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).
Letter to the British Power Boat Company regarding a Type BD pedestal-mounted gun.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 175\3\ img194 | |
| Date | 1st October 1940 | |
| To Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} c.c. to Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/GTS. EW.4/JH. 3 1st. October, 1940. SECRET. The British Power Boat Co.Ltd., Hythe, Southampton. For the attention of G.S.Selman Esq., Dear Sirs, re Type BD.{Mr Berend} Gun on Pedestal Mounting. We understand that you are forwarding to Mr. Robotham particulars to enable us to provide training stops on the mounting. As in the case of the power mounting, we would like you to state the rotational angle over which the elevation must be not less than a stated minimum. Since rotational stops to us do not seem exactly to give the gunner the best chances since they preclude his traversing the gun at any elevation for'd across the bows, we are considering other alternatives. One is to put some form of extension on the barrel, possibly a flash cone, so that its extension from the trunnion is 6 or 8 ins. greater than the recoil shield, when the usual rail guard could be used. Alternatively, there is the suggestion of a mechanical firing control for rotation and elevation or rotation only. We fear this will prove too complicated and experimental. We wish to know the parking position of the gun, i.e. is it parked with the barrel pointing aft or for'd.{John DeLooze - Company Secretary} Also we would like you to fix for us in plan, the orientation of the bolt holes relative to the barrel centre line in the parked position. P.T.O. | ||