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).
Minutes of a meeting of the Armament Division discussing the 40mm gun.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 176\1\ img010 | |
| Date | 30th January 1940 | |
| C O P Y. SECRET. 5 Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}9/MH.{M. Huckerby}30.1.40. MINUTES OF MEETING OF THE ARMAMENT DIVISION MONDAY, JANUARY 29th. Present:- Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} Air Commodore Andrews, Major Thompson, Ve. Ve/NP. Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} 40 mm. GUN. Contract Position. The progress of this was discussed. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} suggested that the gun should now be accepted by the Air Ministry so that the development work now proceeding over and above that specified in the original contract should be charged as Development Account. Major Thompson queried whether the gun would fulfil the conditions laid down for its acceptance. It was agreed that it had not filled these requirements during its last visit to Woolwich but was noa ready to go to Melton Mowbray where it was expected that the troubles experienced at Woolwich would have been overcome. 3rd. Gun. Major Thompson expressed the opinion that the 3rd gun should not be proceeded with as a number of major modifications would probably be required, amongst others the alterations to the position of the buffer and recuperator to facilitate the installation of the gun in a turret. Flight Tests. Air Commodore Andrews pointed out that it would not be reasonable to hold up a Beaufighted aircraft for testing this gun in the air until its development as a single shot-gun was reasonably complete. Range. It was agreed that the range should go ahead forthwith. The question of whether the Air Ministry would pay for the range was discussed. Air Commodore Andrews did not seem to think that the Air Ministry would be adverse to payingm but would go further into the matter. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} said that as long as the Air Ministry kept Rolls-Royce busy with development work | ||