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).
Notes on a conference with the Admiralty regarding the urgent demand for a gun.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 176\3\ img022 | |
| Date | 5th August 1940 | |
| NOTES ON CONFERENCE AT BATH. WITH THE ADMIRALTY. SUNDAY AUGUST 4th. 1940. Present : Admiralty. Rear Admiral Whyham. Capt. Slater. Capt. Green. Lt. B.Kingsmill. Mr. Ashworth. Rolls Royce. Mr. Hives. Mr. Robotham. Mr. Blackstone. Mr. Hives stated that the Air Ministry had raised very strong objections to Rolls Royce accepting a contract from the Admiralty. He was interested to know, however, how urgent was the Navy's demand for the Rolls Royce gun. Captain Slater said that the shortage of this type of gun was acute, as it was needed for anti-E boat and anti-invasion craft, which at present were equipped with nothing larger than .303's, which were quite inadequate for the work. He therefore considered that the demand for the Rolls Royce gun, with it's light recoil load and simple mounting which permitted firing from the shoulder, was of the greatest urgency. They were prepared to place an order for 1,000 single shot guns, as tried at Whale Island, with a simple mounting, immediately, and a further large order when the gun had been made automatic. Mr. Hives said that, though he was unable to accept an order from the Admiralty, this fact did not stop development or design work, nor the manufacture of the small quantity of prototype guns now on hand, some of which the Air Ministry had allocated to the Admiralty. - Continued - | ||