Monumental Lockdown: A period of Rejuvenation for Stonehenge

[whole diary]

[CyclingSid]

2014 is after my time around there.

There were occasions when Territorial gunners got their compass back to front, once again more embarrassing than dangerous.

There was the occasion when the Royal Ordnance Factory mislabeled ammunition, labeling 40 mm Solid shot as 40 mm Break-up. Break-up was used in training on Bofors guns (wonderful things!), the Canberra would fly over trailing the target drove on a very long piece of wire, the ammunition would break-up once it left the barrel. Regularly used at Larkhill. On this particular occasion the Canberra had done the first pass and was just about to come round for the second, you obviously didn't turn quickly with a long length of wire out the back. Just as it was about to happen a white top (Instructor Gunnery, or Assistant Instructor Gunnery) called Stop. There I think there were three holes in the roof of Bulford school, fortunately it was a break and all the children were outside. No injuries, but lots of embarrassment and coverage in the local papers.

EDIT: for drove read drogue

[stuving]

Now, now - that was a Rushton towed target; a drone was a buzzy little aircraft that bumbled along (well, you couldn't do anything clever with a simple radio control) asking to be swatted by some ordnance or other. Though there were a few Canberra drones - reserved for every special and expensive trials.

But that turn was rather surreal. The winch had five miles of wire on it, and the tug pilots preferred to pay it all out just to be on the safe side - especially with missiles: so much more imaginative at getting lost. The Rushton was an aluminium tube with fins and a wire fixed so it would fly straight and stable. The wire sloped down fairly steeply to the target, and during the turn the target dropped further. The wire didn't pull straight, or follow the tug, or quite fly - it did a bit of each, and the target had its own momentum and aerodynamics too, affected by the wind. So its path wasn't that predictable - the tug pilots concentrated on preventing it hitting the sea; very visible and expensive in money and kudos.

But the targets themselves could go missing and be a hazard. I'm not sure anyone really knew where they went exactly as the turn was done outside the instrumented part of the range. I was on the cliff-top at RAF^▸ (Royal Air Force) Aberporth during some Canberra/Rushton runs that were not for our trials, and saw the tug well offshore do its turn ... and some time later there was a rushing noise overhead and this big silver thing (about 2 m long) shot past us far closer than was polite. And we were supposed to be in a safe zone! And they did, occasionally, just fall off if the tug manoeuvred too sharply, but usually at sea.

[CyclingSid]

The benefits of coastal ranges like Aberporth and Manorbier. Bit more problematical on inland ranges like Larkhill.

I remember an enjoyable firing camp at Manorbier. This was the time when the Bofors was being replaced by Rapier. The Regiment were firing Bofors 40/70 with radar and fire control equipment (which is what I was supposed to be tending). Also firing were the Gibraltar Regiment using 40/60s without FCE etc. Embarrassingly they did as well, if not better than the Regiment with FCE.

Side benefit of the last firing camp with Bofors the Ammunition Depot had lots of 40 mm tracer to use up. If you are going to play with guns I think 40 mm tracer in ground defence role is addictive.

I think they only did about two firing camps with Rapier and towed targets. RAF^▸ (Royal Air Force) didn't like having to cut the cable and try and escape at zero feet. But Rapier trials were supposed to be a whole collections of things that shouldn't happen. Like most trials which is why you had them.

[smokey]

I think the whole area of Stonehenge would look far better if somebody got rid of those massive great rocks that seem to be huddled together: 



Smokey's now going into hiding and arranging a new ID

[Marlburian]

That's what the Royal Flying Corps is rumoured to have requested c 1918 because the stones were impeding aircraft taking off and landing. No evidence has been found in surviving official documents. The story probably stemmed from pilots' comments that the stones were a bally nuisance.

Records do show concern during WWI about military damage to the Stonehenge landscape, with sewage from Lark Hill Camp being carried over the Cursus and discharged into a field. Aerial photographs of the 1920s show a rather nasty "stain" there.

[broadgage]

Returning to the present, I hope that someone is available to shoot any rabbits seen near Stonehenge.
Such animals are very destructive to ancient monuments.
Only needs one person with a shotgun, easily achievable under social distancing.
Most other wildlife is more benign.

[grahame]

From the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page)

Revellers are being urged not to head to Stonehenge for the summer solstice.

English Heritage has cancelled this year's celebrations due to a ban on mass gatherings but is streaming the sunrise live on social media instead.

Senior druid King Arthur Pendragon said it was "not very pagan" to watch a "false sunrise" on a screen.

Wiltshire Police said officers would have a "presence in the areas of both Stonehenge and Avebury" and local authorities warned people to stay away.

Traditionally about 10,000 people gather at the Neolithic monument in Wiltshire, on or around 21 June, to watch the sun rise on the longest day of the year.

Leave it to the Great Bustards.

[grahame]

I got ((this)) from a search.

Getting to the summer solstice at Stonehenge

From Salisbury:

There will be a regular bus service up to Stonehenge from early to late evening and then back again in the morning. Detailed timetable is at Service 333 on the local bus companies website available nearer the time.

Sadly, clicking on the details for service 333 indicates it has been replaced by 404 this year.

[Clan Line]

Most other wildlife is more benign.

Have you seen the size of the holes that badgers dig ? 

[broadgage]

Most other wildlife is more benign.

Have you seen the size of the holes that badgers dig ? 

Yes but they seem less of a problem.
Badgers are less numerous than rabbits.
Badgers seem to favour farms, rather than open country.
And anyway badgers are protected and in general cant be shot, unlike rabbits.

Rabbits eat grass and other green stuff, Stonehenge is surrounded by grass.
Badgers are carnivorous and perhaps find little prey around Stonehenge.

[CyclingSid]

Big badgers? https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-wiltshire-53132567

[grahame]

Big badgers? https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-wiltshire-53132567

Ah ...

Archaeologists have discovered a ring of prehistoric shafts, dug thousands of years ago near Stonehenge.

Fieldwork has revealed evidence of a 1.2 mile (2km) wide circle of large shafts measuring more than 10m in diameter and 5m in depth.

[Bob_Blakey]

Certainly wasn't the last time the Royal Artillery had problems pointing things in the right direction.

Not RA specific, and on a much bigger scale, Singapore in February 1942 would probably be top of the list!