Journal of the Royal Naval Scientific Service. Volume 29, Number 6 ...

276 J.R.N.S.S., Vol. 29, No. 6
PROOF AND EXPERIMENTAL ESTABLISHMENT
ARMY DEPARTMENT INCHTERF
Commander W. Y. McLanachan, R.N., Rtd.
are used for storing projectiles. The name
Inchterf means island in the bog and in the
circumstances is very appropriate. From its
opening in 1940 until 1958 the Superintendent
at Inchterf was either an RN or RM Officer
from the Chief Inspector of Naval Ordnance's
(now DN Ord S) department. From 1958 - 1969
the Superintendent's post alternated Army and
Navy but since 1969 the post has become an
Army one. This is reasonable, as the percentage
of Naval Proof and Trials has decreased
in parallel with the decrease in guns carried in
H.M. Ships. However a good liaison is
still maintained with the R.N. and the Main
Conference room, reconstructed in 1972 is
known as the " Lochinvar" Room after
H.M.S. Lochinvar, the naval minesweeping
establishment (see Fig. 1).
FIG. 1. The " Lochinvar " Room used as the Main
Conference Room and as an Officers' Mess Annex.
Photo shows the Ship's Crest presented by
H.M.S. Lochinvar.
Introduction and History
P & EE Inchterf, is a Closed Range, situated
near Kirkintilloch 12 miles north-east of
Glasgow. Originally used by Messrs. Beardmore
& Sons Ltd., it was taken over by the
Government in the late '30s and the first round
was fired in July 1940. The site is a sandy one in
an area of marshy ground, the country in the
immediate vicinity being industrial and until
recently mainly coal mining. It is also a semiurban
area. A relatively small area has been
fully developed for current needs. The Establishment
takes its name " Inchterf " from the
original farm of Inchterf whose buildings, byre,
dairy and barns are in the magazine area and
Task
(a) Propellant Proof
(1) Propellant is manufactured in Lots. In
order to obtain constant performance
from Service propellants, samples are
taken from each Lot, and matched
against a Standard Lot, the charge weight
of a Lot in any gun being determined
by its ballistic performance compared
to the Standard.
(2) The selection of a suitable Lot for adoption
as a Standard for each equipment/
propellant combination, both Naval and
Land Service, is initiated at Inchterf. The
subsequent work of making up, storing
and checking of ballistic performance, of
all such standards, is one of the Establishment's
primary tasks.
(3) With the increase of NATO projects and
sales abroad the efficient maintenance of
Standards is of paramount importance.