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 trials of 40mm and .5' guns at Pendine, including reviews of Vickers, Browning, and German Mauser models.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 176\1\ img210 | |
| Date | 5th August 1941 | |
| To Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} HPS.{Horace Percy Smith - Experimental Factory Mgr} Ve/NP.1/CB.5.8.41. NOTES ON TRIALS ON 40 mm. AND .5" GUNS AT PENDINE, WEEK ENDING FRIDAY AUG. 1st. 40 mm. Guns. 40 mm. Aircraft Gun No. 11239 was re-submitted for official trials. These were generally satisfactory except for sluggish breech block operation at low temperatures. We are given to understand that as a result of the trials, Pendine are prepared to advise D.{John DeLooze - Company Secretary} Arm. D.{John DeLooze - Company Secretary} that the gun has satisfactorily passed a preliminary trial qualifying it for installation in the Beaufighter for Air Trials. The salient features of the R.R. 40 mm. gun, ease of production and light weight, are not readily appreciated by the Services. The Vickers 40 mm. Aircraft Gun (arranged for water cooling for the Navy) was under trial; bursts of 46 and 50 rounds were obtained. The gun has a belt feed and functions very well. The Browning 37 mm. gun was also under trial. Both gun and ammunition give a very satisfactory performance. .5" Machine Guns. Investigation with the Pendine authorities and resulting modifications appear to have overcome the separated case trouble on the .5" gun. Ejection failures were prevalent, however, and precluded extended trials. The best burst was 23 rounds and a few rounds were fired at 80° depression. The consensus of official opinion at Pendine indicates that the .5" gun has no great future in aircraft and that a 15 mm. will be necessary to satisfy future requirements. The German Mauser 15 mm. Gun was examined in detail and appears to be a first class weapon both from the point of view of performance and manufacture. It is a robust, simple and high speed weapon. We were given a broad hint that a gun on these lines would be very welcome. In the meantime, it should be remarked that Vickers Armstrongs are developing a 15 mm. gun and in connection with this, special types of ammunition are already being developed. UE Ve/NP. | ||