Makers Code Query

[Dronic69]

Good Evening,

I'm trying to identify which British /Australian manufacturer use the Makers Code Letters of "B.E."?

These seem to be found on 21" CCR magnetic torpedo pistols used from WW2 up to the Falkland Wars with the MK 8 torpedoes.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers
Drew

 

[TimG]

Drew,

There are several possibilities, however the most likely is ROF Blackburn (BE - Blackburn, East Block) which manufactured a variety of fuzes. Another candidate is RNAD Beith but as far as I can ascertain this was only a storage facility. Due to its size and complexity I would have been manufactured by the RN Torpedo Factory. Are there any othe marks on the pistol?

TimG

 

[Dronic69]

G'day Tim,

Here's the whole photo of the top of the magnetic pistol, but there doesn't appear to be any other related manufacturer's makings that I can find.

The poorly out of focus log indicates that the Makers code is "BE" and the rest appears to be the service entries (sorry it belongs to another Collector)

Also I just checked and it appears that the RAN Torpedo Factory was only set up during WW2 to produced the 18" aircraft torpedo, so the 21" sub related components must have been all produced in Britain:

http://users.tpg.com.au/borclaud/ranad/about_rantf.html

Also here's a great reference stating which companies were involved in the first torpedo manufacturing in Oz:

https://www.awm.gov.au/images/collection/pdf/RCDIG1070360--1-.pdf


Thanks
Cheers
Drew