More Moving Targets

Boyton and Titchwell AFV Ranges

Over a year ago I said that I would return to the topic of Moving Targets on tank and anti-tank gunnery ranges in the Second World War. He we are - better late than never! It has taken an email conversation discussion with someone in Australia to prompt this post and keep to my earlier promise to discuss More Moving Targets. This post is about two similar ranges in East Anglia.

Boyton AFV Range.

The sketch plan below shows the layout of an AFV range built in 1943 on Boyton Marshes in Suffolk. If you want to pop along and have a look, the dugouts for the range machinery still exist (bar one), but the site is now an RSPB reserve and can be very wet. You will need permission to go onto the site, but it can also be well seen from the coast path along the top of the sea wall.

Figure 1

The range was constructed to provide facilities for armoured units in Eastern Command to have the opportunity to practice firing before moving to larger War Office run battle ranges for their annual "pre-operational" workup.

Figure 2

The layout of the range reflected the practices as described in Military Training Pamphlet No. 34, Part 6 (See Figure 2)), which required gunners to be able to hit stationery and moving targets from a tank in a variety of positions and ranges, both with machine guns and main armament. 

The original firing triangle for the tanks has been largely removed form Boyton, as have the banks protecting the mover rails and the dugouts. This was probably done to bolster the sea defences in this are after the 1953 "surge" which inundated much of this coastline.

Figure 3

Figure 3 shows the rather wet remains of the one surviving observation dugout, minus its protective bank and leaning awkwardly as it sinks into the marsh!

Figure 4

Figure 4 shows one of the winch dugouts (TM 3963 4680) that would have pulled the moving targets back and fore across the range. The two openings in the west wall of the dugout (to the left) were for the winch cables and observation of the moving target. The rail track, protective bank and mound have long gone.

Titchwell AFV Range

At the same time as the range at Boyton was being built in Suffolk, another AFV range was being constructed at on the North Norfoldk Coast at Titchwell. Coincidentally, the remains of this range are now an RSPB bird reserve.

Figure 5

The firing track at Titchwell is at: TF 7522 4402
















The role of Titchwell was similar to that of Boyton and towards the end of its life it was the AFV range used by tanks crews preparing for combat in the Far East. The dugouts at Titchwell are quite different to those at Boyton, although most of them are now buried and difficult to interpret.

Figure 6 - The base for a pop-up target.

Figure 7 - Dugout for operating mover(?) and pop-up targets.
Note bases for pulleys and cable runs.

Figure 8 - Winch dugout (view from west) for moving target slowly succumbing to the advancing sea and sand. Target rail ran eastward from this dugout.

Figure 9 - Cable pulley for the moving target associated with the dugout in Figure 8. About 100 metres east of the dugout.

Figure 10 - Remains of two cruiser type tanks on the beach. Probably once old hard targets.

The above gives a brief overview of two of the Second World War AFV ranges in East Anglia. There were others of a more ad hoc and temporary nature, which I may describe in the future. The next post relating to this topic will look at the anti-tank range at Holme Dunes (aka Hunstanton Anti-Tank).

VP-63 - Madcats at PD in '43 (Part 3)

More about the US Navy Patrol Squadron VP-63 at RAF Pembroke Dock

VP-63 - Madcats at PD in '43 (Part 3)

The third part of the video, shows United States Navy sailors re-arming a PBY-5. They are shown installing the nose and blister guns, as well as belts and boxes of ammunition. The aircraft is also armed with rockets on under-wing racks.

The rockets seem to be versions of the lower example in the diagram below.  I am sure those better informed than me will put me straight!

It just occurred to me that I did not explain why VP-63 was known as "The Madcats". I will post about this later!!

VP-63 - Madcats at PD in '43 (Part 1)

PBY Catalinas at Pembroke Dock

Pembroke Dock became a Royal Air Force flying boat base in the early 1930s, in a political move, to lessen the catastrophic blow to the town in 1926, when the Royal Dockyard - the raison d'etre for the place - closed.

During the Second World War, Pembroke Dock (PD) became the most important flying boat base in the United Kingdom. At its peak, PD was home for about 100 flying boats. For an overview of the history of this ear in PD's life, I can do no better than refer you to the The Sunderland Trust. See:

http://www.sunderlandtrust.org.uk/


For a short time, in 1943, the US Navy took up residence at PD, working alongside the flying boats of RAF Coastal Command.

The unit involved was VP-63 (Patrol Squadron 63), with their PBY-5A  flying boats. In RAF service the PBY-5 was  known as  the Catalina.

For more pictures like that above go to: 

http://www.wings-aviation.ch/21-USNavy/Consolidated-PBY/Catalina.htm

The brief video clip below shows the aircraft of VP-63 at Pembroke Dock, alongside RAF Sunderland aircraft.

 Courtesy National Archives of the USA, ARC Identifier 75665