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Old_ROF

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Posts posted by Old_ROF

  1. 2 hours ago, Artifficer said:

    I wish I'd asked a family member who worked at Fort Halstead, he worked on light gum ballistics. He passed away 3 years ago, his name was Peter Fuller, a top ballistics and high speed photography expert, your friend might have known him.

    Regards

    I recognise the name. I worked down at the Fort in 1982-84 and again in 1986 so may have met him. I wax attached to GR1 section and he would possibly have been GR3 section.

  2. Hi,

    Finally managed to speak to an old ROF(Nottingham) Experimental and Development deparment colleague who worked with the RARDE(Fort Halstead) design and development team during the Light Gun design and development program - he went on to work on Light Gun all through production and onto PDS Support including the US M119 work.

    He seems to remember that the early hydraulic jacks were made in the toolroom from scratch at ROFN but that these were abandoned after the jack-struct concept was developed as this proved simpler and lighter.

    Regards

     

  3. Hi,

    Not sure if you managed to sort out your problem.  Hoever I've spoken to an old colleague and found that Repaircraft of Cranleigh Surry look after the Scorpion for Spain and Thailand.

    Contact details for them can be found on.

    www.repaircraft.com/html/ContactPage.html

    Good luck.

    Old ROF

  4. The details you require will probably only be found on the original spring drawing. As the 40mm wax made at ROF Nottingham, both L60 and L70 versions, but whether the mounts were the sme I dont know. You might try to contact the ROF Heritge centre at BAE SYSTEMS Glascoed. When the various ROF sites were closed information was passed on to them. However I must admit it is a fairly long shot.

    The following may help you understand how these work in principle. With the actual springs, and knowledge of the dimensions and weights of the system, you can probably work out the relevant information.

    Engineering Design Handbook

    Carriages and Mount Series - Equilibratorz

    AMCP 706-356

    US Army Material Command - Dec 1970

    DTIC Ref: AD / A003347

    Hope this is of some use.

  5. OK here is the only other image we have of the vehicles, this time inside the main factory workshop.

     

    Sherman 17Pdr ROF(N) Tranverse Bay.jpg

     

    These were scans from old glass plate negs from what I remember so not of the best quality. Obviously long exposure time due to the light (lack of) from the blurred figures of the craftsmen.

  6. Adrian

    This is a picture of ten Sherman's at ROF Nottingham lined up outside the Admin building. We assume they were there having been converted with the 17 Pdr. ordnance. The number of the first vehicle here appears to be T255024. Another one of the vehicles seems to be T212519 from a picture taken inside the workshop itself. Unfortunately neither image we have is really sharp so the other numbers can't be read. These were scanned from various sources, including glass plate negatives, when the factory was closed down in 2000. You may be able to identify which variant they are.

     

    Sherman_17Pdr_ROFN.jpg

  7. I have a few images of a prototype / pre-production Light Gun and others of the first production L118 at the official hand-over ceremony - the official date of acceptance was October 1974. All these were taken at Royal Ordnance Factory Nottingham. These show the pre-production gun with the 5 stud wheels and the production gun with the 6 stud wheels. Another image I have of a lightweight land rover, towing a BML also at ROF(N), seems to have the same 5-stud wheel as the pre-production gun.

     

    Out of interest none of the images I have of the prototype gun show a jack and handle in the locations shown in the manual. At one time, many years ago now, I was the PDS officer at Nottingham for Light Gun and I must admit I was not aware of the early versions using a jack for the wheel removal action. However there were a large number of changes incorporated into the design following the development trials and this was apparently one of them.

     

    Would be interested in seeing a picture of the completed article when the restoration work is complete.

    L118_Acceptance-Cert.jpg

  8. With regards to the earlier blocks shown the following information is for the 20Pdr and 105mm L7 guns.

     

    Ord 20Pdr Mk1, Mk1/1, Mk1/2, Mk1/3, Mk2, Mk2/1 - Block Drg No. FL6853

    Ord 105mm Tk L7 A1, A2, A3 - Block Drg No. FL6853

     

    As previously identified this confirms that the same drawing is used for both the 20Pdr and L7 systems.

     

     

    Reference the Light Gun System

    1. As a guide the light gun blocks, either the L19 or L20 ordnance as used on the L118 and L119 equipment respectively can be identified by the elongated ears, above the cartridge case opening, of the blocks which enable them to interface with the Light Gun manual opening lever.

    2. As identified the L19 ordnance (L118) is electric firing to suit the UK Abbot family of ammunition; the L20 ordnance (L119) is percussion firing to suit the US M1 family of ammunition. When the ordnance is swapped out so are the firing boxes to suit.

  9. [cut]Here are some shots of another block I am being offered. The owner thinks it may be from a 105mm gun from a centurion L7 gun. [cut]

     

     

    This block is from the 120mm L11 ordnance as used on the Chieftain MBT not the 105mm L7 as used on the Centurion.

     

    The TVE (Tube, Vent, Electric) shown should be 0.625 inch and is used to ignite the bag charge for this type of weapon. The deep round cut-out matches up to the angled flash channel the TVE is inserted into, and spreads the flame and hot initiator propellant bits onto the rear of the charge bag which had a booster ignitor pad sewn onto the rear face of the bag.

     

    The large circular shallow cut-out is used for one half of the steel obturator system, the other half was inserted into the barrel. Together these provided the seal (obturation) between the barrel (chamber) and the breech block. The small sprung loaded clip located the block insert in place and was linked to a safety interlock (not present) which prevented the gun being loaded without the obturator in position.

     

    [ NOTE: The bottom face of the obturator seating had to have a 5 micron finish to ensure correct functioning and was lapped (ground) by hand, very carefully :), using a specialist tool and a specific type of diamond paste. Ah, sweet memories of the many hours that took of my life as a young apprentice :( ! ]

     

    The attached may help.

     

    120_L11_Obt_01.jpg

     

    Hope this helps.

    120_L11_Block.jpg

    120_L11_Obt_03.jpg

  10. Just a thought but could the DAF have been used as a Gun Tractor for use with the 105mm Light Gun e.g by the RA Sales team?

     

    I know that in the past they used larger tow vehicles when doing displays rather than the normal Land Rover/ Pinzgauer option to carry all their extra gear so its possible I suppose.

  11. That's very interesting, I'd always assumed that the Abbot ordnance was of similar construction to the Light Gun, but obviously not!

     

    Andy

     

    The L13 barrel was designed using 'non-autofrettaged' or 'limited overstrain' principles. With this methodology the physical size of the finished tube assumes that a degree of overstrain will be produced if the gun design pressure is reached and hence the bore will be permanently increased in size and the outer layers will be in tension.

     

    Both the L19 and L20 barrels are autofrettaged during the manufacturing process. As identified earlier this process deliberately oveloads the barrel which causes an amout of deformation at the bore. This leads to compressive stresses at the bore and tensile stresses towards the outside. The design allows for the post process machining to obtain the final barrel size with the required strength to meet to gun pressure design needs.

     

    There are two methods to achieve this autofrettage. Firstly is the Hydraulic method which seals the barrel and pumps in high pressure fluid which causes the required degree of overstrain. Secondly is the swage mandrel process whereby an oversize mandrel is pushed through the bore again causing the overstain. The barrel is machined to suit the different process methods to anable the end design to be achieved.

     

    Hope this helps to clarify and not confuse.

     

    edit: sage to swage!

  12. One of the reasons that the muzzle brake for the L20 ordnance (L119) was so large/heavy was to compensate for the shorter barrel. By having this heavy mass on the end of the shorter barrel the effective weight on the elevation gear remained the same, the out-of-balance loads matching. This was intentional so that the balancing springs would not need to be changed or altered when an ordnance swap was carried out.

     

    In addition the recoiling mass also remained the same - this should have meant that the recuperator pressure would not need any adjustment either. There was no problem with the recoil buffer as the firing loads from the US ammunition was lower than that of the UK ammunition.

     

    There was a PIP (Product Improvement Program) started to update the Light Gun in the 90's which addressed a whole raft of issues including the knock-off wheel nut and the A-Frame finger 'trimming' tendancy. Unfortunately the program was stopped due to lack of interest/money from the MOD. Some of these improvements have since been incorporated into the latest build standard as modifications.

  13. H

     

    You obviously just need to ask the right question!

     

    Although RARDE(FH) was the original designer of the Light Gun, when the Royal Ordnance Factories were privatised the rights passed to them. BAE Systems (as they are now) having purchased RO, along with most of the rest of the UK land defence companies, are now the Design Authority for the Light Gun.

    Its a long shot but you could try writing to them at BAE Systems, Global Combat Systems - Weapons, Barrow-In-Furness, Cumbria; addressed to Chief Engineer, Artillery Systems to see if you can get any assistance.

     

     

    Tony

     

    This was the original 'workshop'

     

     

    ROFN_2000.jpg

     

     

     

     

    and what became of it.

    ROFN_2002.jpg

     

     

     

    It's now a 45 acre commercial office site with a Homebase store located at the bottom left hand end.

     

     

     

  14. ...both barrels will be in there for a start. ....

     

    Just to say that the 'barrel' exchange was actually for the complete ordnance as there are also differences in the breech configuration - which you may already be aware of - due to the different ammunition systems.

     

    This assembly would look like this which includes the recoil rails which slide inside the cradle fabrication.

     

     

     

    105_L118_Ordnance+Rail_Assy.jpg

     

     

     

    This is the L19 (L118) breech, UK electric firing ammunition.

     

     

    105_L118_Breech_Assy.jpg

     

     

     

     

    This is the L20 (L119) breech, US percussion firing ammunition. You can see the safe and fire arm on the side and the recock lever at the rear.

     

     

    105_L119_Breech_Assy.jpg

     

     

     

     

    Should give you some more headaches thinking about what to do ;)

     

     

    With reference to the firing platform this is held on top of the trail by utilising supports built into the top of the suspension units and a pair of clamps located partway along the trail legs.

  15. ... Some of the original design team were still at FH when I was there. ...

     

     

    Spent time at FH myself 1981/83 time scale attached to GR1 as liasion between RARDE and ROFN. Out of interest which section were you with when you were there?

     

    A lot of new design and analysis techniques were developed in the original creation of the Light Gun with a lot of interaction between the designers and the manufacturing capabilities of the ROF's. Its probably one of the reasons that the system is still considered amongst the best small lightweight artillery systems.

  16. A couple more views of the early light gun to go with the ones already provided.

     

    105_L118_LG_at_ROFN.jpg

     

     

    This shows the early configuration of the lighting bar/beam used when towing.

     

    105_L118_LG_at_ROFN_Old_Light_Bar.jpg

     

     

    A later period Light Gun on Test inside the factory being towed by the factory's forward control Land Rover. Used to do brake tests etc. before delivery. The light beam was changed over the years to fall in line with the changes in the UK Vehicle Construction and Use regulations and Road Traffic Act requirements.

     

    105_L118_LG+_FwdControl_LR.jpg

     

     

     

    Latest standard of the Light Gun, rear view showing the update to the aiming system with the incorporation of the APS / LINAPS system.

     

    105_L118_LG_APS_Update_01.jpg

     

     

    Hope these help.

     

    Out of interest is the Model Land Rover on sale yet and where is it available from. My father in law collects Land Rover models of all sizes, goes from tiny cast ones used by wargames, via matchbox and corgi sizes up to large sheet metal versions. He's only got about 900 so far. :)

  17. If it helps here is a comparison between a pre-production or early production L118

     

    105_L118_LG_at_ROFN_c1973.jpg

     

    and a late production version, unfortunately not from the same viewpoint but hopefully better than nothing. :)

     

    105_L118_LG_at_ROFN_c2000.jpg

     

    Out of interest the original firing platform design was produced by explosive forming however the production engineering and projects staff at ROF(N) worked with RARDE(FH) to develop a standard press manufacturing process which was used for all the later systems.

  18. Just to help clarify the situation.

     

    The 105mm Light Gun was designed to fire the UK 'Abbot' ammuntion and this version was known as the L118 (max range 17.2km with standard UK HE shell). During development it was decided that the ability to fire the US 'M1' ammunition was required (this was used by the BA with the 105mm Pak How) and this version was known as the M119 (max range 11.4km with standard US HE shell). The intention was to use the L119 for training using the old stocks of US ammunition held.

     

    The L118 was fitted with the L19 ordnance which was nominally 37 calibres long, the L119 was fitted with the L20 ordnance which was nominally 30 calbres long. The first Production L118 was formally accepted into service on the 25th October 1974.

     

     

     

    early_105_L118_LG at ROFN.jpg

     

     

     

    The US after undertaking a number of evaluations took the Light Gun into their service where it was type classified as the M119. Over the years they have incorporated a number of detail changes to suit their methods of operation and maintenance methods.

     

    The design of the Light Gun was such that the ordnances could be interchanged and alternative firing boxes fitted (L118 is electric, L119 is percussion) without affecting the out-of-balance and operation (elevation/depression) of the equipment. A support bar is fitted across the rear of the trails to support the barrel when the shorter ordnance is fitted.

     

    In both cases the gun could be towed with the equipment folded with the barrel over the trail, or with the gun forwards with the ordnance supported with an A-Frame.

     

    The firing platform is carried on the carriage/trail assembly during travel and then dropped down and the gun pulled onto it for firing. A number of steel ropes or stays are attached to the bottom of the carriage when in the firing position to hold it in position.

     

     

    LG_Platform_02.jpg

     

     

     

     

    Note it is possible to fire the equipment without the firing platform fitted, but it does aid the firing stability.

     

    Bit of additional information. There was also an alternative spade assembly fitted to the rear of the trail assembly called the Rock spade which was smaller than the standard Field spade.

     

    Also when used in artic conditions it was posible to fit 'skis' to/around the wheels to enhance mobility. Here is a set fitted to an early version of light gun.

     

     

    105_L118_LG Skis.jpg

     

     

  19. Scout Cars = F (except V=Vixen???) Ferret, Fox.

    Barry.

     

     

    Just been reading this thread.

     

    Vixen does in fact follow the F trend being a "Female Fox". Wasn't it basically a Fox without the Turret.

     

    Old_ROF

  20. Clive - sorry we don't have any manufacturing records available. When ROF Nottingham was closed a couple of us managed to scan a lot of photographs (glass plates, 35mm and prints) and create a web site to show some of these images as a historic record. Unfortunately it became too expensive for us to continue with the site. However here is another image of some completed vehicles.

     

    regards

     

    Ex WebAdmin at ROF_Nottingam.co.uk

    Humber_Pig_bird.jpg

  21. They will ALSO have a large Badge engraved halfway down the Barrel for the Ordanance Factory..It Looks like a royal coat of arms. :coffee:

     

    The image used on all barrels provided for the MOD is the 'Royal Cipher'. This was produced using a 'lettraset' template which was put on the barrel and` then acid etched to form the image.

  22. If you look on the top face of the breech ring a set of information should be engraved there. This includes the registation number, the forgemaster initials, the forging number and also the year of manufacture. There should also be similar data on the rear face of the barrel.

     

    If they were manufactured at ROF Nottingham then the forging numbers will be of the form NGxxxxx.

     

    Hope this helps

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