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).
The project for the front mounting of a 40 m/m gun in a Beaufighter aircraft.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 176\1\ img145 | |
| Date | 10th March 1941 | |
| To Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} from Ev{Ivan Evernden - coachwork}/JD.{J. Draper - Frames} c. to [REDACTED] c. to [REDACTED] c. to [REDACTED] c. to Hsy/L.Durns. Ev{Ivan Evernden - coachwork}/JD.{J. Draper - Frames}8/SW.10.3.41. 5 40 m/m Gun in Beaufighter. We attach to Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/HH's copy the original of QPL.173 - Project for Front Mounting - 40 m/m Gun in Beaufighter. The above scheme shows the front mounting of the 40 m/m Gun in Beaufighter. The mounting is a spherical type attached to the wing main spars by a large angle plate, the design of which will follow. The sphere we propose to produce in Mild Steel and it is attached to the cradle by a sheet metal pressing in order that the recoil load can be taken at the cradle centre which is strong enough to take it, The sphere is held in position between the angle support bracket by an aluminium casting which is split for assembly purposes. The sheet metal pressing is also attached to the nose of the cradle, an aluminium bridge piece is fitted to the cradle to provide additional stiffness at the front end. It will be necessary to lightly machine the cradle at this point to provide a facing for the pressing. It should be noticed we have attached the blast tubes to the sphere bearing alum castings at the front end. The design of the blast tubes will follow. We have practically completed the design of the rear gun mounting which we hope to issue shortly. Ev{Ivan Evernden - coachwork}/JD{J. Draper - Frames} Original to Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/HH. Prints to Ev.{Ivan Evernden - coachwork} Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/HH. Ve. Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/JB. & Ashby. | ||