-handled objects. Puzzled, he picked one up and looked at Charles. "What's this?"

"That's a grenade, Colonel," Charles replied. "Remove the safety cap at the back, pull the cord, and throw it toward the enemy. It will explode after a few seconds."

These were training grenades, identical in weight and size to the real thing.

Browning immediately recognized its value. Recently, he had been transporting supplies and wounded soldiers, many of whom had been injured by German hand grenades. He recalled the injured soldiers' complaints:

"What's our government doing? The Germans have proper grenades they can just throw into our trenches and blow us to bits!"

"And we're stuck making our own with tin cans, gunpowder, and fuses!"

Some had even asked Browning directly, "Hey, you're friends with Charles, aren't you? Why not get him to invent a throwable explosive for us?"

Browning would always answer with a confident, "Don't worry! Leave it to me!" before promptly forgetting about it.

Now, holding an actual grenade, Browning was thrilled. "How many of these do you have, Lieutenant? The troops need this on the front lines!"

"Don't worry," Charles assured him. "They'll be there soon enough, once we break through Lafaux."

The Saint-Étienne armory was producing them at a rate of 20,000 per day, with plans to increase production. As long as the military continued to buy, the troops would have an ample supply of these simple yet effective tools.

Estienne, who had initially dismissed the grenades, quickly realized their strategic role and looked to Charles in amazement. "Lieutenant, do you mean to use these to cover the tank's flanks?"

Charles nodded, impressed. Estienne had an intuitive grasp of tactics, able to imagine how the grenades fit into the overall tank strategy without needing a demonstration.

One day, he thought, the battlefield would see this scene: As the Mark I descended into a trench, moving slowly across it with its side exposed, German soldiers might line up K bullets, preparing to pierce the tank's flank, when—suddenly—a barrage of grenades would rain down from above.

These grenades couldn't harm the tank's armor, so French soldiers could throw them without hesitation, clearing out any foxholes, trenches, or pits ahead with a quick "surprise strike." After the explosions, the infantry would advance, dispatching any disoriented enemy soldiers who survived the blasts.

With this strategy, German soldiers would struggle to flank the Mark I with K bullets, as they'd first have to contend with the combined assault of French infantry grenades and rifle fire.

Of course, throwing grenades required precise technique and strict training to avoid friendly fire or self-injury.

"This is one aspect of infantry-tank coordination," Charles said, looking directly at Estienne. "It's not as simple as it sounds, which is why I hope you'll be in charge of training for this."

Estienne, feeling honored, replied, "Understood, Lieutenant. I know exactly what to do!"

But Charles remained calm. "Not yet, Colonel. This is only part of the process. Tomorrow, we might take a trip to the First Flight Squadron."

"The First Flight Squadron?" Estienne's eyes lit up. Did this mean that aircraft would also be involved in the upcoming battle?

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