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C ONSIDERAf3LE publicity has been given to the mechanization of the

25th March 1938, Page 42
25th March 1938
Page 42
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Page 42, 25th March 1938 — C ONSIDERAf3LE publicity has been given to the mechanization of the
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

Keywords : Education

British Army, and it is a matter that is closely associated with our industry and of much interest to readers of this paper. Little, however, is generally known about the attendant problem, namely, the training of Army personnel in the use and maintenance of the mechanical equipment that now plays a prominent part in practically every branch of this force.

Under the administration of the Director of Artillery at the War Office, the Military College Of Science, Woolwich, is, virtually, an Army University, and here officers and other ranks take courses of training in a variety of technical subjects.

The courses range, in duration, from a few months to several years, and include the practical training of artificers for the Royal Artillery and the thorough education in science and its application of officers, who become thus qualified as instructors.

There are too many courses to enumerate, They depend largely upon the requirements and the aptitude of the students, who are drawn from all branches of the army, except specialized services such as the Royal Corps of Signals and the Royal Army Service Corps.

In the main, the position may be generalized by stating that the objects are to train personnel for specific technical work, for liaison between technical and non-technical

staffs, and for teaching. , Clearly, it would be impossible for every member of every technical staff to pass through the College. Accordingly, with the object of decentralization, officers and N.C.O.s take courses and, subsequently, distribute locally the knowledge thus acquired. An idea of the growth of the College may be formed from the fact that in 1914, 195 officers and 1,332 other ranks were trained, whilst in 1937 the corresponding figures were 316 and 2,227.

The accompanying illustrations give an impression of bow students are taught to drive military machines. Besides the vehicles shown "in action " on suitable terrain in Woolwich Arsenal, there are several other

types. Comprehensive in variety, the fleet includes a Meadows-engined tracklaying tractor, driving through the front sprockets and steered by clutches and brakes; a Vickers Carden-Loyd with Ford eight--cylindered power unit, driving by the rear sprockets and partsteered by bowing the tracks, control being by wheel ; a Morris-Commercial six-wheeler ; a track-laying tractor with Armstrong SiddeIey air-cooled 90 h.p.

V-type engine; and a Scannell Pioneer powered by a Gardner 6LW oil engine, having gear-drive to the four rear wheels and air-pressure brakes.

In addition, there are an A.E.C. Marshall six-wheeler, a Morris-Commercial 30-cwt. six-wheeler, another of this make of 15-cwt. capacity and a Morris 8-cwt. vehicle.

Driving, however, is but a small part of the curriculum of the College. Its laboratories, workshops, lecture rooms, etc., compare well with those of a civilian university. Space forbids the description they merit, so we must confine ourselves to a mention of salient points that attracted our notice.

In one room, a machine to demonstrate engine-balance problems struck its a.s particularly clever and effective. It incorporates the equivalents of four pistons and cylinders, but these can be moved relatively, so that various cylinder arrangements — vertical, flat, V—can be reproduced and the whole is mounted on springs to let it vibrate freely. Other models demonstrate problems associated with six-wheeler suspension, transmission, universal joints, epicyclic gears, fuel injection, brakes, induction pipes, etc.

Among equipment for investigating the testing of strength of materials, we observed a large torsion machine and a Hounsfield Tensometer. In another department were delicate

measuring instruments. A dozen or more different types of engine and water, electric, fan and friction dynamometers are used in the engine test shop. In -the electrical laboratory are facilities for studying the whole of an automobile electric equipment.

Complete machines can be tested by an apparatus comprising rollers under the rear wheels, with apparatus for B9 investigating tractive force, etc. At the time of our visit a well-camouflaged Commer was under investigation, while serving to demonstrate the machine.

For training young artificers in wood and metal working, there are large shops, one of which is illustrated.

Further instances of the ingenuity, ability and thoroughness of the College instructional staff were found in the mechanical-traction instruction room. Particularly good is the electrical apparatus. For a variety of circuits, simple and complex, there are models, in which illuminated tubes take the place of connections, and plywood parts, the essentials of the various components, also the actual sets. Furthermore, there are experimental boards, Thus, the student first learns the functioning of the apparatus from the model, then studies it in actual fact, and, finally, himself, wires up the cir

cuit. We understand that the consumption of fuse wire is high in this section.

Mechanical matters are similarly dealt with, and by the means outlined actual lecturing is reduced to a

minimum, The apparatus is extraordinarily complete, the variety of mechanisms included being really representative.

There are engine parts, valve gear, petrol pumps and various types of carburetter, magnetos and sparking plugs, entirely dismantled, with all the parts laid out appropriately in wooden trays. Similarly treated are clutches, gearboxes, diffierential gears, etc. These are in addition to the specimens of complete components which, in the" main, are loosely built up to facilitate dismantling and reassembly by the students.

In this M.T. section there are 77 instructors, and last year 560 students —180 officers and 380 N.C.O.s—were passed out as qualified to give instruc tion themselves. The total mileage covered per year in teaching driving is about 100,000 miles, much of which is, of course, on the road. In the lecture room there is even a road-map model, with movable vehicles, traffic signs and so forth for lessons in driving theory and road sense and the study of attendant problems. This part of the establishment is markedly distinct from the College proper where the training includes such subjects as physics, chemistry, mathematics and ballistics, and where a deep study of engineering science can he made and the equivalent of a B.Sc. degree can be taken.

The whole, however, is under the control of Brigadier A. H. Loughborough, 0.B.E., the Commandant, whose staff includes professors, lecturers, instructors and demonstrators, who are largely specialists and highly qualified.

A noteworthy feature is the ubiquity of the internal-combustion engine. In explanation, it was pointed out that it is as convenient for demonstrating engineering principles—even those of the gun—as it is for its primary purposes. The important work of this College is undoubtedly well done, and it is staffed by highly qualified men. Without it, the shortage of personnel to matt the mechanized forces would, indeed. be acute and possibly disaltrous to the nation.


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