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 from the Naval Ordnance Department regarding automatic and semi-automatic gun development.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 176\3\ img052 | |
| Date | 9th September 1940 | |
| COPY. 2 Naval Ordnance Department, Admiralty, Spa Hotel, B A T H.{Arthur M. Hanbury - Head Complaints} 9th September, 1940. Dear Robotham, Many thanks for your letter of the 4th September, which I have not answered before as I have been looking into the wuestion of the automatic gun and power mounting. It is not at all clear that this will be a Staff requirement, and although no decision has been given on the point as yet, I cannot hold out any promise that any orders for an automatic gun will be placed, not that development will be required. This need not of course interfere with any private investigation the firm is making on their own initiative and at their own expense, and I will keep you fully informed as soon as I get any definite information. The production of the semi-automatic gun appears to offer good promise, which is very satisfactory as there is an urgent requirement for this weapon. Saw your brother disguised as an Air Raid Warden when I was on leave in my native village last week. Yours sincerely, Sg{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD}-d.{John DeLooze - Company Secretary} W.R. Slayter. W.A. ROBOTHAM Esq., Messrs. Rolls-Royce Ltd., D E R B Y. | ||