Random Castlemartin Range Questions
Discussion
Had a stroll here on Monday while on holiday. Came across a few of these next to the path:
What are they? Some kind of training round?
Also this memorial, hidden away very close the cliff edge at Huntsman's Leap:
Difficult to read, but appears to be a Belgian officer killed during a training exercise? Anyone know any more about it? Can't make out the exact date, but I think it might be 2006 or 2010
What are they? Some kind of training round?
Also this memorial, hidden away very close the cliff edge at Huntsman's Leap:
Difficult to read, but appears to be a Belgian officer killed during a training exercise? Anyone know any more about it? Can't make out the exact date, but I think it might be 2006 or 2010
Ginge R said:
It looks very similar to an inert 40mm training round, fired by a handheld grenade launcher.
It's sad that the plaque has faded and looks so neglected so quickly.
Thanks for the info. The plaque looks like it's made of an odd material and has shallow engraving unfortunately. There was a plastic tray containing the remains of some flowers next to it though.It's sad that the plaque has faded and looks so neglected so quickly.
Is the blue part, plastic? It was used with the M203 grenade launcher and filled with day-glo powder to observe fall of shot on hard surfaces.
Many would be amazed to learn that the Germans garrisoned main battle tanks and troops in Wales for the best part of thirty years. Great local pubs too, as I recall.
Many would be amazed to learn that the Germans garrisoned main battle tanks and troops in Wales for the best part of thirty years. Great local pubs too, as I recall.
dr_gn said:
Difficult to read, but appears to be a Belgian officer killed during a training exercise? Anyone know any more about it? Can't make out the exact date, but I think it might be 2006 or 2010
Google Translate of Belgium military website:"Traditionally, sponsorship is assigned to the new promotion. For the 2014 promotion, sponsorship is assigned to fire the adjutant Dany Richard. He was an instructor for candidates Zairian officers in Kananga and held various key positions in Belgium. He participated in a former UNPROFOR mission in Yougoslovie. By participating in Castlemartin (Great Britain) to a demanding exercise physical qualities, courage and boldness, he left life after a fall in 2003."
http://www.mil.be/fr/communiques-presse/611-candid...
This BBC article is only the English link but has limited details - http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/south_west/325779...
ninja-lewis said:
dr_gn said:
Difficult to read, but appears to be a Belgian officer killed during a training exercise? Anyone know any more about it? Can't make out the exact date, but I think it might be 2006 or 2010
Google Translate of Belgium military website:"Traditionally, sponsorship is assigned to the new promotion. For the 2014 promotion, sponsorship is assigned to fire the adjutant Dany Richard. He was an instructor for candidates Zairian officers in Kananga and held various key positions in Belgium. He participated in a former UNPROFOR mission in Yougoslovie. By participating in Castlemartin (Great Britain) to a demanding exercise physical qualities, courage and boldness, he left life after a fall in 2003."
http://www.mil.be/fr/communiques-presse/611-candid...
This BBC article is only the English link but has limited details - http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/south_west/325779...
Can't help identify the specific nature of ammunition, although 40mm Grenade Machine Gun or USGL ammo looks to be a good call (ex RE, so grenade launcher definitely not "our thing"), but that shade of blue is the identifying colour of 'Practice', or 'Inert' ammo, so it shouldn't contain any explosives other than the propellant which, if it has been fired, will be gone anyway. Anything that's a more stealthy colour should be avoided, especially if it has yellow bands painted around it, as yellow is 'High Explosive'. The discoloured copper band with grooves in it in the OP's photo is the 'driving band' and is soft metal so that it forms to the rifling in the barrel to create an effective seal, hence why the band in the unfired photo, below, appears smooth and pristine.
Random useless info? Back in the early 1990s I was involved in the "rendering unusable" of a number of Chieftain main battle tanks on Castlemartin ranges. It was part of the capability reduction required by the Conventional Forces Europe treaty, and the tanks were stripped of transferable assemblies and spare parts, towed into positions on the range, and we used explosives to cut through specific parts of the hull and main armament to ensure that they could never be used again. Former Soviet Bloc military representatives then inspected our work and ticked the tanks off their list of our combat assets. I still have a handful of the big ball bearings from the turret race that I grabbed as a souvenir, but I've misplaced the photos I took at the time.
Random useless info? Back in the early 1990s I was involved in the "rendering unusable" of a number of Chieftain main battle tanks on Castlemartin ranges. It was part of the capability reduction required by the Conventional Forces Europe treaty, and the tanks were stripped of transferable assemblies and spare parts, towed into positions on the range, and we used explosives to cut through specific parts of the hull and main armament to ensure that they could never be used again. Former Soviet Bloc military representatives then inspected our work and ticked the tanks off their list of our combat assets. I still have a handful of the big ball bearings from the turret race that I grabbed as a souvenir, but I've misplaced the photos I took at the time.
Edited by yellowjack on Thursday 7th May 10:20
I have only ever fired that round twice; firstly on the American/Mexican border and secondly, in the Congo.
The first time involved an agency demonstrating it to us with delivery via the Mk 19. The cowboy operators (no, metaphorically cowboys) only expressed mild annoyance as the wind stole the trajectory at the culminating point (causing the rounds to disappear in flight).
The mystery of the vanishing rounds was soon solved. As we left the area, we passed through a village neatly peppered with fluorescent powder. It was crawling with locals trying to get across the border and up in arms (now there's a surprise) that the Americano was using Agent Orange on them.
The first time involved an agency demonstrating it to us with delivery via the Mk 19. The cowboy operators (no, metaphorically cowboys) only expressed mild annoyance as the wind stole the trajectory at the culminating point (causing the rounds to disappear in flight).
The mystery of the vanishing rounds was soon solved. As we left the area, we passed through a village neatly peppered with fluorescent powder. It was crawling with locals trying to get across the border and up in arms (now there's a surprise) that the Americano was using Agent Orange on them.
Thanks guys - I did notice the rifling marks on the band, there were also some thin longitudinal lines scratched on the nose too. I guess they might have been caused by whatever it hit.
I was with the family, so as an example I didn't touch it, in line with the drastic warning signs dotted around:
We often go walking around Langset Moors near Sheffield, and there is a lot of unexploded ordnance from the time the area was a WW2 tank training range (we found some live, but heavily corroded bullets one day). I try to educate the kids to leave any metallic objects they may find well alone!
I was with the family, so as an example I didn't touch it, in line with the drastic warning signs dotted around:
We often go walking around Langset Moors near Sheffield, and there is a lot of unexploded ordnance from the time the area was a WW2 tank training range (we found some live, but heavily corroded bullets one day). I try to educate the kids to leave any metallic objects they may find well alone!
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