Page 5 Advertisements Column 3

Dominion, Volume 38, Issue 289, 5 September 1945, Page 5

“AN OUTSTANDING SUCCESS” LEYLAND'S COMET, FASTEST AND MOST HEAVILY ARMOURED BRITISH TANK, "PLAYED MAJOR PART IN DEFEATING GERMAN ARMIES" A newspaper message from London, dated units to meet the increased weight imposed by August 5, referring to a critical pamphlet the heavier gun and armour. The new techpublished by the Tanks Victory Club, stated: nique involved in the production necessitated "Britain's fastest and most heavily ar- retooling and the training of hundreds of moured cruiser tank, the Comet, which played welders. a major part in smashing the German Army, was an outstanding sue- ” ”——— cess. The prototype was built 13 1 . ? .- -■ months after the design was begun. j ' "The motor industry played a i key role in developing the final high ’ ■ ' ' ' ' standard of tank production." | The "Comet," which formed the I spearhead of the British advance in I : Germany, was designed and built by - Leyland Motors, Ltd. The design of the "Comet" was . 60 per cent, new, incorporating an ’ ' I all-welded hull and turret, a new T’'' gun, and a rearrangement of many ' LEYLAND, MOTORS, LTD., WAKEFIELD STREET, WELLINGTON. Works: Leyland, Lancashire, Englani

WAR PRODUCTION OF LEYLAND MOTORS LTD. Huge Output of Tanks, Engines, Bombs EXPORT TRADE TO BE EXTENDED

Here are a few statements of general interest, from the Report presented at the Annual Meeting on 20th June, 1945: “As American propaganda has been widespread and censorship here very strict, no clear conception of the immense re-organisation, re-equipment and achievement of the. British Engineering Industry has as yet been possible. “Where so many have contributed so much, your Company’s achievement may not appear outstanding, but since there is some relaxation in the censorship, the summarised report of the Company s war -service which follows may not be out of place. WAR SERVICE.

“Other units and components produced for war purposes were so varied that it would be impracticable to give full details. in this short report, but it may he stated that the following major items were manufactured and delivered:— Wheeled vehicles prior to tank production, over 8,000. Heavy 10-tou 6-wheeleu ’ Government vehicles, recently placed in production, over 1,000. Tank engines, over 10,000. Tanks (medium and heavy), over 3,000. High explosive bombs of heavier types, over 7,500. Incendiary bombs, over 11.000,000. ■ 20 mm. shells, over 5,000.000. Light alloy castings (mainly for aircraft engines),, over 10,000 tons. “Due to the world wide area of operations and to the necessity ofj providing against loss by enemy action, requisitions for spares have been on a colossal scale, often exceeding 100 per cent, of the value of the new production. “The Company has also manufactured motor fire escapes, independent pumping units, power units for dealing with magnetic mines, land mines and aero engine mountings. Many tanks have been rebuilt, and at the same time there has been maintained an ever-increasing output of spare parts to meet the demands of the operators of commercial vehicles employed for essential civil purposes, many of which vehicles have been maintained in service with road mileages exceeding the million mark. ROYAL VISIT. “All personnel in the Company’s service were greatly encouraged and honoured, by the visit of Their Majesties the King and Queen in November, 1941. PRQIIUCTION. “The war in Europe is at an end. The Company still has, however, a considerable volume of war contracts to complete. Civil, as well as Government, production is still under control The changeover to our normal peace time manufacture will, therefore, be spread over a number of months. We have already produced a series of prototypes, and have authority to manufacture a limiteu number of public service vehicles this year, and are assured that this authority will be extended in the very near future to a very much greater quantity and variety ot vehicles in both the passenger and goods range. EXPORT. “Our export trade was not inconsiderable in 1939, and it wil! be our endeavour to extend this trade tc the greatest possible extent as soon as civil vehicles can be produced in quantities again. By that time we hope tha 1 handicaps imposed t>y Government control wixt have been removed.

THE FUTURE. “The basis of an expanding, mechanised war was, and, if the need again arises will be, the Motor Industry. l’he ; country must never be allowed to forget that it is essential to have a'.prosperous British Motor Industry, which employs a large number of experienced, trained technicians, and constitutes the first line of defensive preparation. Safety depends upon it. The Motor Industry should become the largest single industry in this country. Its potentialities to ward off unemployment, to provide well paid regular work; and to sustain the export trade are unlimited. “Though the need for export is declared to be essential, for 12 months the heavy vehicle manufacturers have asked in vain for authority to build, as standard in this country, the types of vehicles acceptable overseas. The Minister of War Transport refuses this authority on the grounds that to make this concession would be ‘the thin edge of the wedge,’ and because it must be many years nefore our roads will be safe for the passage of omnibuses which are not more than 6in. wider than those now permitted, and no wider than the overall width of many loaded goods vehicles. The operation of some tip wagohs of a width of lOftl has recently been authorised. Operators and builders are prepared for temporary local limitations where obviously necessary. PERSONNEL.

“At the outbreak of war we visualised a life-a mi-death struggle into the vortex of which everyone and everything would inevitably be drawn. We knew that the Government would need the utmost capacity of each of the largest engineering.organisations,' and. without hesitation, placed the whole of your Company’s resources at the disposal of the nation. A programme was agreed for the production of tanks, high explosive and incepdiary bombs, and other instruments of war to the complete exclusion of commercial type wheeled vehicles. This programme has been carried out without extensive additions to buildings, or the requisition of any.very special machinery and equipment. “During the early stages of the war, whilst preparing for this complete changeover, wheeled vehicles were built in the greatest possible numbers, and. in that short time, over 8,000 medium and heavy four and six-wheeled service vehicles were produced—a numljer greater than our total production during the whole of the 1914-1918 war.

“The number on the Company’s payroll Is approximately double the 1939 figure. A considerable number of employees joined the Forces: the Company will willingly fulfil its obligation to reinstate them. The Essential Works Order has been modified. It is a formidable task to reduce, re-adjust, and retrain personnel, and. at the same time, re-convert the plant to civil requirements. “It can now be stated that during the five war years taxation amounted to £3,379,889 (E.P.T. £1,2111,108, N.U.U. £3(1.387. LT. £2,133,394), which figure includes provision for the estimated, amounts payable on all profits earned at the date of the accounts. This may be contrasted with a pay-roll of £13,1)92.648, and a gross distribution on the ordinary, shares of £630,000 for the same period.’’-

‘‘From the outset this Company was involved in tank manufacture, and first of all a Ivyland diesel unit was selected es standard for the Matilda. Tank production proper began with the manufacture ot the Covenanter and assembly of the Churchill. Latah in addition to manufacturing, the Company was appointed by the Ministry of Supply to'collaborate with them in the control of design and the co-ordination of production throughout the country, successively of the Centaur, Cromwell and finally the Comet, which, equipped with its high penetration 77mm gun. played a major part in the advance frot tne Rhine to the Elbe and beyond, and the final dis irtegration ot the German forces. The output of tanks from the Company’s own iaeiories represents by tar the greatest number of heavy,cruiser type tanks produced in the country, anti is greater than that- from any single organisation in tne whole of ihe British Empire. Your staff and workpeople have given nnstintingly of their services to make this achievement possible.

N.Z. Branch: Wunefleld St.. Wellington. Head Offic and Works: Leyland, Lancashire, England.

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