ROF Blackburn
Encyclopedia
Royal Ordnance Factory, ROF, Blackburn was part of the Ministry of Defence
organisations producing components for the manufacture of armaments and arms related equipment from the late 1930 until after WWII
. Commonly known locally as the "Fuse" or "Fuze", because the majority of components in production related to the fuse mechanisms
used on most explosive device
s at the time, bomb
s.
Providing local employment
, the factory
was known as a good employer and provided one of the best and respected apprenticeship
schemes in the region.
Along with mass production of fuse mechanisms, it also developed Safety and Arming Mechanisms, S&A Units for many more of the sophisticated weapon
s in development during and after WWII. These S&A units provided safe handling for missile
s whilst under transit conditions and safety for operator personnel up to the time of having to be armed. Bombs and missiles need specific launch conditions to be fulfilled to stop injury and fatalities to handlers during pre-launch.
Most well know missiles from the UK after WWII had S&A units from ROF Blackburn, including Blue Streak, and other weapons used at the time of the Falklands Crisis
.
Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)
The Ministry of Defence is the United Kingdom government department responsible for implementation of government defence policy and is the headquarters of the British Armed Forces....
organisations producing components for the manufacture of armaments and arms related equipment from the late 1930 until after WWII
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Commonly known locally as the "Fuse" or "Fuze", because the majority of components in production related to the fuse mechanisms
Fuse (explosives)
In an explosive, pyrotechnic device or military munition, a fuse is the part of the device that initiates function. In common usage, the word fuse is used indiscriminately...
used on most explosive device
Explosive device
An explosive device is device that relies on the exothermic reaction of an explosive material to provide an extremely sudden and violent release of energy. Explosive devices have applications as demolition devices and as weapons in the military....
s at the time, bomb
Bomb
A bomb is any of a range of explosive weapons that only rely on the exothermic reaction of an explosive material to provide an extremely sudden and violent release of energy...
s.
Providing local employment
Employment
Employment is a contract between two parties, one being the employer and the other being the employee. An employee may be defined as:- Employee :...
, the factory
Factory
A factory or manufacturing plant is an industrial building where laborers manufacture goods or supervise machines processing one product into another. Most modern factories have large warehouses or warehouse-like facilities that contain heavy equipment used for assembly line production...
was known as a good employer and provided one of the best and respected apprenticeship
Apprenticeship
Apprenticeship is a system of training a new generation of practitioners of a skill. Apprentices or protégés build their careers from apprenticeships...
schemes in the region.
Along with mass production of fuse mechanisms, it also developed Safety and Arming Mechanisms, S&A Units for many more of the sophisticated weapon
Weapon
A weapon, arm, or armament is a tool or instrument used with the aim of causing damage or harm to living beings or artificial structures or systems...
s in development during and after WWII. These S&A units provided safe handling for missile
Missile
Though a missile may be any thrown or launched object, it colloquially almost always refers to a self-propelled guided weapon system.-Etymology:The word missile comes from the Latin verb mittere, meaning "to send"...
s whilst under transit conditions and safety for operator personnel up to the time of having to be armed. Bombs and missiles need specific launch conditions to be fulfilled to stop injury and fatalities to handlers during pre-launch.
Most well know missiles from the UK after WWII had S&A units from ROF Blackburn, including Blue Streak, and other weapons used at the time of the Falklands Crisis
Falklands War
The Falklands War , also called the Falklands Conflict or Falklands Crisis, was fought in 1982 between Argentina and the United Kingdom over the disputed Falkland Islands and South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands...
.