steveo578 Posted October 19, 2010 Author Share Posted October 19, 2010 Otterburn Comet Evasive Target Tank. This concrete filled tank was formerly a 3RTR tank called Cheetah, the remains of the additional armour along the air intakes for the motor are visible in this photo. Additional armour on drivers doors and turret ring. Detail of turret ring armour Shortened barrel and closed off besa mount Additional armour around the cupola. Details of the drivers and co drivers hatches additional armour Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChasSomT. Posted October 19, 2010 Share Posted October 19, 2010 I have noticed on this, and other old range AFVs, the welds are showing up against the rest of the 'structures'. Our 439 is showing signs of this, too. Have British AFVs been welded using stainless filler rods, for 70 odd years? I'm intrigued! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Farrant Posted October 19, 2010 Share Posted October 19, 2010 I have noticed on this, and other old range AFVs, the welds are showing up against the rest of the 'structures'. Our 439 is showing signs of this, too. Have British AFVs been welded using stainless filler rods, for 70 odd years? I'm intrigued! Nickel chrome rods were used for welding armoured vehicle hulls since the beginning of WW2. First use was by Guy on an armoured car. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steveo578 Posted October 20, 2010 Author Share Posted October 20, 2010 ChasSomT. Have British AFVs been welded using stainless filler rods, for 70 odd years? I'm intrigued! According to the manufacturing diagrams it was refered to as austenitic welds -if you think about it there isn't really any option than using a form of stainless steel medium on armoured plate- standard M/S rods just wouldn't be effective. Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steveo578 Posted October 20, 2010 Author Share Posted October 20, 2010 Standard Comets on OTA, the turret remains of the Comet previously on ATWG 1 has already been shown. The scraped up remains of the 2 Roman Road Comets await disposal. Windy haus/Quickencote HESH concrete filled comet target Rear of the Comet with blanked off ehaust outlets- something that is new to me:nut: so possilby an early model or some other experimental model as it is contemporary with the Comres Comet Turret during clearance of the targets on this range. note the impact marks of full charge HESH from wombats. Comet on Otterburn impact area Same tank on its bad side Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pzkpfw-e Posted October 20, 2010 Share Posted October 20, 2010 Blimey! Restore that lot if you can! Are those photos of Comets recent? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steveo578 Posted October 21, 2010 Author Share Posted October 21, 2010 (edited) AS of 2003 the last time I was at OTA there were only 2 Comets still on the range these were the ETT tank at Redesdale range abd the standard Comet at Otterburn Impact Area. chances are they are both there-the ETT in particular is almost impossible to recover unless blown up. Of the others Roman Road wrecks were partially removed in the 1980s when the range bacame redundant with the withdrawal of Wombat/ConBat To an extnet the same applied to Quickencote/Windy Haus range which was cleared of its Comets in 1995. The Comres Comet as it never was on Otterburn, (perhaps the turret was retained for future trials) the hull was placed at Windy Haus in the late 1970s at a time when concrete filling of targets was the general rule The heavily shot up hull section Rear section during clearance Front section during clearance in 1995 Steve Edited October 21, 2010 by steveo578 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steveo578 Posted October 22, 2010 Author Share Posted October 22, 2010 (edited) A bunch of friday night specials unidentifiable junk on the PL-AT range adjacent to Davyshiel BSA. Near the area where the A11 and Churchill mk3 AVRE that were restored by Bob Grundy for Bovington were found. I initially thought it was something ex RUC -but it isn't, any ideas?:??? Dummy SA6 back in 2000 this was the only survivor of a number of these dummys. The bodies were made of the twin wall polycarbonate used to cover conservatory roofs, they were well anchored with huge lengths of scaffold poles driven deep into the ground. Main range south west of witch crags A dead truck main range west of witch crags One of several plate targets made from warship belt armour this one is at the Roman Road A/T Hesh site This plate target was on the PL-AT range adjacent to Davyshiel BSA. note the set screw fixings and the tongue and groove edge fixings. Edited October 22, 2010 by steveo578 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Farrant Posted October 22, 2010 Share Posted October 22, 2010 (edited) A dead truck main range west of witch crags [ATTACH=CONFIG]36530[/ATTACH] That is one of the prototype 4x4 Bedfords to replace the RL, know as R Mk2 ( later to develope into the MK). Note there is no cupola and body is same as RL. These date from around 1962. Some were tried with coil spring suspension. Edited October 22, 2010 by Richard Farrant Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fv1609 Posted October 22, 2010 Share Posted October 22, 2010 I initially thought it was something ex RUC -but it isn't, any ideas?:???[ATTACH=CONFIG]36532[/ATTACH] Isn't that part of a Commer, possibly 3599 XI Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steveo578 Posted October 23, 2010 Author Share Posted October 23, 2010 (edited) Richard Farrant That is one of the prototype 4x4 Bedfords to replace the RL, Thanks for that Richard, I struggle with truck ID. there was a number of experimental vehicles on OTA -the result of one of the periodic clearouts from FVRDE or similar. Forgot to mention in the post that the grey object behind the truck in the far distance (upper left in photo) is the Bailey Bridge taget -there were several types of tactical bridges on OTA but all but this one had been flatened and recovered for scrap. Edited October 23, 2010 by steveo578 addition Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steveo578 Posted October 23, 2010 Author Share Posted October 23, 2010 (edited) fv1609 Isn't that part of a Commer, possibly 3599 XI Hi clive, I don't think so -at the time I though prototype armoured Land Rover, took the photograph and moved on (lots of ground to cover that day). When I reviewed the pic it is apparent that the shape is incorrect for it or the Commers the visor slit are not in the upper section. It has rivets showing. Both the grey Commer and the other -3599XI were still in place at ATGW 3 -Hindberry Crags when this photo was taken. The wreckage was at the PL AT Practice range which is North of Hopehead farm very close to Otterburn Camp. The only Commer that comes close -visor shape and pitch of rivet holes in the wreckage behind would be the prototype WZ 4367 but then that's probably just wishful thinking. Of the other RUCs types the FV3911 doesn't fit either -visor slits in the lower section and rivets for the quadrants on the edge rather than the front. The visor slits are not the correct for either the prototype or production Land Rovers -my guess it is something from an eariler generation -possible an extemporised vehicle from WW2. As an aside in the mid 1990s David Dunne asked me to provide accurate measurements of the visors on the Commers to see if they were compatable with FV3911 as some-one had a need for visors -would this be you? The Commer and the Pigs on OTA will be posted in due course. Steve Edited October 23, 2010 by steveo578 spelling Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skint George Posted October 23, 2010 Share Posted October 23, 2010 Centurian (user name) used to work at Otterburn ranges. He might have some photos/info etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steveo578 Posted October 23, 2010 Author Share Posted October 23, 2010 (edited) I've already posted various photos of the two Grizzlies that were on OTA from 1985 to 2002 couple of other Grizzly 52 in 1991 Inside the turret of Grizzly 76 in 2002 The ruin of a Ram Kangaroo on the Otterburn Impact area, from the level of damage it would seem to have been used as a vessel for ATO to blow things up. floor plate were supported on the right side to act as a target possibly from Tod Law Edited October 23, 2010 by steveo578 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sean N Posted October 23, 2010 Share Posted October 23, 2010 That is one of the prototype 4x4 Bedfords to replace the RL, know as R Mk2 ( later to develope into the MK). Note there is no cupola and body is same as RL. These date from around 1962. Some were tried with coil spring suspension. By 1966 if not earlier these were being called RKs by Bedford and the MoD. It's a shame no apparent historic value was attached to many of these prototypes, not only Bedfords - as an R type fan it's sad to see this in this state rather than preserved. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fv1609 Posted October 23, 2010 Share Posted October 23, 2010 As an aside in the mid 1990s David Dunne asked me to provide accurate measurements of the visors on the Commers to see if they were compatable with FV3911 as some-one had a need for visors -would this be you? Steve it was indeed! I was wondering if you were the same Steve & in fact I still do have your drawing. As a result I concluded although the slit usage was similar it was different in detail from the RUC Humbers. What complicates things further that the most photographed RUC Humber was 3071 EZ as it was usually in the very front line of a confrontation. The problem with that one was it was FV1611 modified to RUC requirements. The visors differ slightly as the FV1611 windscreen arrangement is different with the wiper mounted on the body of the Humber itself. Whereas the other 9 Humbers being FV1609 have the wiper & motor fitted into the windscreen itself allowing a slightly smaller visor. As a result of this it allowed 3071 EZ to have thick mesh (with gap for slit) to be mounted directly in front of the glass as in the off position the wiper is parked well out of reach from the visor. Because of this extra protection I assume it was often chosen as the front line Humber. The others having the wiper attached to the windscreen itself never seem to have had this thick mesh protection as not be adequate room with the wiper always in the way? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Farrant Posted October 23, 2010 Share Posted October 23, 2010 By 1966 if not earlier these were being called RKs by Bedford and the MoD. It's a shame no apparent historic value was attached to many of these prototypes, not only Bedfords - as an R type fan it's sad to see this in this state rather than preserved. Sean, You have just reminded me that I have a provisional army manual for a RK, must have been issued for user trials I assume. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eddy8men Posted October 23, 2010 Share Posted October 23, 2010 hi fella's i went to otterburn in oct 91' with 1 LI milan platoon and took these pics of this wagon which was near the moving target range firing point. is this the ruc wagon you mentioned earlier ? eddy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steveo578 Posted October 24, 2010 Author Share Posted October 24, 2010 eddy8men ..... is this the ruc wagon you mentioned earlier ? Hi eddy Yes that's 3599 XI the Otterburn Commer which had a 39brigade sign on its front quarter. If you looked over the edge of the firing point behind the Commer you would have seen the Grizzlies in the valley. Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steveo578 Posted October 24, 2010 Author Share Posted October 24, 2010 Saxon personel carriers there were 3 saxons on OTA from 1996 Surprisingly they 2 were soon removed form the range and scrapped Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eddy8men Posted October 24, 2010 Share Posted October 24, 2010 thanks steve i wish i would have been into range wrecks back then, just think of the gear i could have robbed with a foden wrecker :cool2: and unlimited access to military ranges eddy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fv1609 Posted October 24, 2010 Share Posted October 24, 2010 Eddy would you say the interior of the Commer was white? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eddy8men Posted October 24, 2010 Share Posted October 24, 2010 hi clive that's right, the interior is white. eddy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fv1609 Posted October 24, 2010 Share Posted October 24, 2010 hi clive,that's right, the interior is white. eddy Eddy that fits in with the Humbers which were white inside as well. I have some B&W Humber pics & one might assume it was the normal aluminium. But the guy who took the pics in 1969 was a model maker, complete with notebook & wrote down "interior white". This is very useful evidence when people tell me mine is the wrong colour inside! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eddy8men Posted October 24, 2010 Share Posted October 24, 2010 glad i could help all the best eddy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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