Chapter 218 From Borneo to Borneo (Second update, please subscribe)
Favors are always favors.
A telegram from the United States made Li Yian feel the power of human kindness again.
Sometimes, for some favors, you never expect when the other person will be there. No matter what kind of reward I give you, but what is certain is that favors are really useful!
"Normandy!"
This was Truman's gift to Li Yi'an. After providing a large amount of supplies through the Lend-Lease Act, he gave himself another big gift.
The "Normandy" is a super cruise ship built by France before the war, with a displacement of 83,423 tons, which is almost 2,000 tons more than the British "Queen Mary". Then the battle for the "Blue Ribbon" speed competition in the Atlantic Ocean began between these two luxury ships. Britain and France competed for the blue ribbon like two children competing for candy. The westbound speed was refreshed to 30.58 knots by the Normandy, and the eastbound speed was refreshed to 31.20 knots.
It can be said with certainty that the "Normandy", as a super cruise ship, was definitely the most handsome boy in the village in the pre-war Atlantic Ocean.
However, there were many glories before the war and many vicissitudes after the war. Just like France, after the war broke out, France was defeated and asked for peace. However, the United States immediately announced that it had detained the Normandy, and the Coast Guard took over the protection and security tasks of the entire ship, because this large cruise ship is so important, and its purpose is self-evident - transporting troops.
The Normandy was immediately requisitioned by the U.S. Navy and prepared for use as a troop carrier. Because this ship can transport 10,000 soldiers and a large amount of equipment and supplies at one time. Since the shipyards in New York and New Jersey did not have dry docks capable of accommodating this 80,000-ton ship at the time, they simply renovated it on site at Pier 88 in New York. Remove the luxurious decoration and entertainment facilities and transform it into a troop transport.
However, a subsequent accident changed the fate of the giant ship - a fire engulfed the giant ship. Then the massive flooding caused the Normandy to lie at an 80-degree angle in the Hudson River like a beached whale.
Although there are conspiracy theories that it was sabotaged by German spies, in the following years, people continued to make plans for it. The U.S. Navy wanted to transform it into an aircraft carrier, and the French wanted to Want it back.
Now, Truman gave him to Li Yian as a favor. Once again, he could feel that Truman understood him. Just like the last time he sent a landing ship, this time he simply sent a giant ship. All because he knows what he needs.
What he needs is population, immigrants!
And transporting immigrants requires ships!
With the "Normandy" super cruise ship, it only takes more than 50 hours to send tens of thousands of immigrants to Borneo even from the Yangtze River Estuary.
The only question is, is it worth fixing?
“This ship can be repaired!”
As a naval architect, William Hadler, although he is the chief designer of German aircraft carriers, is no stranger to cruise ships.
“I checked the information provided by the United States. In August 1943, after nearly a year and a half of salvage work, the Americans conducted an investigation on the Normandie after the hull was righted. At this time The "Normandie" has been severely damaged, the superstructure of the hull has almost collapsed, and the engine room has been soaked in water and cannot be used. This is certain. The engine after the water damage needs to be overhauled or modified, but essentially it was destroyed by the fire. It’s just the superstructure, so the Americans had the idea of transforming it into an aircraft carrier..."
Li Yian nodded and said.
“I’ve heard about it, but because the cost is more expensive than building a new aircraft carrier, it was ignored in the end.”
“Sir, it’s not more expensive than building a new aircraft carrier, but it will occupy more space. From the perspective of the U.S. Navy, a slipway is an 80,000-ton giant ship that occupies a dock for several years and transforms it into an aircraft carrier. , it is better to build a new aircraft carrier in line with the cost. A cruise ship is a cruise ship. Even if it is transformed into an aircraft carrier, it cannot escape the essence of a cruise ship. "William Hadler, who once presided over the design of the "Zeppelin" aircraft carrier, obviously has a clear opinion on the issue of aircraft carriers. He has the right to speak, and then he pulled out a piece of information transported by air from the United States and said.
“According to the information provided by the Americans, although its boiler, engine and electric motor were damaged to some extent after being soaked in sea water, their use will not be affected after proper repair. The burned superstructure can also be rebuilt. Now, its designer Vladimir Yukovitch is in the United States. I feel that he and his ship design company can be entrusted to restore it. After all, buying It only costs $160,000.”
$160,000!
Buying an 80,000-ton giant ship, even if it is used as scrap metal, the profit is very considerable!
"Sir, what you need is not a cruise ship, but an immigration transport ship, just like a troop transport ship. During the war, the Queen Mary of the same tonnage was the largest and fastest troop transport ship in the Atlantic. , can carry nearly 16,000 officers and soldiers at one time!"
Li Yi'an nodded in agreement and said.
“That is transporting troops across the Atlantic. If it is transporting immigrants, the number can be at least doubled.”
Thirty thousand per shipment!
A round trip takes five days, so there is no problem in making dozens of round trips a year.
There is only one "Normandy" a year, how can it transport 2 million immigrants!
“So, your suggestion is to buy him?”
For professional matters, you still need to consult professionals, although William Hadler’s suggestion is to buy him.” "Normandy" to transform it, but Li Yi'an still commissioned the company to ask its designer, Vladimir Yukovitch, who immigrated to the United States before the war, this naval architect who had designed battleships for the Tsar, was very sure Gave the answer that it could be fixed and even offered to host the restoration at a very low price. After all, the "Normandy" super cruise ship is the design he is most proud of in his life.
After receiving this reply, Li Yian immediately called Truman back to express his gratitude, so on August 19, Truman signed an order to sell the "Normandy", which had been quietly languishing in the dry dock, to a newly established company in New York for US$160,000. , and then the company sold it to the Borneo Shipping Company for US$200,000, and the Borneo Shipping Company stated that it would restore it, and the restoration work was carried out by its designer Vladimir · Hosted by Jukovich.
After several twists and turns, this super cruise ship survived the desperate situation. In the following year, the super cruise ship, which had been renamed "Borneo", has been undergoing renovations in the dock in the United States. In the years after the war, it continued to travel between the mouth of the Yangtze River and Borneo, and countless immigrants took it to Borneo.
Finally the "Borneo" brought the "Borneo".
At this time, no one knows its role in Borneo. But what is certain is that this is definitely a very good deal, because the system gives a corresponding reward-5 million experience points.
No more, no less, far from enough for the next upgrade, but the experience points can be used to purchase many products in the system mall. Many things are in short supply in the market. This is not the most important thing. Importantly, in September, companies in Borneo finally produced the first industrial manufactured product - Victory cigarettes.
This cigarette is 100% camel flavored, yes, it tastes exactly like a camel.
(End of this chapter)