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Bunker Bash 2012


mike65

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The Bunker Bash has for the last couple of years ended with me paying a visit to Hospital.. 2009 managed to chop my big toe in half after dropping a rather large pole thumper on it, only had socks on at the time... 2010 ended up in hospital with heart problems after tearing a heart muscle.. that bloody pole thumper again.. 2011.. think I was lucky that year..

 

This year it was Ian's turn.. yep the Pole Thumper again.. only the small one this time but a couple of months on & his thumb is still well banged up....

 

Thought I got away with it this year, stayed at the Bunker for another week to clear up & soak up the sunshine, all was going well untill it came over very dark all of a sudden & I rushed to get our big PA tent packed up on my own before the storm hit.. dropped the poles & canvas, gave the canvas a tug & Bang!! a 5' steel tent pole that was laying on the canvas flew up & smacked me on the head.. knocked out cold, trip to hospital, CT scan, fractured skull & concusion..

 

Photo taken a few minutes after it happened.. Ok stop laughing at the back!!

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Had a feeling they were, it was a fantastic battle. I was the assistant on one of the mortar teams, even though it was firing blank shot gun cartridges it was enormously loud.

 

You should of got on the other Mortar Team that was using my mortar & firing the smokes..:-D or my .50cal that was used in the battle :cool2:

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Photos By D.T.Morris

 

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Bunker Bash 2012 by D.T.Morris, on Flickr

 

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Bunker Bash 2012 by D.T.Morris, on Flickr

 

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Bunker Bash 2012 by D.T.Morris, on Flickr

 

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Bunker Bash 2012 by D.T.Morris, on Flickr

 

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Bunker Bash 2012 by D.T.Morris, on Flickr

 

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Bunker Bash 2012 by D.T.Morris, on Flickr

 

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Bunker Bash 2012 by D.T.Morris, on Flickr

 

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Bunker Bash 2012 by D.T.Morris, on Flickr

 

 

 

 

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  • 4 weeks later...

Posted with kind permission from Lee Bowden FAAA.

 

Part 1

 

OP COBRA

THE BUNKER BASH SHOW

 

 

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Just a couple of weeks before the group’s main Normandy trip in early June the First Allied Airborne Association deployed to the “Secret Nuclear Bunker” museum at Kelvedon Hatch Essex, the venue for the BUNKER BASH Living History and vehicle show

 

The First Allied Airborne Association carried out a public display at the Bunker Bash Military show representing the 41st Armoured Infantry Regiment and the 66th Armoured Regiment. In support was the "Copeman team" with their fantastic M4 Sherman along with members of the 2nd Armoured in Europe group.

 

The group’s mission was to undertake a realistic static tactical display and public battle Skirmish representing troops in combat from the 2nd Armoured Division during the later stages of the Normandy breakout and Operation Cobra. The play lets were acted out 4 times over the weekend and was conducted actually on the groups static display location deep in the woodland where the group represented the Armoured Infantry Regiment unit protecting armoured elements carrying out maintenance and rearming during the "Cobra" breakout operation.

 

As with all events the advance party arrived early Friday morning to start setting up with the Pyro team under T4 Ware carrying out the safety trace and setting out the wiring ready for the Pyrotechnics and Battle Simulation equipment. Throughout the day troops wandered into the display area with the main bulk of the group pitching up on the Friday night and early Saturday morning.

 

After a hearty breakfast all group members started preparations for the first public show, several dry rehearsals took place and everyone went through the part they would play in the scene we were putting over to the public. The weekend was going to be very busy for us, as well as the 4 scenarios we were to undertake in front of the public we would also be taking part in the main arena battle later in the afternoon. All in all we had almost a complete load of 76mm rounds (blank) to discharge over the weekend.

 

In addition we had two 50 calibre gas operated heavy machine guns in operation as well has some of the largest pyrotechnics ever used in a simulated battle and these were to be used in close proximity to the watching public. Because of the wooded area the scenarios were being played out in it would all seem even closer, but because all Bat Sim was facing away from the viewing public it all came well within the safety parameters, but the aim of generating as much noise and visual dynamics were achieved creating one of the, if not the most realistic of public battles we have been involved in. This was the first such event that our recently trained Pyro Officer had conducted and the successful achievement of our aims was down to his preparations and work.

 

The first scenario went off well and was very well attended by the public which was 4 deep in places, many stayed behind after to talk to the troops and check out the kit we were using. The second one we did on the Saturday was even better as we expected, we did things a little different on all of the pacts we did.

 

Below is a selection of pictures taken throughout the weekend in regards to the 4 Bat Sim acts we did. The tactical scenarios we used explained that we were in a rear area used to maintain and get back into action battle damaged vehicles and a platoon of the 41st Armoured Infantry was tasked with local defence. The area had been counter attacked several times in the last few days and it took the Armoured Infantry to fight the small enemy fighting patrols off. The acts showed how close it could be to loosing ground so soon after capturing it!

 

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The area chosen for the maintenance and resupply location had previously been well defended by the enemy and some hard fighting had taken place to secure the area. Debris of a battle not long fought littered the area.

 

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Lt Smart the Platoon leader tasked with securing the area and providing local protection with his platoon sifts through the gear left by the enemy. The enemy also in its haste to withdraw left some of its own too!

 

 

The rear area was well established with Admin Mess and Supply at full strength.

 

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Part 2

 

OP COBRA

THE BUNKER BASH SHOW

 

 

The first vehicle into the repair area was a shot up M4, fortunately this one was not that bad so would be back out and on the line in a couple of hours

 

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The infantry had deployed a 50 cal heavy MG to secure the likely direction of threat and the remainder of the platoon undertook clearance patrols or rested up.

 

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2nd Platoon prepare to go out on Patrol

 

Throughout the few days the maintenance area was in operation, the enemy kept the Infantry busy in ensuring the enemy fighting patrols sent against the position were unsuccessful. At times the guns of the damaged Shermans were brought to bare to engage the enemy at close range

 

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As the 2nd Armoured Divisions push grew momentum it was time to move on up and back into the battle. the Sherman’s and light armour in the rear areas once again formed up and moved out, repairs fixed, rearmed and resupplied.

 

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Part 3

 

OP COBRA

THE BUNKER BASH SHOW

 

 

 

It was not long after a short wait on the divisions start line that they were engaged in combat against a determined enemy

 

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At H Hour the vehicles crossed the start line and within a 100 yards the 2nd Armoured made contact with the enemy

 

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Like all the great events the weekend was over all too fast. The organising team Ian and Lee could not do enough for us and the other groups taking part, one of the best events this one for sure. A very big thank you to the Copeman gang and 2nd Armoured in Europe for the Tank support and our own JHT or the half track and GMC deployment. The Infantry and Armour, FAAA and 2nd Armoured worked well together just as they did in WWII.

 

All those in the FAAA, all quite new to the Armoured Impression, hope we get the chance to display together again in the future.

 

This will remain a firm favourite in regards to events and next year is already being planned using a much larger area in which we can expand and work alongside other groups wearing the same divisional patch.

 

So next year.

 

See you in the Woods

 

Regards

 

LB

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