ANTI-TANK GUNS

Evening Post, Volume CXXXI, Issue 118, 21 May 1941, Page 6

ANTI-TANK GUNS

AUSTRALIAN PRODUCTION

ROMANCE OF INDUSTRY

SYDNEY, May 3.

In contrast to the halting production of many other items of war equipment the manufacture of anti-tank guns in Australia appears as a miracle of industrial achievement.

Within six months of receipt of drawings, engineering and manufacturing factories in South Australia. Western Australia, New South Wales, and Victoria have reached the mars production stage in the production of this vital weapon. Under normal peacetime conditions, such an achievement would not have been possible under 18 months.

The story 01 this achievement is one ot the dramas of Australian industry —a drama in which the co-ordination, high efficiency, and adaptability of 60 engineering and manufacturing firms in four States have played a magnifi cent role.

Here are some of the problems which had to be overcome before mass production of these guns could begin The first official order was placed with the sub-contractors in the three States last September. The necessary machine tools were practically non-existent, and over 1000 drawings were necessary Component parts totalled 2232, each re presenting a separate task. Elaborate jigs, tool fixtures, dies, patterns, and gauges had to be made and proven before production of any component could commence Staffs with teohni cal experience in making and handling the machine tools had to be assembled, or trained, in each State.. LATHES FROM STRANGE PLACES The story of the assembling of the necessary machine tools is a romance in itself. Old engine lathes were ob tamed from the most unusual otaces One was dug out of the mud of the Yarra River, rusted and barnacle encrusted. Others were discovered in wreckers' yards, and one lathe manufactured in 1859 was brought into service. Australia. was scoured for tools Modern machine tools, each one a war romance in itself, were also secured Machine tools which could not be secured by these means were designed and built in Australia by Australians.

With minor modifications, the new all-Australia gun is the famous British anti-tank weapon which played havoc with Italian tanks and armoured vphip.lp?! in T.ihvn snH flr-pepp.