Things seem to be moving right along!
* I would definitely like to second grenades (how could we forget something so basic?).
* The proposed radio design is bulky and fragile, but sadly that is how radios were back then. I don't think we could do any better...
* The proposed truck looks good. With the engines being so small, light, and cheap mounting two of them is a fine idea!
* I have some sub-proposals below that depend on this truck, so go Mule!
* Some kind of cheap sea-mine would be useful, but too complicated to make reliable with our tech. Some land mines would be nice though...
* Mortar round improvements are critical.
* Do we know where the enemy has their experimental shipyards? If we could shell the crap out of them with the ratio on a new model swordfish... Even better if we can shell some other experimental facilities or factories.
* More/better infantry equipment is a good priority, as better infantry are needed to hold the ground we take.
I am not worried about any anti-torpedo-boat boat our opponents may come up with. The main reason to use torpedo boats in the first place is that they are very cheap, ridiculously effective, and hard to counter if you don't have automatic (fast firing) cannon armed patrol boats, which our opponents lack
So long as we can hold an edge in direct fire armament we have no need to worry.
Here are a few Mule based proposals:
"Rhino" Road builder
The Rhino is basically a standard Mule truck, but with a simple cable operated front blade and a towed box scraper. In the cargo area an extra Pattern 807 engine running a simple winch (used to lift the front blade) as well as a simple boom crane (also using the winch). Along the sides there is seating for a small work crew.
The idea is for the crew to cut down any trees, etc blocking the proposed route (the boom crane is for moving the logs out of the way). Then the front blade is used to smooth out major humps, and the box scraper is used to put the finishing touches on the new "road". The winch and boom crane may also be useful for building small bridges or bunkers. Keep in mind that this is meant to be a fast moving mechanical assist for normal work crews, not a full-up bulldozer and crane!
The box scraper would also help keep the temporary roads maintained, since the type of road that would result from this would tend to get ruts very quickly.
Obviously this depends on the Mule being designed first or concurrently. Mostly this proposal is a cable operated front blade, a winch, a towed box scraper, and a simple boom crane. All of these are fairly simple and crude, and most of the components can probably be acquired from civilian sources.
The intention of this design is to allow temporary roads to be run to our front lines, thereby greatly increasing the speed that our trucks can move reinforcements and materials to the front.
"Frontline" Armored Truck
The Frontline is a Mule truck with a lightly armored cab and engine area, waist high armored cargo area, and armored half circles covering as much of the wheels as practical.
The armor should be thick enough to stand up to shrapnel and small arms fire (but not HMG fire, as that would make it too heavy).
A HMG mount is provided on top of the cab so a gunner can protect the truck as it advances.
The Frontline is intended as an artillery prime mover and/or for troop movement near the front. Also mortar platoons should have a Frontline assigned to help carry them into battle (and to go back for ammo
)
The idea is that a Frontline can operate closer to the battle than a normal Mule.