Dr Derek Allsop
Senior Lecturer
Location: Shrivenham campus
E: d.f.allsop@cranfield.ac.uk
T: +44 (0)1793 785649
Department of Engineering and Applied Science
Current activities
Currently investigating the effectiveness of less lethal weapons, fragmenting munitions and the optimisation of weapons systems for different operational requirements.Clients
DSTL, UK MOD, QINETIQ, London and Birmingham Proof Houses, Wallop Defence, DEFRA,BAE Systems, Thompson and Campbell, Oto Melara, Staffordshire Police, Metropolitan Police, Kent Police,
Police Service of Northern Ireland, MSI Defence Systems
Background
Dr Derek Allsop is a Charted Mechanical Engineer with an MSc and PhD in thermodynamics and fluid mechanics.
He joined Cranfield University in 1987 as Deputy Director of the Weapons Assessment and Technical Support Unit funded by the UK MOD to provide independent technical advice on weapons related matters following the privatisation of the Royal Ordnance Factories. In 1995 Dr Allsop moved to the Ballistics Group as a Senior Lecturer teaching undergraduate mechanics and thermodynamics and postgraduate ballistics, small and medium calibre weapon design and weapon performance. Originally Derek was Academic Leader for the Fighting Systems Study phase of the MSc in Defence Technology. This course has now been replaced by the ICSC(L) course in respect of which he is responsible for teaching medium calibre cannon and Less Lethal Weapons. He is also Module Leader for the Light Weapons Design Module of the Gun Systems Design MSc and lectures on small and medium calibre weapons, ammunition and Less Lethal Weapons on the newly introduced Battle Space Technology MSc.
Derek’s duties also included research and consultancy for weapons, ammunition and ballistics and the supervision of PhD students researching in these areas.
In 1998 Dr Allsop helped establish the Forensic Engineering and Science MSc at Cranfield University for which he is responsible for the Firearms Investigations and Forensic Ballistics modules. He is involved in the teaching of court room skills and has experience as an expert witness, both in the preparation of expert reports and in the presentation of oral evidence.
He joined Cranfield University in 1987 as Deputy Director of the Weapons Assessment and Technical Support Unit funded by the UK MOD to provide independent technical advice on weapons related matters following the privatisation of the Royal Ordnance Factories. In 1995 Dr Allsop moved to the Ballistics Group as a Senior Lecturer teaching undergraduate mechanics and thermodynamics and postgraduate ballistics, small and medium calibre weapon design and weapon performance. Originally Derek was Academic Leader for the Fighting Systems Study phase of the MSc in Defence Technology. This course has now been replaced by the ICSC(L) course in respect of which he is responsible for teaching medium calibre cannon and Less Lethal Weapons. He is also Module Leader for the Light Weapons Design Module of the Gun Systems Design MSc and lectures on small and medium calibre weapons, ammunition and Less Lethal Weapons on the newly introduced Battle Space Technology MSc.
Derek’s duties also included research and consultancy for weapons, ammunition and ballistics and the supervision of PhD students researching in these areas.
In 1998 Dr Allsop helped establish the Forensic Engineering and Science MSc at Cranfield University for which he is responsible for the Firearms Investigations and Forensic Ballistics modules. He is involved in the teaching of court room skills and has experience as an expert witness, both in the preparation of expert reports and in the presentation of oral evidence.
Selected publications
Small Arms: General Design, DF Allsop and MA Toomey, Brassey’s New Battlefield Weapons Systems and Technology Series into the 21st Century. ISBN 1 85753 250 3Cannons, DF Allsop, Brassey’s New Battlefield Weapons Systems and Technology Series into the 21st Century. ISBN 1 85753 104 3
Brassey’s Essential Guide to Military Small Arms: Design Principles and Operating Methods, DF Allsop, L Popelinsky, et al,
Brassey’s New Battlefield Weapons Systems and Technology Series into the 21st Century. ISBN 1 85753 107 8
