Noiseless guns for the Army . Remarkable invention of Surrey engineer . Mr Ronald Chapman , a Caterham engineer , has invented a silencer for rifles and machine guns , which is now under consideration by the War Office for use by the Army . The device is being kept secret . There is no loss in efficiency for the muzzle velocity of the bullet remains to same , but fourfifths of the volume of noise and all flash and smoke is dispelled . Mr Ronald Chapman firing a rifle fitted with the new silencer during a demonstration on top of a building in Piccadilly , London . 4 May 1932