Post by aghart on Jul 12, 2011 18:03:18 GMT
The Bournemouth, Poole & District Branch, Royal Tank Regiment Association had the privilege of visiting the AFV Gunnery School, Lulworth Camp, on Tuesday 12th July 2011. 3 RTR was represented by Ken "Dutch" Holland. Thanks must go to Jeff Lyman who “got us in” and liaised with the Lulworth staff to ensure a smooth and most enjoyable visit.
We arrived at the Guardroom, booked in, parked up and then went to the theatre for the opening presentation. We were given a short history of Lulworth camp and the army in this part of the world.
We were surprised to learn that the area of the camp and the Bindon & St Andrew’s range area are actually leased from the nearby Weld estate, and the army does not own it. The army does own the range area that was acquired in World War II, this being the Povington area which has the Heath range and the Tyneham Village area. The Lulworth ranges form part of the Jurassic Coast, which is a world heritage site, the only world heritage site on the planet to have tank rounds whizzing around it!
Following the initial presentation we went to the training classroom’s where John (chippers) Chapman ex 1 RTR is a civilian instructor. He showed us the training pod used for recruit gunners, most us had a go with the computer providing numerous targets for us to engage. I’m pleased to say that my gunnery instructor pedigree came to my rescue and I was able to destroy numerous targets and hold my head up high. John ensured that everyone who wanted a go got to be a gunner again. Next was a visit to the Ammunition room where we saw the spread of CR2 ammunition. The instructors gave us a very good insight to the ammunition available and possible developments in the future. Next stop were further classrooms were recruit gunners were on the simulators engaging many types of targets. We then moved onto the loader training system which is similar to the GTS of the old Chieftain days. Things have changed of course but so much is still so familiar. Following this we moved onto the static line. On show were CR2, Warrior, Scimitar and Panther. We crawled all over the vehicles like a group of schoolboys, strangely, the Panther liaison vehicle created a lot of interest amongst our members, especially Jeff Lyman who was I suspect thinking back to his time as an SSM when he had to make do with a Mk1 Ferret, which despite its many qualities is somewhat downmarket not to mention wet and cold compared to the Panther.
Also on view were the .50 Browning Heavy Machine Gun ( which despite its age remains an immense and awe inspiring piece of weaponry) and the 40mm grenade launcher. It was at this point that we began fall behind schedule “boy’s toys and all that” but we weren’t leaving till we had all had our fill of the vehicles on show. We weren’t finished yet, we were invited into the range control office which is located in the old farm buildings which remain in the camp (listed buildings that can’t be demolished). The main office is like a Coastguard control centre, with computer screens showing the radar picture of the area and the location of boats and other vessels. Gunnery templates transposed on the screens made for a very impressive if baffling visual display. It was explained that the ultimate safety of people within and around Lulworth is the responsibility of the range safety staff and that this control room was the nerve centre for this. They are all geared up for 2012 and the run up to the sailing events for the Olympic Games at Portland and Weymouth, but fortunately the Olympic Games themselves take place when the ranges are on their annual summer shutdown. This is fortunate as the competitors will be entering the ranges safety area’s and as such would have forced Lulworth to cancel live firing for the duration of the games.
We were due to visit Bindon range next but this was abandoned as there was no firing taking place, and the fact it was lunch time and the bar of the WO’s & Sgt’s mess had been specially opened for us.
Once in the mess we relaxed, enjoyed our buffet and a beer, the instructors who had been so kind to us were invited to help us devour the lunch and enjoy the atmosphere. Dave Roberts and Mick Everton, both former schools instructors at Lulworth were amazed at the number of ex colleagues who were now working at the camp in different capacities , it was like a live version of Friends Reunited. All too soon the visit was over, the bar was closed, there was still food available but despite our best efforts (especially by me) we were totally “stuffed” and had to admit defeat.
Twas time to go! As I went to collect the car, Dave and Mick who were neighbours when based at Lulworth went to look at their old married quarters and do a bit a reminiscing. On the way to the car I did some as well! Passing both a Chieftain and a Scorpion, this took me back 30 years in an instant.
What more can I say, this visit was fantastic, amazing, everyone had a great time, it was better than we had hoped for.
FEAR NAUGHT
We arrived at the Guardroom, booked in, parked up and then went to the theatre for the opening presentation. We were given a short history of Lulworth camp and the army in this part of the world.
We were surprised to learn that the area of the camp and the Bindon & St Andrew’s range area are actually leased from the nearby Weld estate, and the army does not own it. The army does own the range area that was acquired in World War II, this being the Povington area which has the Heath range and the Tyneham Village area. The Lulworth ranges form part of the Jurassic Coast, which is a world heritage site, the only world heritage site on the planet to have tank rounds whizzing around it!
Following the initial presentation we went to the training classroom’s where John (chippers) Chapman ex 1 RTR is a civilian instructor. He showed us the training pod used for recruit gunners, most us had a go with the computer providing numerous targets for us to engage. I’m pleased to say that my gunnery instructor pedigree came to my rescue and I was able to destroy numerous targets and hold my head up high. John ensured that everyone who wanted a go got to be a gunner again. Next was a visit to the Ammunition room where we saw the spread of CR2 ammunition. The instructors gave us a very good insight to the ammunition available and possible developments in the future. Next stop were further classrooms were recruit gunners were on the simulators engaging many types of targets. We then moved onto the loader training system which is similar to the GTS of the old Chieftain days. Things have changed of course but so much is still so familiar. Following this we moved onto the static line. On show were CR2, Warrior, Scimitar and Panther. We crawled all over the vehicles like a group of schoolboys, strangely, the Panther liaison vehicle created a lot of interest amongst our members, especially Jeff Lyman who was I suspect thinking back to his time as an SSM when he had to make do with a Mk1 Ferret, which despite its many qualities is somewhat downmarket not to mention wet and cold compared to the Panther.
Also on view were the .50 Browning Heavy Machine Gun ( which despite its age remains an immense and awe inspiring piece of weaponry) and the 40mm grenade launcher. It was at this point that we began fall behind schedule “boy’s toys and all that” but we weren’t leaving till we had all had our fill of the vehicles on show. We weren’t finished yet, we were invited into the range control office which is located in the old farm buildings which remain in the camp (listed buildings that can’t be demolished). The main office is like a Coastguard control centre, with computer screens showing the radar picture of the area and the location of boats and other vessels. Gunnery templates transposed on the screens made for a very impressive if baffling visual display. It was explained that the ultimate safety of people within and around Lulworth is the responsibility of the range safety staff and that this control room was the nerve centre for this. They are all geared up for 2012 and the run up to the sailing events for the Olympic Games at Portland and Weymouth, but fortunately the Olympic Games themselves take place when the ranges are on their annual summer shutdown. This is fortunate as the competitors will be entering the ranges safety area’s and as such would have forced Lulworth to cancel live firing for the duration of the games.
We were due to visit Bindon range next but this was abandoned as there was no firing taking place, and the fact it was lunch time and the bar of the WO’s & Sgt’s mess had been specially opened for us.
Once in the mess we relaxed, enjoyed our buffet and a beer, the instructors who had been so kind to us were invited to help us devour the lunch and enjoy the atmosphere. Dave Roberts and Mick Everton, both former schools instructors at Lulworth were amazed at the number of ex colleagues who were now working at the camp in different capacities , it was like a live version of Friends Reunited. All too soon the visit was over, the bar was closed, there was still food available but despite our best efforts (especially by me) we were totally “stuffed” and had to admit defeat.
Twas time to go! As I went to collect the car, Dave and Mick who were neighbours when based at Lulworth went to look at their old married quarters and do a bit a reminiscing. On the way to the car I did some as well! Passing both a Chieftain and a Scorpion, this took me back 30 years in an instant.
What more can I say, this visit was fantastic, amazing, everyone had a great time, it was better than we had hoped for.
FEAR NAUGHT