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Aviation History
1936
1936 - 1176.PDF
MAY 7, 1936. FLIGHT. c Pandora's Box : The Vickers Predictor, which interprets triangles into elevation, traverse and fuse timing (Flight photographs.) which to lay the gun. A second set of pointers on the gun dials are made to syn chronise with the first pair by the gunlayers, who ele vate and traverse the gun as necessary. If all the calcu lations are right, and if the aeroplane meanwhile con tinues to fly on a straight and steady course, the result will be a rapid disintegration of that aeroplane, pilot, bomb- aimer and bombs into their chemical compounds. That is a rough-and-ready description of the work of the 51st (London) Anti-Air craft Brigade, R.A. (T.A.), whose headquarters are at the Duke of York's Head quarters, Chelsea. It would apply also to the 52nd Brigade, which has its head quarters at the same place. Each Brigade is commanded by a Lieut. Colonel and comprises three Batteries. A Bat tery is under the command of a Major, and is subdivided into sections (normally two to a Battery). A"Battery has also a machine gun section armed with light automatic guns for dealing with raiders which may come down to 3,000 feet or less. New Equipment Recruits have lately been coming in much better to the 51st Brigade, and there is no doubt that the issue of up- to-date equipment, together with the restoration of the Territorial bounty to ^5, is a stimulating factor. The issue of the new equipment is now in progress. The gun in use is a 3 in. 20-cwt. piece on a high-angle mounting and semi- mobile platform. The loading is done manually, as shown in our illustrations, and the normal rate of fire is one round in 4 seconds. A higher rate can be attained, but more rapid fire does not make for greater accuracy. There will be great excitement when the new guns arrive at Chelsea, but at present nothing can be said about their characteristics. It is perhaps in anticipation of their arrival, and also by reason of the new equipment and increased bounty already mentioned, that the number of recruits to the 51st Brigade has recently shown a con siderable improvement. Nevertheless, it should be made clear that there is room for plenty more, and the idea of helping to defend their homes against air raids is one which ought to make a strong appeal to Londoners. The work is very interesting, but not too strenuous, and the Brigade will accept men between the ages of seventeen (below eighteen years they must have their parents' con sent) up to fifty. Gunners, bombadiers and corporals may serve up to the age of fifty-four, and sergeants and warrant officers up to fifty- five. Enlistment in the first place is for four years, which can be extended. After being passed as efficient for twelve years a man is entitled to re ceive the T.E. medal. There is now one sergeant in the Brigade who served for twenty-one years in the Royal Horse Artillery and earned the Long Service and Good Conduct medal, and has since served for over twelve years in the Terri torial Army, and has been granted the T.E. medal. This combination must surely be unique. There is quite a considerable proportion of old regulars in the Brigade. No particular calling is de manded or sought in recruits. All trades are welcome, and The Robot clairvoyant : An other view of the Predictor.
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