What's new
British Ordnance Collectors Network

This is a sample guest message. Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!

Please Help. 4"in Mk 16 & 21 Gun "Gauge Testing" and "Fuze Setting Machine" What is?

Andy Naude

Well-Known Member
Have just seen this on a 4 inch Mk. 16 and 21 Gun case.

GAUGE TESTING
FUZE SETTING MACHINE>

What is this? Is it some sort of armourers drill?

400494_140805095707_2014-08-05shell4_(8)[1].jpg
 
Received this reply from an old friend:

Yes, exactly as I expected. This is not a Drill Round for gunners to play with.

This would have been used by the Weapons Electrical Artificer (Weapons Electrician) and Ordnance Artificer (Armament Fitter) to set-up and test the fuse setting machine that the round is fed into seconds before loading and firing either in surface or AA mode. It would probably have been kept in a wooden "storage and transportation" box and handled carefully as it is a piece of "test equipment" and therefore to be treated as an instrument.The stand does not look original to me.


The fuze setting machine would have been on a ship with powered mountings to make the best use of the radar information, the Transmitting Station fire-control computer and the ability of the mounting to track fast moving targets.
 
Top