From the Rolls-Royce experimental archive: a quarter of a million communications from Rolls-Royce, 1906 to 1960's. Documents from the Sir Henry Royce Memorial Foundation (SHRMF).
Letter to the Admiralty regarding material choices and production proposals for the 2-pdr Mark XIV Gun.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 176\3\ img085 | |
| Date | 11th December 1940 | |
| 11th December, 1940. Director of Naval Ordnance, -S- The Admiralty, BATH. 2-pdr. Mark XIV Gun. R.R. 40 mm. Type BD.{Mr Berend} Contract C.P. 74940/40. Dear Sir, As you are aware, 525 of the above guns are now being made by The British United Shoe Machinery Co., Ltd., Leicester. The first 50 are being produced with the following major components in cast aluminium alloy - Cradle, Body, Loading Tray, and the following in forged aluminium alloy; Buffer Cylinder and Recoilperator Cylinder. We have been given to understand that it would be preferable if these aluminium parts could be replaced by bronze or gun metal and work is proceeding as rapidly as possible on the construction of an experimental gun using these metals. This pending change in design is preventing the B.U.S.M. from tooling up for quantity production of the components concerned and will considerably delay output. The extra dead-weight of the gun (approximately 200 lbs.) will, we think, lead to installation difficulties in light boats and the extra weight of the recoiling parts to technical difficulties in operation. In view of the above, we make the following proposals :- (1) First 250 Guns. These to be produced to the existing design using aluminium alloy. This scheme will call for an extra 3.13 tons of forged aluminium alloy and 11.16 tons of cast aluminium alloy above that already ordered. (2) Subsequent 275 Guns. We should prefer that these also were to the existing design which would call for a further 4.30 tons of forged aluminium alloy and 15.35 tons of cast aluminium alloy. If technical and design problems can be surmounted in time to avoid delaying production, we suggest the following alternatives might be adopted. continued. | ||