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).
Outlining the required characteristics and criteria for a proposed .5' air service gun.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 176\1\ img001 | |
| Date | 25th October 1939 | |
| C O P Y. SECRET To Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} from Ve. Ve/NP.1/CB.25.10.39. PROPOSED AIR SERVICE .5" GUN. Before the scheme for the above gun can be prepared, it will be necessary to have some indication of what characteristics the Air Ministry have in mind for such a weapon. I have not only to know what its performance would be, but to know to what features they attach the greatest importance. This can be best expressed by the Air Ministry putting the following criteria in order of importance :- Cheapness and ease of manufacture, Performance, High Muzzle velocity, High rate of fire, Light weight, Ability to use existing ammunition. From the above we can obtain a balance between whether they require a simple cheap gun of modest performance or a more complicated weapon of high performance. Other information required will be :- Muzzle velocity, Rate of fire, Maximum weight, Maximum overall length, Type of ammunition to be used. Existing types of ammunition which might be suitable are :- .5" rimless, as used on Vickers .5" Mark III and .5" Mark V guns, or Slightly larger calibre .55 A.P. as used with the anti-tank rifle. There are of course many types of .5" guns in existence, - Continued - | ||