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200 yard Moving Target Ranges

25 May 2014 14:59 #281 by Merrow_ELG
Replied by Merrow_ELG on topic 200 yard Moving Target Ranges
Very interesting.

I am a researcher into the Dome AA Gunnery trainers such as the concrete 40ft Domes on RAF airfields.
Some people still seem to think that they were used for air-to-air gun turret training or for navigation instruction.
I am therefore trying to list all the types of RAF gunnery trainers to show that there was no need for Dome Trainers
to be used for this type of training. In any event, the gun sight projector needed for the AA Dome trainer would not project
an image of a turret gun sight.

Could you possibly post TNAs list of the 32 Gunnery Trainers?
I have the Spotlight Trainer and the Advanced Spotlight Trainer, the Turret Gun Sighting Trainer, the Standard Free Gunnery Trainer,
the Arc Trainer and the Panoramic Trainer.

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03 Aug 2014 12:56 #282 by Peter Kirk
Replied by Peter Kirk on topic 200 yard Moving Target Ranges
Air 2/10518 from TNA at Kew has a memo dated December 1952 that mentions the setting up of an OQ Range on the site of the Chesil MTR. The proposal was to relieve pressure on the Stiffkey/Weybourne ranges and especially the "whirligig" site. The file refers to plan 782/49 but as usual it is missing or removed and filed in some obscure reference. Some of the MTR facilities were to be reused and as it would fit in the existing danger area it would be easier to set up. Unfortunately it wasn't and the site became a sewage farm.
No Amount Of Evidence Will Ever Persuade An Idiot (probably not Mark Twain)

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03 Aug 2014 18:09 #283 by carnaby
Replied by carnaby on topic 200 yard Moving Target Ranges

The file refers to plan 782/49 but as usual it is missing or removed and filed in some obscure reference.

Unfortunately 'as usual' seems to be the norm for much of this interesting stuff. Infuriating.
Plan A is always more effective when the problem you are working on understands that Plan B will involve the use of dynamite :twisted:

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01 Sep 2014 17:24 #284 by Peter Kirk
Replied by Peter Kirk on topic 200 yard Moving Target Ranges
The latest update on the Britain from Above website shows the Snettisham MTR in July 1953, along with other parts of that coast up to Hunstanton although it stops just short of the North Wootton ranges.

www.britainfromabove.org.uk/image/eaw050...ch=snettisham&ref=16

www.britainfromabove.org.uk/image/eaw050...rch=snettisham&ref=4

This is post the January floods so some features may have been damaged.
No Amount Of Evidence Will Ever Persuade An Idiot (probably not Mark Twain)

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01 Sep 2014 18:01 #285 by P Bellamy
Replied by P Bellamy on topic 200 yard Moving Target Ranges
Very useful, thanks. :)
Paul Bellamy

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02 Apr 2018 07:51 #286 by PETERTHEEATER
Replied by PETERTHEEATER on topic 200 yard Moving Target Ranges
Chiveor 200 Yard MTR RAF Aerial circa 1946

A reasonably detailed image of the CHIVENOR MTR is seen on an RAF Aerial Image seen on the Devon & Dartmoor Historic Environment Record website:

map.devon.gov.uk/dccviewer/?bm=OSGreysca...;27188;338387;150088

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17 Nov 2018 07:50 - 17 Nov 2018 07:51 #287 by PETERTHEEATER
Replied by PETERTHEEATER on topic 200 yard Moving Target Ranges
200 MTRS - ASSIGNMENT

In parallel with another line of research I found it necessary to find which airfields were assigned 200 yard Moving Tetra Ranges.

I have compiled the following list and invite comments on the Silloth and Snettisham MTRs and, of course, any errors and omissions.

MTR USER AIRFIELD

Barrow- Barrow (Walney Island)
Bridlington- Catfoss
Chesil Bank- Warmwell
Chivenor - (Not completed and unassigned)
Dumfries- Dumfries
Fort George- Dalcross
Hells Mouth- Penrhos
Jurby- Andreas
Millom- Millom
Morpeth- Morpeth
Pembrey- Pembrey
Silloth- ?
Snettisham- USAAF only?
Stormy Down (Margham) - Stormy Down
Tain- Evanton
Theddlethorpe- Manby
West Freugh- West Freugh
Wigtown- Wigtown

thanks
(Apology for the crappy formatting)

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17 Nov 2018 08:55 #288 by Peter Kirk
Replied by Peter Kirk on topic 200 yard Moving Target Ranges
Chivenor was originally to be for Chivenor but the airfield's role changed before it was completed. It was later assigned to the USAAF but I don't think it was ever used as the combined forces training probably took priority.
No Amount Of Evidence Will Ever Persuade An Idiot (probably not Mark Twain)

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17 Nov 2018 16:10 #289 by carnaby
Replied by carnaby on topic 200 yard Moving Target Ranges

200 MTRS - ASSIGNMENT

I have compiled the following list and invite comments on the Silloth... .

MTR USER AIRFIELD

Silloth- ?

First time I've actually considered this. Yes - why did Silloth have an MTR?
Plan A is always more effective when the problem you are working on understands that Plan B will involve the use of dynamite :twisted:

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17 Nov 2018 17:51 #290 by Peter Kirk
Replied by Peter Kirk on topic 200 yard Moving Target Ranges
This is where I get frustrated by the records. I suspect Silloth was like Chivenor, earmarked for a role but never used in that role. The nearby ranges had all the trappings of an Armament Practice Station (ATS) and may have been designed with that in mind. I can't recall if it was mentioned in the pre-war ATC/ATS records as planned but it may have been in a list of sites. The conversion of many ATS to AGS meant it was effectively a change of name and maybe this too was intended for Silloth at one point?

Restrictions on training flights on the east coast within the red zone may have caused the ranges to be retained but not under an ATS/AGS umbrella. I believe there was a TT Flight based there, not sure when, but they also controlled ranges and some were even referred to as "Armament Practice Camps"

Nothing concrete but it may be a reason for the MTR being located there.
No Amount Of Evidence Will Ever Persuade An Idiot (probably not Mark Twain)
The following user(s) said Thank You: PETERTHEEATER

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