eddy8men Posted November 28, 2009 Share Posted November 28, 2009 hi fella's just a few pics i found of 6 churchills and an m10 achilles on warcop range in cumbria.Pretty bashed up i'm afraid.what i would call beyond economic repair,but there may be a brave soul out there that might want to take on a "fixer upper".All the best eddy p.s. thre's more pics,if anyone would like to see them just let me know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick W Posted November 28, 2009 Share Posted November 28, 2009 Post more pics! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eddy8men Posted November 28, 2009 Author Share Posted November 28, 2009 Here's some more Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eddy8men Posted November 28, 2009 Author Share Posted November 28, 2009 and again sorry but i can't load more than two at a time Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick W Posted November 28, 2009 Share Posted November 28, 2009 Ive never heard of Warcop before. Is it still in use? Are the wrecks viewable from a road/track? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steveo578 Posted November 28, 2009 Share Posted November 28, 2009 (edited) Eddy8men Probably to get more on one post you need to size the photos to 50kb Jpeg, although <250kb Jpeg are very nice for detail:) Nice well wrecked Churchills most very early -one with applique hull and a remarkably flat floor plate Here's a photo from when tank gunnery was everyday a battered T55 with another wreck in front anyone like to hazzard a guess? Rick W I've never heard of Warcop before. Is it still in use? Are the wrecks viewable from a road/track? It's off the A66 at appelby in cumbria, High lane which run through the site from A66 to hilton village used to be open to the public but the Range authoritites had the rights of way curtailed about 1999, the road to see the churchill is in the area closed to traffic, so its one of the places were permission is required. warcop 92.jpg Steve Edited November 28, 2009 by steveo578 answer question Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
berna2vm Posted November 28, 2009 Share Posted November 28, 2009 If Warcop is off the A66 then I have passed it many times! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stone Posted November 28, 2009 Share Posted November 28, 2009 Beyond economical repair maybe, but there's a lot of usable looking spare bits there! Stone Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bazz Posted November 28, 2009 Share Posted November 28, 2009 I remember in the late 80's early 90's when I was with D Sqn QOY we went to Warcop for an Annual Firing session with our CVR(T)/(W). We still had 2 Mk1 Ferrets in the Sqn, 1 for the SSM and 1 for the LO, these were replaced with Spartans. This particular w/e we were told to drive the Ferrets onto the range at Charlie High at about 800-1,000m from the firing point, load them with fuel and spare cans and leave them there. We then used them as targets for a sqn combined shoot with the Rardens and GPMG's, it was fun at the time, but it makes me weep now at the waste. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jerry.ice Posted November 28, 2009 Share Posted November 28, 2009 This was also taken at Warcop earlier this year, when my daughter was at an ATC weekend camp. Just out of picture were a couple of shot up Stalwarts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cpltomo Posted November 29, 2009 Share Posted November 29, 2009 (edited) I remember in the late 80's early 90's when I was with D Sqn QOY we went to Warcop for an Annual Firing session with our CVR(T)/(W). We still had 2 Mk1 Ferrets in the Sqn, 1 for the SSM and 1 for the LO, these were replaced with Spartans. This particular w/e we were told to drive the Ferrets onto the range at Charlie High at about 800-1,000m from the firing point, load them with fuel and spare cans and leave them there. We then used them as targets for a sqn combined shoot with the Rardens and GPMG's, it was fun at the time, but it makes me weep now at the waste. I rember doing that as well with the ferrets that we had. we used them for the night shoot. they put a tilley lamp in them so they stood out at night. but one of our sqn "forgot" this gun was pointing up and tryed to shoot the moon :rofl: Shame we you think back of all the hard targets on the range we use to fire at. Rember having a sqn shoot at a cheftain all guns firing auto at one hard at the same time we even managed to move the hard target with the fire power. Edited November 29, 2009 by cpltomo added more detail Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steveo578 Posted November 29, 2009 Share Posted November 29, 2009 (edited) Some photos of M10s on Warcop, these 2 M10s were on high ground to the east of November ridge, but I am sure they have gone. The rear view of the turreted photo shows that the motor unit was removed in a similar way to that used in scrap yards on M10s. At the time these photos were taken the M10 were being pulled down range and some at lest were used on the tank gunnery ranges. As shown in the photo with one in front of a Chieftain. Steve 17pdr M10.jpg turretless M10.jpg M10 and Chieftain.jpg Edited November 29, 2009 by steveo578 gramar Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnguppy Posted November 29, 2009 Share Posted November 29, 2009 Can anyone just walk on and help themselves !!! dont quite undersntad is it finders keepers anyone got a spare JCB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrian Barrell Posted November 29, 2009 Share Posted November 29, 2009 Can anyone just walk on and help themselves !!! dont quite undersntad is it finders keepers anyone got a spare JCB No. You risk forfeiture of vehicles and arrest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick W Posted November 29, 2009 Share Posted November 29, 2009 Can anyone just walk on and help themselves !!! dont quite undersntad is it finders keepers anyone got a spare JCB May be Antar Mike could advise! Not sure I would want to take one of those on. There comes a point... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steveo578 Posted November 30, 2009 Share Posted November 30, 2009 (edited) Johnguppy Can anyone just walk on and help themselves !!! Is this a joke :shocked: I know I had a sense of humour bypass some years ago but:nono:. I've only posted what was up there some years ago as they might be of interest. As I said in my previous post these wrecks were at that time being dragged off the high range, the odd piece of tank may still exist like the front end of one of the M10s (shown in Eddy's post) but it and the churchills are little more than sheep rubbing post, for example the upside down Churchill, which has been in that position for about 20 years has hardly an intact bogie. The M10 might give up a sharp nose housing but even this has taken a hit by what looks like a HESH shell and this would almost certainly be game over for the drive train beneath. the other more intact M10s were probably brought down and shot out or scrapped. As to obtaining stuff from ranges, it like anything without obtaining permission and or change of ownership it would be theft, even in these depressed time metal has a scrap value. Anyway enjoy a few more old photos;- 1)the turreted M10c from the front with the turretless M10c behind it. 2)FV432 and Saracen 3) the back end of a Conqueror ARV 1 which prior to 1992 was on its side with it floor plates facing the firing point, it certainly looked like it had taken many hits from 30mm cannon 4) From the side window of the car a partially destroyed T34/85 5) For Cpltomo and Bazz a Ferret 4 in general firing area. All vehicles to my knowledge have been scrapped and the area where the Conqueror 432 Saracen and T34 had been is now a shooting range. If anyone has any other photos especially of the M4A1 Grizzlies put out about 1985 and any pictures of chuchill before they were beheaded I would be very interested:) Steve 17pdr M10-2.jpg FV432 and Saracen.jpg conqueror arv 1.jpg t34.jpg 00EC92.jpg Edited November 30, 2009 by steveo578 spelling Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steveo578 Posted November 30, 2009 Share Posted November 30, 2009 (edited) jerry.ice interesting photo, any others:) did you see anything like a Centurion ARV Mk2, as one (02ZR36) was re-alocated from Otterburn in 2001-2 but I've no idea here it went Steve Edited November 30, 2009 by steveo578 question Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jerry.ice Posted November 30, 2009 Share Posted November 30, 2009 Hi Steve, Sorry that was the only photo i got, I could see a few other`s in the distance but only had a basic camera with me. They were taken from the small B road running from Warcop up to Hilton that cuts through the edge of the range and is closed during exercises ect. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
agripper Posted November 30, 2009 Share Posted November 30, 2009 Love the ferret with the floatation skirt still on it, cant be to many of them left. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phil munga Posted November 30, 2009 Share Posted November 30, 2009 It does seem such a shame that they have to use these machines as targets ,, I'm sure some old 500 gallon fuel tanks would serve the same purpose Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
berna2vm Posted November 30, 2009 Share Posted November 30, 2009 It does seem such a shame that they have to use these machines as targets ,, I'm sure some old 500 gallon fuel tanks would serve the same purpose Could'nt agree more, old chap. It is almost scandalous to destroy historic vehicles in such a manner... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrian Barrell Posted November 30, 2009 Share Posted November 30, 2009 Anything less than an armoured vehicles lasts half an hour on a range. The cost of replacing targets everyday would far outweigh any perceived benefit. Bear in mind the MOD purchased several Sherman Grizzlies from Ian MacGregor for use as targets in the 1980s. I assume he had failed to sell them privately beforehand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toolman Posted December 1, 2009 Share Posted December 1, 2009 Steve Have you got anymore photos of Ferrets from Warcop? I believe my ferret was destined to become a range target up there at one point. Matt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brooky Posted December 1, 2009 Share Posted December 1, 2009 As regards the Churchills i can remember seeing them before they were towed out onto the range (that was in the days when it was pretty much open acess to the ranges and a Sunday ride out in the car to the ranges was considered a treat in our house) The year would be about 1970 and from memory they were bridgelayers with the one piece bridge probably Churchills IV. They were complete with the bridge. I also seem to think there was a Valentine but it was a long time ago and memory may be playing tricks!!! I can also remember going to some form of "open day" again it must have been late 60's early 70's and it was the first time I ever saw a Stollie!!! The only one I had seen before was the Matchbox Shell liveried version or pictures in books. The over riding impression was that it wasnt as big as I thought. At the same day live firing of Chieftain took place.........no H&S in those days. We lived about 15 miles as the crow flies from the ranges and when live firing took place you could hear it quite clearly!!! Everything goes full circle as they say and my brother now lives in Warcop village. A bit later in the cadet force we used Warcop for excercises and the brief always included a warning not to pick anything up from the raqnges as it may still be live..........again H&S taking a low profile. No big guns fire there now, however still plenty of noise when Rarden or chain guns are fired. If only I had a camera in those days!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlienFTM Posted December 1, 2009 Share Posted December 1, 2009 I did my Crewman Gunner Scorpion B3 Live Firing at Warcop in February 1976. My first shoot was at slow speed because the instructor wanted to get us all familiar with the noise, recoil, etc. He brought me onto his chosen target and asked what I could see. "Looks to me for all the world like a Tiger 1 turret on its side." "Yes, that's what we are going to engage." However, he assured us that at the time most of the targets were 6' by 4' by 6" rectangles of steel armour plate removed from the carrier Ark Royal (either following an upgrade or a decommissioning). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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