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 revised installation of a 40 m/m gun in a Beaufighter aircraft.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 176\1\ img181 | |
| Date | 13th May 1941 | |
| To Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} from Ev{Ivan Evernden - coachwork}/JD.{J. Draper - Frames} c. [REDACTED] c. [REDACTED] c. [REDACTED] Ev{Ivan Evernden - coachwork}/JD.{J. Draper - Frames}2/SW.13.5.41. 40 m/m Gun in Beaufighter. We attach to Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/HH's copy the original of :- QPL.186 Revised Installation of 40 m/m Gun in Beaufighter. In accordance with the decisions reached during the visit of Mr. Green of Bristol Aeroplane Co., we have revised the position of the gun in the Beaufighter. On the above scheme, we show the new positions with the guns inclined inwards 12 1/2° to enable the ejection chutes to clear the trimming cables. To remove the gun from the plane, the front spherical mounting casting is split by un-doing the four nuts holding the top and bottom halves of the bearing together. This mounting is shown on QS.264. The rear mounting is dismantled by pulling out the quick release pin (the design of this is shown more fully on QR.260) the gun can then be pulled rearwards about 3.500 and rocked downwards and out. On QPL/185 we show how to easily remove the rear end of the blast tube to assist this operation. The main blast tube which is 4.000 inside dia. will have to be out to length and fitted to suit the nose of the plane. Mr. Green has promised to supply the necessary panels to suit the new blast tubes, for both the Hucknall and Duxford planes. Also is shown the size and shape of the hole in the keel plate through which the empty shell cases are ejected into the hull of the plane. The Bristol Aeroplane Co. will line this compartment with felt and arrange a suitable space to take these cases, also a means of removing them. Ev{Ivan Evernden - coachwork}/JD.{J. Draper - Frames} Original to Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/HH. Prints to Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} Ev.{Ivan Evernden - coachwork} Ve. Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/HH. & Ashby. | ||