Burning Moscow

Eldridge, after hearing the name of this newly built destroyer, I immediately felt a very familiar feeling, as if I had heard of it somewhere before. But before I figured out where I heard the name of this destroyer, the launching ceremony of the new ship officially began.

The destroyer Eldridge seemed to be pushed abruptly by an invisible big hand, and then the entire hull slid into the water laterally along the sloping berth. This behemoth made of thousands of tons of steel fell into the water in an instant, igniting a huge wave of emptying, and quickly self-righted. After several violent swings, it finally stopped firmly in the water. This process of changing from static to static, although it took a short time, it still caused me a strong visual impact and soul shock.

Colonel Henry turned around and said to me who was still looking at the water in a daze: "General, how about it? You have never seen a ship launched like this, right?"

I immediately shook my head and answered honestly: "Colonel Henry, this is the first time I have seen a ship launch with my own eyes. However, I have heard people say that the launch of the ship is either a floating launch or a longitudinal launch. Why is this ship launched? Will the ship be launched vertically?"

Seeing my dazed look, Colonel Henry explained to me: "General, we use this type of lateral slide to launch. We use a shorter lateral slide. The ship uses gravity to roll over and fall into the water, and then rely on buoyancy. Right the ship and float in the water. This side-slip launching method is more suitable for small water areas and insufficient slipway length on the slipway. There is no open water area for vertical launching, which is especially suitable for shipyards where soldiers build ships in batches. "

I waited for him to finish, and thought for a while and asked: "Colonel. The vibration and impact on the hull of the ship when sliding into the water in this way will cause deformation or damage to the equipment installed on the ship?

As soon as my voice fell, before the translation by the translator behind him, Henry's face showed a surprised expression. He actually said to himself in Russian: "General, you are really not easy. You actually discovered this way of launching. Defects. That’s right. Due to the relatively large vibration and impact of the ship’s hull when sliding into the water, the requirements for the ship’s structure are higher. Especially for the ship’s outfitting structure when launching, it is easy to cause the deformation of the equipment installed on the ship. Or damaged. The Eldridge will stay in the port for a day or two to replenish some supplies on board, and at the same time let the mechanic check for any major problems. When everything is ready, it will head to Philadelphia."

I looked at Lieutenant Colonel Henry in astonishment, and asked in astonishment: "Colonel, you, you actually speak Russian?!"

Lieutenant Colonel Henry nodded and said affirmatively: "Yes, General. At the end of 1941, as a military attache in the negotiation team of the Lease Treaty, I went to Moscow and lived there for almost a year. I understand Russian. Not surprisingly."

I grinned, wanted to laugh but couldn't make it out, so I could only say, "You have only been in Moscow for a year. It's not easy to speak such fluent Russian. You..." I said here. At the time, he suddenly jumped back to the place where the Eldridge was about to go, and hurriedly asked, "Colonel, you just said about the Eldridge destroyer. It will be a few days later. Where are you heading?"

"Philadelphia!" Henry thought I didn't know where Philadelphia was, and he specifically explained to me: "In Pennsylvania."

Philadelphia, Eldridge. The moment when these two unrelated words were connected together, the scattered memory fragments in my mind were pieced together into a whole, and the term "Philadelphia experiment" was formed in the shortest time.

That's right, it's the Philadelphia experiment.

On October 28, 1943, the U.S. Navy conducted a secret test of a strong artificial magnetic field in Philadelphia, the famous "Philadelphia Experiment." In the experiment, the destroyer Eldridge and its crew were successfully thrown into another space. During the experiment, the experimenters activated the pulse and non-pulse devices to form a huge magnetic field around the ship. Then the whole ship was shrouded in green light, and the ship and crew also began to disappear from people's sight. When the experiment was terminated, the ship had been transferred to Norfolk, 479 kilometers away, where it stayed for a few minutes before returning to Philadelphia.

According to some insiders at the time, when the Eldridge reappeared in Philadelphia, something incredible happened to the crew on board. Most of the crew on the ship felt sick and could not tell the direction, and some crew members disappeared for no reason. What is even more surprising is that there are five crew members embedded in the walls and deck, fully integrated with the steel plate on the ship. Later, after some of the crew members who participated were forced to retire, affected by this experiment, they always disappeared for no reason in their lives, and then reappeared, which surprised bystanders.

Although the United States has used this "Philadelphia Experiment" as the material and has filmed a lot of film and television dramas, many people still think that the so-called "Philadelphia Experiment" is nothing but a fiction, and they cited many data to refute those who believe in it. Not suspicious.

To be honest, I am also curious at this moment. If it weren't for this experiment that is half a year away, I really plan to stay and see if this divergent "Philadelphia experiment" really exists.

Seeing that the Eldridge in the distance was full of small motorboats parked around it, and many workers or sailors boarded the ship along the gangway, I wanted to get on the ship to see it. After repeated ideological struggles, I finally summoned the courage to say to Henry: "Captain Henry, can I go to the ship and see?"

"General, do you want to take a look on the boat?" Colonel Henry was taken aback by this sudden thought of me. He hesitated for a moment before asking carefully: "This boat should be messy now, there's nothing wrong with it. watch."

"I just want to go up and see what happens to the ship's losses by sliding sideways into the water." Of course, I can't tell Henry the true thoughts, but I can only say nonsense: "Just let me increase my knowledge, I don't know you, Colonel. How do you feel about it?"

Hearing what I said, Henry had an embarrassed expression on his face. He hesitated for a moment, and finally nodded decisively and said: "General, please wait, I call for instructions."

After getting my permission, he went to the table, put the telescope on the table, picked up the microphone and dialed a number quickly. Soon I heard him say: "Hello, operator? I'm Navy Captain Victor Henry. If you have important things to ask for the Chief of Staff, please transfer me to the war room immediately."

After the call was connected, Colonel Henry did not say hello, nor did he have any opening remarks. He said directly: "Chief of Staff, I will accompany a general from the Soviet Union today to watch the launching ceremony of the destroyer Eldridge. Now she wants to go on board. Take a look, can you?"

He did not speak for a while, but listened to the naval chief of staff's answer in silence, and then replied: "No, the chief of staff, she is not a navy, but an army general. She just wants to go on a destroyer to visit, absolutely not. ..."

Seeing Henry suddenly silent again, an unknown premonition suddenly surged in my heart. Did the Chief of Naval Staff think that I was going on the Eldridge to steal the US Navy’s ship intelligence? I knew it would be so troublesome, so I didn't make this request to Henry. As a result, it's hard to get off the ground now.

I saw Colonel Henry's face flushed. It should have been blamed by the chief of staff on the other side of the phone. I was just about to tell him that I was going to give up the idea of ​​getting on the boat to see, lest he get into such an embarrassing situation. However, I saw Colonel Henry straighten his waist and said stubbornly: "Comrade Chief of Staff, General Oshanina was ordered by me to accompany the Chief of Staff Marshall to watch the launching ceremony of the Eldridge at the Norfolk Naval Base. And This matter was brought up by General Marshall himself. I think if he can trust the friendly generals so much, why can't we also trust her?"

After saying these few words, he stopped talking. I only heard his breathing become heavy and rapid, and it seemed that the chief of staff who answered the phone was very angry.

Suddenly, Colonel Henry raised his voice and said sternly: "Chief of Staff, since you are unwilling to take responsibility for this matter, then I will be responsible. If something goes wrong, I will be fully responsible." , He took the microphone away from his ear and quickly placed it on the base of the phone.

Henry put down the phone, turned his head and said to me: "I'm sorry, General. I asked the Chief of Naval Staff to board the destroyer Eldridge, but he refused."

Although this answer has long been in my guess, but when I really heard him answer me like this, I was still a little disappointed. I waved my hand and said helplessly, "Colonel, since your Chief of Naval Staff does not approve of my boarding of the Eldridge, then let it go, lest you embarrass you."

After hearing what I said, Henry bowed his head for a moment, and then he raised his head and said to me: "Although the chief of staff does not agree with you on board the warship, I can go directly to the captain of the Eldridge and let him secretly put you on the warship. Come. Come with me." After saying this, he stepped out~www.NovelMTL.com~ I wanted to see how he went to find the captain of the destroyer Eldridge, so I followed him. , Walked out of the observation post where the container was rebuilt.

After Henry got out of the house, he walked quickly to the jeep parked outside and asked the ensign sitting in the car: "Do you know who the captain of the destroyer Eldridge is?"

The second lieutenant didn't know why Henry asked this suddenly, but he answered honestly: "It's Lieutenant Colonel Elman!"

"Do you know where to find him?" Colonel Henry continued to ask.

"I know, Colonel!" The ensign answered bluntly.

Henry opened the back door and said to me: "Get in the car, General, now let the second lieutenant take us to Lieutenant Colonel Elman." (to be continued)

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