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).
Correspondence regarding a jammed recoil mechanism on a 40mm Naval Gun due to omitted washers during assembly.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 175\3\ img237 | |
| Date | 23th October 1940 | |
| Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}19/ML. 23.10.40. The Admiralty, N.O.Department, Spa Hotel, BATH. For the attention of Rear Admiral Whyham. Sirs, QF. 2 pdr. Mk.{R. E. B. Meade-King} 14. 40 mm. NAVAL GUN. The following trouble has occurred on the first gun delivered to the Admiralty, which was recently sent back from Southampton in No: 3. mounting, to have a flame guard fitted. When it was assembled into the mounting, the adjustable washers QR.125 to QR.129 were omitted, with the result that the gun cradle was pinched and the recoil mechanism was so jammed up that it only had a stroke of about 6". As this is a point which is liable to occur on any mounting if the operator is careless and omits the adjusting washers, we suggest the design be modified to avoid using these washers, even though it calls for accurate machining of the head and a small amount of initial play in the trunnions. (Say -0) +20) The alternative is to fix the adjusting washers to the mounting after they have been selected. In the ordinary way we should have instructed this modification to put things right. In view of your letter of the 14th. October however, you will probably wish to take up the matter with Eng. Commander Smith. Yours faithfully, for ROLLS ROYCE LTD., | ||