ROF Dalmuir facts for kids

ROF Dalmuir was a special factory owned by the UK government. It was an "Engineering Royal Ordnance Factory" during World War II. This factory made medium-sized guns, especially powerful anti-aircraft guns. These guns helped protect against enemy planes. After the war ended, the factory started building armoured fighting vehicles. These are like tough, protected vehicles used by the military.

Building the Dalmuir Factory

In January 1939, the UK government bought part of a large site in Dalmuir, Clydebank, Scotland. This area used to be the "Naval Construction Works" owned by William Beardmore and Company. The government wanted to turn it into a factory for making weapons.

The old Naval Construction Works had closed in 1931. This was during a time when the economy was very bad. Many of its machines and tools were sold off. But some of the old buildings were still useful. William Beardmore and Company had already changed them to make things like locomotives, tanks, and artillery. The new factory used these buildings. Other old buildings were taken down, and new ones were built for the ROF Dalmuir factory.

What Dalmuir Made During World War II

ROF Dalmuir officially started making things on January 16, 1941. It was managed by the Ministry of Supply. In August 1941, another company, William Beardmore and Company, took over running the factory for a while. It was called an "Agency Factory" then. But in September 1944, the government took back control.

The factory mainly produced two types of anti-aircraft guns. These were the 3.75 inch and the 4.5 inch (114 mm) anti-aircraft guns. These guns were very important for defending against air attacks.

During the Clydebank Blitz in March 1941, the factory's main offices were hit. They burned for three days. But the factory was very strong. It was able to reopen and start working again in just three weeks.

After the War: New Products

In 1951, ROF Dalmuir changed what it made. It started building armoured fighting vehicles. This continued until 1957. After that, the site was rented out to a company called Babcock & Wilcox. They leased the factory for 15 years.

Closing Down and New Uses

Babcock & Wilcox stopped using the factory site in 1969. The Ministry of Defence sold the land in 1970. Many of the old factory buildings were taken down between 1971 and 1973. A new area called Clydebank Industrial Estate was built there. Today, part of the old factory site is home to the Golden Jubilee Hospital and the Beardmore Hotel.