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).
Aircraft armament installations, including various gun types, wing modifications, and turret options.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 176\1\ img025 | |
| Date | 8th July 1940 | |
| - 2 - Cont'd.{John DeLooze - Company Secretary} the armament position. He is also exceedingly sore about Brownings but is only allowed to put six in. The wings and the pieces for the six are being made but he has not yet seen the gun nor can he get any information as to when a set for trial will be available. He has been pushing for a minimum of four Hispano guns but the Air Ministry staff will only take an interest in two at the moment. He feels that two per machine is much more likely to create a falsely unfavourable impression with regard to the 20 mm. than anything else. In the case of either the 20 or the .5 mm. gun it is necessary to put bulges in the wings, but Smith says it is much better to have a thin wing with bulges on than a fatter wing where everything can be concealed. The Air Ministry powers-that-be seem to dispute this fact though they have no justifiable evidence for so doing. 3. MARTIN BAKERS. We saw Mr. Martin of Martin Bakers. As you know, he is a specialist at making things accessible. His opinion is that the key to making a gun installation accessible and also to incorporating the maximum quantity of ammunition, lies in the type of feed used. This, in turn, is on the larger calibres, dictated by the type of belt. The half-inch, and more particularly, the 20 mm. ammunition, when held in a conventional belt, can not be turned round corners easily, and in consequence this dictates very rigidly the place where the ammunition can be put. 4. TURRETS. Whatever the success of the 20 mm. cannon in fighter wings, it seems probable that the .5 will be the most desirable armament for turrets. We are therefore investigating turret installations. We feel that though the aircraft manufacturer does not like to think that anyone is usurping his prerogatives by telling him how to instal armaments in his wings, he would be exceedingly grateful for any assistance we can give him by developing belts and types of feed, and that we could therefore work with advantage on this particular problem, possibly in conjunction with the British United Shoe Machine Co.Ltd., Hm.{Capt. W. Hallam - Head Repairs} | ||