Minoba, the general manager of Volkswagen, had indeed reported to Edel, the crown prince, but the responsibility for the development plans for the Miloc and Carust projects was left entirely to Minoba. This had disappointed him, as he had rushed to deliver what he considered to be good news, only to feel sidelined. Minoba worried that the crown prince was dissatisfied with his performance and might be considering replacing him. This concern plagued him for several days.
In mid-October of 2013, after a frenzied half-month of production, the first batch of 1,000 five-ton heavy trucks was unveiled to the world. This new fleet marked a significant departure from the previous 1.5-ton trucks, primarily through the strengthened and optimized vehicle chassis. The most substantial upgrades were made to the clutches, transmissions, and drive axles. To address the challenges posed by driving on complex roadways, Volkswagen's R&D department developed a differential. This innovation helped manage the unequal distance that coaxial wheels travel during difficult turns, reducing tire-ground friction and extending tire life. Now, this differential is a standard feature in all new Volkswagen models, representing a minor yet significant step forward for the automotive industry. It was a technology originally invented by Louis Renault in 1937, but Volkswagen had accelerated its development by over two decades, illustrating that automotive technology advancements need not adhere strictly to traditional timelines.
Despite the technological advancements, the new five-ton Dongfeng truck did not achieve the same popularity as its 1.5-ton predecessor. The 1,000 heavy trucks sold out within 11 days of their market release, a pace that disappointed Volkswagen's executives who had anticipated quicker sales. The slower sales could be attributed to the truck's price tag of 550 pounds per unit, significantly higher than the 145 pounds charged for the still-popular 1.5-ton Dongfeng truck. Even with a cargo capacity more than three times greater, the price was prohibitively expensive for many transportation business owners. Additionally, the condition of European roads at the time was generally poor, with only a fraction capable of supporting the heavier, fully-loaded five-ton trucks. For most goods, the 1.5-ton trucks sufficed, making the introduction of the five-ton model seem somewhat premature.
However, the military sectors across various nations showed keen interest in this new vehicle. General Moch, the German Chief of General Staff, remarked to his colleagues after inspecting the heavy truck, "This vehicle is ideally suited for military logistics. We should procure this model for all Romanian repayments to enhance our military's logistical capabilities." True to his word, General Moch approached the Ministry of War, which had been experiencing equipment issues, and advocated for the purchase of these trucks to boost the German army's transportation and logistics efficiency.
Since 1866, a faction of old Prussian conservatives within the Ministry of War had been overseeing technical and logistical matters. Their sluggish approach to the potential military applications of aircraft, the transformation of automobiles into armored vehicles, and the mounting of machine guns or small artillery on vehicles for offensive or reconnaissance purposes meant that many innovative ideas were either delayed or dismissed outright. They seemed to argue that since the Prussian infantry had triumphed in 1870 without the aid of tethered balloons or machine guns, such technologies were unnecessary. However, faced with General Moch's insistence—and his threats to appeal directly to Kaiser Wilhelm II—the Ministry reluctantly agreed to purchase 600 of the new heavy trucks to form a transportation unit and assess their effectiveness. General Moch was displeased with this conservative stance, believing that these outdated officials should be replaced, as they clung to the outdated experiences of the Franco-Prussian War.
In contrast to Germany's situation, the French military, led by General Xiafei, showed a preference for the 1.5-ton Dongfeng trucks, which facilitated the recruitment of drivers from the civilian population. Ignoring the minimal differences in driving operations between the 5-ton and 1.5-ton trucks, the French army planned to acquire 350 heavy trucks to implement their military transportation system. Meanwhile, Russia, dealing with challenging road conditions in Eastern Europe, opted to purchase just 100 vehicles to evaluate their effectiveness. The British, on the other hand, were more generous in their procurement plans, albeit for an unusual reason. They intended to form a division-level rapid mobile force to address potential conflicts in Europe, initially planning to use 1.5-ton trucks for transportation. However, after evaluating the new five-ton trucks, they decided to purchase 800 units, ensuring that all soldiers and equipment could be swiftly transported.
Austria-Hungary and Italy, constrained by military budgets, also made modest purchases to test the vehicles' performance. In smaller countries, orders ranged from a few dozen to just over ten trucks. After tallying these orders, Volkswagen had accumulated several thousand requests, much to the relief of its executives who had invested nearly £1 million in the new model. A failure to recoup this investment would have been highly embarrassing.
As for the United States, the largest consumer market for automobiles, Volkswagen had no plans to introduce the new model there. A previous agreement with Ford, which remained mutually beneficial, discouraged any new entries that might disrupt their established arrangement. In Europe, Volkswagen profited slightly more from each Model T sold than Ford did in the United States, due to a price difference of five dollars per car. To avoid straining the relationship between the two companies, Volkswagen decided to exclude the U.S. market from its plans for the new five-ton trucks.
Despite the mixed market response, Minoba felt compelled to update the crown prince on the situation. His intention was not to make excuses but to ensure that His Royal Highness was aware that the vehicle he had requested had been produced, albeit with less than stellar sales. Minoba hoped for some guidance on Volkswagen's future direction. However, his concerns were not well-received by Edel, who expressed satisfaction with the trucks and saw them as fulfilling his requirements. Minoba suggested slowing down the construction of a new production line for the five-ton trucks, but the crown prince insisted that they proceed as planned, confident that future orders would justify the expansion. Reluctantly, Minoba complied, though he remained uncertain where new orders would come from once the current ones were fulfilled. He decided to continue production at the existing line's normal pace and wait for new orders, relying on Volkswagen's proven ability to handle high demand.
"Wang, do you think it looks too strange to build it this way?" Bikya asked, scrutinizing the drawings provided by Major Huffman and comparing them to the bizarre-looking vehicle constructed in front of him. He directed his question to Wang Chaoqiang, who was busy inspecting auto parts. The armored car before them was drenched in an orangepunk style, starkly different from the blueprints. It was as if they were looking at two completely different models.
The armored vehicle measured 6.1 meters in length, 2.85 meters in width, and 2.65 meters in height. Its front armor was sloped at a 65-degree angle, with the upper part featuring 16 mm thick armor and the lower part 15 mm. The side armor stood upright with a thickness of 12 mm, while the rear armor was only 9 mm thick. The turret's lower width was slightly inclined at an 80-degree angle, with the front sporting 16 mm armor and the sides and rear 14 mm. The entire vehicle was painted a striking orange, enhancing its robust appearance.
Equipped with two 7.92-caliber Maxim heavy machine guns mounted on the turret and another installed behind a firing port on the vehicle's front left side, the armored car boasted considerable firepower. Powered by the same 80-horsepower engine used in five-ton heavy trucks, this 8.1-ton vehicle could achieve speeds up to 45 kilometers per hour. However, its truck-based design limited its use to relatively simple terrains like plains and urban areas.
Herk, who was also inspecting the parts alongside Wang Chaoqiang, wiped the sweat from his brow and remarked, "This is the only way we can ensure the armor doesn't fall off. We've learned the hard way that welded steel plates can't withstand machine gun fire."
Previously, Hoffman had taken a design from the crown prince, which melded the chassis of an American M8 armored car with a Type 92 turret. He handed a sketch to the trio, instructing them to use a five-ton heavy truck chassis, shortened for the purpose, to build a prototype. Initially, they chose to weld the armor plates as per the original design, which did not include any orange elements. However, during a firepower test, the welded front armor plate was blown off by continuous fire from a Maxim machine gun, forcing them to reconsider their method. They opted for the most reliable technique available—using riveted joints, commonly referred to as "oranges."
Huffman supported the automotive experts to ensure the armored vehicle met military standards. After the initial failure, the welded armor was replaced with riveted plates. Now, even Edel himself would not recognize the vehicle as the one from his own sketches.
Wang Chaoqiang, noticing Bikya still comparing the vehicle to the drawings, couldn't help but complain, "Bikya, stop fussing and come help inspect the vehicle. If something goes wrong during the tests, it won't be good for any of us."
"I'll come down and check the car," Bikya conceded, setting aside the drawings and joining the inspection, though he continued to mutter under his breath.
"Wang, when do you plan to cook Chinese food again? I kind of miss its taste," Bikya asked casually.
"The next time I cook will be after you're dead, to celebrate our ears finally getting some peace," Wang Chaoqiang retorted, a comment that earned a chuckle from Herk.
"But it has been a while since we tasted your cooking," Herk added, showing genuine interest despite the previous banter.
Wang Chaoqiang recalled the time he first cooked a meal for his colleagues. Tired of European cuisine, he had prepared a variant of braised Wuchang fish and eel at his home. His colleagues, driven by curiosity, had initially struggled with the unfamiliar flavors of Hubei cuisine. However, over the years, they had grown to appreciate and even crave the dishes, frequently pestering Wang Chaoqiang for more.
"We'll have to wait until this armored vehicle gets Major Huffman's approval," Wang Chaoqiang said as he continued inspecting the vehicle.
After completing their inspection, the trio sat down to rest. Herk couldn't help but ask, "Is this car really our masterpiece?"
"It shouldn't count as one," Wang Chaoqiang replied, sitting exhausted on the ground. "The design was provided by Major Huffman. We just modified a five-ton heavy truck chassis. At most, it's a modification."
"I agree with Wang; we're just modifiers here," Bikya added.
The conversation turned towards their aspirations. "Helke, do you ever want to design a car yourself?" Wang Chaoqiang asked.
"Don't you?" Helke shot back.
Their discussion revealed a shared ambition among the trio to design a vehicle of their own and see it make an impact on the world. They were aware that only Tuslide, their supervisor, had any real standing at Volkswagen. The popular Model T and 1.5-ton Dongfeng trucks, both designed by Ford, were the benchmarks they aspired to reach.
As they dreamed of their future in the automotive industry, Major Huffman approached, his expression one of slight worry. He had many responsibilities, including forming a new armored vehicle force and ensuring they were adequately equipped. He used his connections at the military academy and his previous postings to assemble a competent team, but the pressure was immense.
"Major Huffman, there shouldn't be any major issues this time," Helke assured him, addressing the concern about the vehicle's armor. "We've switched from welding to using rivets."
"That's good to hear," Hoffman replied, his eyes reflecting a mix of relief and determination. He was close to realizing his dream and wasn't about to let anything stand in his way.
As the team wrapped up their discussion, they agreed to invite the crown prince to review the vehicle once the tests were completed. In the meantime, Hoffman decided against having other officers visit, preferring to wait until the vehicle had proven its reliability. With everything set, they looked forward to the final tests, hopeful that their efforts would finally pay off.