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).
Providing and designing armour shields for 40 m.m. Naval Guns on an Oerlikon Mounting.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 175\3\ img076 | |
| Date | 16th August 1940 | |
| SECRET. To-Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} from SV. c. to Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/FJH.{Fred J. Hardy - Chief Dev. Engineer} or to Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/RH.{R. Hollingworth} or to Ve. or to Blk. o.{Mr Oldham} to H'st Ev.{Ivan Evernden - coachwork}1/JB.16.8.40. re Armour Shields. 40 m.m. Naval Gun - Type BD.{Mr Berend} 1st. 36 guns. We have been requested to provide for the first 36 guns on the Oerlikon Mounting, shield armour of a pattern shewn on an Admiralty Drawing marked "Enclose to xcellent's No. 24/2.". This consists of two shields of .500 thick armour plate, 21.000 ins. wide and 30.000 high, attached to arms springing from the elevating head of the Oerlikon Mounting. On QPL.1/3 (original attached to Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/RH{R. Hollingworth}'s. copy of this memo.) we shew our proposals. It is not intended that we should produce the Armouring, but we shall ask Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/RH.{R. Hollingworth} to detail it, as drawn, and H's. will mock it up in a suitable gauge plate. The protection offered by the shields is not so great as those on the Oerlikon gun, since the latter has sights centrally disposed above the barrel, and the shields can be close to the gun cradle at each side. At the request of the Naval Authorities we have inclined the shield both in the side elevation (as on the Oerlikon) and in the plan. This is to make the best use of the chances of ricochet. The effect of these shields is to cause the Layer No. 1 to be on the same side as the gunner, and he will have to keep a fairly constant position relative to the gun. Because of the Ammunition box he cannot be on the loaders side. It will be noticed that we have found it advisable to change slightly the position of the ammunition box relative to the laying handle as shewn on QPL.113. On the Oerlikon Gun the rim of the fore-sight lines up with the inner edge of the shield on both sides. | ||