Chapter 526: Vehicle-Mounted Rocket Launchers
Charles was exceptionally patient.
He maintained a strict daily routine, eating, sleeping, and occasionally even taking afternoon naps. He had also adopted the habit of running several laps around the airfield before dinner, diligently preserving his physical strength.
Charles believed that only by maintaining good health in peacetime could one have the stamina to endure the stresses of wartime. Constant tension and anxiety would inevitably lead to exhaustion. After all, the war was still far from over. A conflict expected to last four years had barely completed its first year.
Meanwhile, General Tijani was busier than ever. He eagerly monitored the situation at the Somme, gathered intelligence about Namur, and actively worked to organize and train his rocket artillery units.
One evening, as Charles returned to the command headquarters after completing his routine run, sweating profusely, Tijani immediately approached him with urgency.
"General, aren't two rocket artillery regiments too few?" Tijani asked anxiously.
According to standard artillery organization, each regiment had 36 launchers—three battalions of 12 launchers each. This amounted to just 72 rocket launchers total for the two regiments. Meanwhile, the Germans at Namur had at least five artillery regiments, excluding additional 77mm guns assigned directly to infantry units.
Charles took a towel from his orderly, wiped his face, drank a bit of water, and replied calmly, "The crucial factor isn't the number of launchers, General—it's the rockets themselves."
Tijani paused momentarily, quickly grasping Charles's meaning.
Rocket launchers weren't consumables like ammunition—they could quickly reposition and survive multiple engagements. Therefore, having a large stockpile of rockets was more critical than the number of launchers.
Tijani nodded thoughtfully, then asked, "Then, what vehicles should we use to tow the rocket launchers? I mean, if they're expected to fire and then rapidly move away."
Charles looked at him and asked, "Why tow them?"
Tijani appeared confused. "If we're not towing them, what else? Should the troops push them manually? That would be far too slow!"
"Follow me, General," Charles said calmly, putting on his coat and military cap.
It was December, and the weather had turned cold, with recent rains lowering temperatures further. Charles didn't want to risk his health now.
Tijani, perplexed, followed Charles down the stairs, through several passages, and along a gravel path until they reached a secured warehouse. A few guards and patrol units stood watch, saluting promptly upon seeing Charles and Tijani.
The guards promptly pushed open the heavy warehouse doors and switched on the lights. Tijani was surprised; as commander of the mechanized division, he was stationed at the airfield yet had no knowledge of this particular warehouse.
Entering the warehouse, Tijani became even more bewildered upon seeing a row of armored reconnaissance vehicles. He scanned the area but found nothing else—only vehicles with their cargo beds covered by canvas.
He was somewhat disappointed, expecting something new and exciting. Reconnaissance vehicles were impressive elsewhere, but for his mechanized division, they were standard equipment.
Without a word, Charles reached up and yanked off one of the canvas covers. As the fabric fell away, Tijani's eyes widened in astonishment, momentarily speechless.
When he finally regained his voice, he turned to Charles with excitement. "Rocket launchers? You've actually mounted rocket launchers onto armored reconnaissance vehicles?"
"This is brilliant, General! You're an absolute genius!" Tijani declared enthusiastically, pacing around the new creation, inspecting it carefully. "Incredible! By combining two completely separate pieces of equipment, you've created something entirely new!"
Indeed, Charles had adapted the 107mm rocket launchers by mounting them onto armored reconnaissance vehicles. He removed the rear armor plating and installed a rotating mount for the rocket tubes, enabling rapid firing and repositioning.
Tijani continued, awestruck. "Let me guess the advantages—compared to towed versions, these are simpler, more stable, and easier to operate."
"Most importantly, they can be positioned and relocated swiftly, dramatically enhancing tactical flexibility," Tijani concluded confidently. "Good heavens! This is a perfect embodiment of guerrilla warfare!"
Charles inwardly approved. Although such tactics were clear to him, for a World War I-era general still accustomed to traditional warfare concepts—infantry charges, cavalry, trenches, and artillery duels—Tijani's rapid grasp was impressive.
"How many of these vehicle-mounted rocket launchers do we have?" Tijani asked eagerly. "Do both regiments have them?"
"No, General," Charles responded. "We're only likely to equip one regiment with vehicle-mounted launchers. The other regiment will continue using the original portable model."
"I understand," Tijani replied immediately, nodding. "Given our shortages, even equipping one regiment this way is already an extraordinary privilege."
Tijani recognized their fortune. Other units struggled to procure even basic equipment like boots, yet his forces were receiving cutting-edge weaponry, solely thanks to Charles.
What Tijani didn't realize was Charles's deeper strategic reasoning.
The strength of the 107mm rocket launcher lay in its versatility. It could be used virtually anywhere—jungles, mountains, trenches—and could even be dismantled into parts carried by troops if necessary.
Although vehicle-mounted launchers had significant advantages, their reliance on roads and suitable terrain limited flexibility. Converting all rocket launchers to vehicle-mounted platforms would inevitably create tactical rigidity, discouraging commanders from fully exploiting the portable launcher's true potential.
Thus, it wasn't a mere production issue—Charles had deliberately structured the two regiments differently.
One regiment with vehicle-mounted launchers would neutralize enemy artillery, while the other portable regiment would provide flexible, direct support to ground troops.
(End of Chapter 526)
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