Quote:
Originally Posted by Crumpp
Let’s look at some of the facts being supplied.
First we have this document:
Estimates...estimates for consumption and estimates future stocks two months ahead of 29 Oct 1939.
Estimates = best educated guess. An estimate is not a fact. While interesting, it means nothing for establishing the extent of use of 100 grade. It does establish the fact in October 1940 the United Kingdom had just over half the 800,000tons of 100 Octane in strategic reserve they initially required. There was a shortage of 100 Octane fuel.
We have evidence that some 100 Octane was used as early as 16 February 1940. This squadron log definitively states the aircraft are converted and using the fuel.
It is a fact; this unit was using 100 grade. However, that does not mean the RAF had adopted the fuel or it was in widespread use.
A technical order for conversion of the aircraft had not even been published at that time. It is highly unlikely that the RAF was in the process of widespread conversion to 100 Octane without disseminating the technical knowledge to convert the airplanes in the force.
Technical Order dated March 1940:
The technical order tells us the major work required to convert an engine by replacing the cylinder heads, in some cases piston rings, and altering the fuel metering system. It also gives us the plan to make the conversions. Airplanes were to be converted when their service inspections where due. In order to make this conversion, there must be an adequate supply of the new cylinder heads and parts in the inventory to replace the old ones. Somebody has to make the parts required and distribute them. |
Read the first paper dated October 29 properly Crumpp:
Deduct Estimated Consumption Nov/Dec - all this paper is doing is
estimating consumption for November and December 1940 - it has absolutely nothing to do with actual fuel consumed July- October 1940.
As for the second document correct - the squadron was operational on 100 Octane fuel in February, meaning that the modifications to Merlins was well in hand before March...as for AP1590B March 1940;
Read AP1590B
properly Crumpp; nowhere does this document mention overhauling aircraft, nor does it mention "service inspections". Just to make things especially clear to you:
Paragraph 4 states "Newer engines will already have Mod.No.Merlin/136 embodied" meaning that the conversion was already being undertaken on the production line.
This document refers to older engines being brought up to the same standards:
Paragraph 4 states ...Mod.No.Merlin/77 is already being done as service maintenance
As per usual you have utterly misrepresented what these documents are saying.
04-17-2012, 12:12 AM
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