Post by Diarist on Jan 4, 2017 23:13:16 GMT 1
Sally and I went to the Saffron Hotel yesterday evening and I spent most of the time talking to George Patton about our super tank. With him going to Palestine it has complicated things. Either we put the project on ice until he returns or he appoints someone else to represent him in his absence. We decided to wait until his assignment in Palestine has ended. We can however continue the design of our main armament. The 18-pdr gun-howitzer and the 75mm gun we are using in the ISV are both 3" guns but the ammunition from one gun cannot be used in the other gun. The 17-pdr tank gun being designed will also be 3" calibre but is unlikely that it will accept the ammunition from the other two guns. A stupid situation in my opinion. So we want to take the superb 25-pdr gun-howitzer and design anti-tank and anti-aircraft versions which are all multi-role capable, i.e. all three guns can fire all three types of ammunition if the need arises. That is the ideal situation but as a minimum all three guns can fire the HE and anti-tank rounds.
The next question was where to design and build the prototypes. The two big artillery manufacturers in the UK are Vickers and the Royal Ordnance Factories and we can't use them. We can either go overseas or expand my SAW business for the R&D. We decided on the latter. So we need to hire people who used to work at the ROF and are familiar with the 25-pdr. That's not easy because it is a relatively new weapon.
This morning I called Reginald Shepperd and invited him to 3 Raynhams in the evening then I drove the ladies to Cambridge for lunch and shopping. On the way home I dropped in at RAF Duxford to check the weather and confirm tomorrow's flight. Reginald Shepperd arrived just before six o'clock and we joined George Patton who was already in my office studying my Palestine notes.
We've developed a tactic for searching villages. Under cover of darkness, Irvine's troops infiltrate the area then set up ambushes behind the village. Then at first light George's cavalry arrives making a lot of noise so that (hopefully) the terrorists quickly leave and walk straight into the ambushes. That way they won't have to search the village, just give a stern warning that if they have to come back a second time they won't recognize the village afterwards.
We told Reginald our dilemma and asked if he had any ideas. Reginald used to serve at ROF Woolwich before retiring and sure enough he suggested a few names and promised to contact them, even a few civilians still working there. We recommended that he be very discreet with that group.
We later went to the hotel for evening dinner. We occupied two tables, one for the ladies and we men at the other. Irvine and Bron joined us and I asked Irvine if he has considered using the second house as a guest house.
"There are four rooms that can be used as guest rooms then downstairs one of the rooms could be used as office space. Offer rooms to single officers arriving at TRADOC - which will be expanding by the way."
"I have considered it but we've been too busy settling in ourselves. We don't need the money either."
"It'll keep Lucy busy, Irvine. She's very industrious."
"Will I be getting the armoured brigade, Bob?" George asked, "and who will be replacing me at the 4th?"
"Your replacement is Brigadier J.C. Tilly, currently the chief instructor at the Royal Tank School in Bovington and to answer your first question, there is no armoured brigade and it's not my decision anyway. You helped put together the TO&E for the armoured division so you should know that when sent on operations there are only battlegroups. I believe that you and Irvine are going to the BG being formed from the 10th Motorized Infantry Brigade in Galilea. You George will be the commander and Irvine your operations officer. Bron, you'll be assigned to the division headquarters because of your knowledge of Hebraic. There isn't much need for cavalry officers unless you want to command a transportation company equipped with donkeys."
"I'll pass on that offer."
Reginald asked why the gun project is private not a requirement from the MoD. "One reason is because most of the top brass at the MoD are trench warfare officers and they oppose change. Another reason is the British Army mentality. 'If God wanted the 25-pdr to be used against tanks it would be called an anti-tank gun'. Government is hopelessly inefficient and the military part of it is no exception. Don't quote me on that, please. TRADOC was created in order to come up with innovative ideas. We have several projects which were previously rejected by the MoD but we are pursuing them anyway. I'm initiating these projects because nobody else has. I don't need the money but my R&D staff could do with a decent pension and their children should be able afford a decent university education if they are smart enough. I also want our troops to have the best equipment available so that they can kick enemy ass."
"The money comes from license fees?" Irvine asked.
"Yes, but also from patents and copyright fees. Another consideration is that they are privately funded projects therefore can be exported."
Lucy Miller came to our table. "Two questions. Are you finished? And when is Irvine going to Palestine?"
"Yes and in a couple of weeks but I know of no fixed date at the moment. You can't wait to get rid of him?"
"Irvine is the one who can't wait to go."
It could be a long day tomorrow so we left.