Castlemartin range

I've never seen US tanks there - are there any in Europe? Apart from the Brits, the main users are German iirc. (cf the climb called "Startled German", when the first ascensionists came over the top of the cliff /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif)
 
I was going to say, many a true word said in jest but it is true

They're unbelieveable

/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
 
I sailed down to Milford Haven for the tall ships race in 91. There were a series of yacht races as part of the celebrations. One afternoon The Range controller called up a motorboat and asked why they were laying a race buoy inside the range safety area.

The mobo replied "We have written and phoned you for permission and you didnt have the courtesy to reply so today 20 yachts will be racing around that mark. " .

They can only ASK you to stay ouitside the range safety and must stop firing if any vessel strays into the safety area.

Having said that I personally wouldnt deliberately interrupt their firing. The next time they fire their weapons may be in a war zone and the practice firing could save their lives.
 
If its a nice day and the weather is good, oblige them and sail outside the range. If the weather is bad or you are short of time - sail through it. There is no legal exclusion zone which is why the HO dont mark ranges as such on their charts. The range boats will approach and try aggressive bluster. Politely tell them to go away.

Dont try the same thing in France though - they dont stop firing.
 
Lots aren't blanks either! We were told in briefings that the flight characteristics of dummy rounds were different, so they also needed to practice with live ammo. Also don't forget that although all misfires have to be accounted for and disposed of, they occasionally can't find a round, especially if it has overshot or buried itself. And there are a lot of ancient mortar rounds still in the ground or on the sea bed - they are the worst apparently.

Small arms and machine-gun firing also takes place, especially at night on summer weekdays, so if you do decide to potter along close to the cliffs on a summer evening, Range Security may not spot you. Have some sail patches handy /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
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