ROF Dalmuir

ROF Dalmuir was a British government-owned, World War II, Engineering Royal Ordnance Factory it made medium-calibre guns, particularly anti-aircraft guns. After the war it made armoured fighting vehicles.

Formation of ROF Dalmuir

Part of the site of the former William Beardmore and Company's Naval Construction Works at Dalmuir, Clydebank, Dunbartonshire, Scotland was bought by the Ministry of Supply, in January 1939, and it was converted into an Engineering ROF.

The Naval Construction Works had closed down in the January 1931, with much of the equipment and plant sold off by auction. Some of the works' buildings were used by the new ROF, as they had already been converted by Beardmores for reuse as a locomotive works, tank manufacture and artillery manufacture. Other buildings were demolished and new buildings erected for the ROF.

World War II Production

ROF Dalmuir started production as a Royal Ordnance Factory under the control of the Ministry of Supply, it opened on 16 January 1941. In August 1941 it was handed over to William Beardmore and Company to run as an Agency Factory; and it returned to ROF Management control in September 1944.

It produced QF 3.75 inch AA and 4.5 inch (114 mm) gun anti-aircraft guns;

To be expanded.

The main offices were hit in the Clydebank blitz of 13th - 14 March1941 and burnt for three days; but the factory reopened in three weeks.

Post-war Production

In 1951 ROF Dalmuir was converted to manufacture armoured fighting vehicles and this continued until 1957 when the site was leased to Babcock and Wilcox of Renfrew on a 15 year lease.

Closure of the ROF and the site's reuse

Babcock and Wilcox stopped using the ROF site in 1969 and the Ministry of Defence sold the site in 1970. Many of the buildings were demolished between 1971 and 1973 and Clydebank Industrial Estate was created. Part of the site is now occupied by a hospital and the Beardmore Hotel.

References

* Johnston, Ian, (1993). "Beardmore Built: The Rise and Fall of a Clydeside Shipyard". Clydebank: Clydebank District Libraries & Museums Department. ISBN 0-906938-05-8.
* Hay, Ian, (1949). "R.O.F: The story of the Royal Ordnance Factories. 1939 - 1945". London: HMSO.