UNIT, GUN FIRING

Description: RECTANGULAR STEEL CASING WITH BATTERY PACK ON BOTTOM AND FIRING MECHANISM ON TOP. ON SIDES ARE HINGE AND CLAMP FOR FASTENING BATTERY AND DEVICE. ON SIDE OF DEVICE IS CIRCULAR COLLAR WITH TWO CUT WIRES INSIDE. ON FRONT OF DEVICE ARE A BLACK SWITCH, A LIGHT HOUSING AND A FIRING BUTTON. ON LEFT SIDE IS RIVETED STEEL PLATE WITH BLACK BACKGROUND WHICH READS "24 VOLT GUN FIRING UNIT NO. 1 MK.1 FV 159951 AB 10/52" AND "FIRE", "OFF", "TEST". SMALL STEEL PLATE AT TOP RIGHT READS "WARNING SWITCH OFF BEFORE PLUGGING INTO BREECH RING". BENEATH IS YELLOW PLASTIC DOME WITH LIGHT UNDER IT. TO ITS RIGHT IS STEEL CASE WITH HINGED CAP. CAPE HAS "EMERGENCY FIRE" STAMPED INTO IT. STEEL HAS MODERATE CORROSION AND HAS NUMEROUS SCRATCHES.

History: FIRING UNIT WAS FOUND IN STORAGE AT THE ARMOURIES AND WAS DONATED BY 18TH AIR DEFENSE REGIMENT. *UPDATE* IN 2012 COLLECTIONS ASSISTANT DAVID SMITH CONDUCTED A SURVEY OF MILITARY OBJECTS. HE WAS UNABLE TO DISCOVER NEW INFORMATION ABOUT THE OBJECT BECAUSE IT WAS COLLECTED IN THE INTEREST OF REPRESENTING TYPOLOGY RATHER THAN INDIVIDUAL OWNERSHIP. NO UNIQUE MARKINGS TO HELP IDENTIFY ORIGINAL OWNER.