Live Gunnery Firing Information

[CaptainBob]

South West Coast Military Practice Areas

I'm planning a passage which goes through the south coast military practice areas.

Have searched on Google but can't find out where I can get information regarding planned exercises for the future. Anyone know a website or telephone number or?

Coming round Dodman Point the other day we got forced to cut in close to the point in wind over tide conditions due to a Portugese warship claiming to be firing in an area that we happened to be in. Was odd. The lat/longs of the area they claimed to be firing in was outside of a practice area. Had to assume they gave the wrong lat/longs as the area included some land which must've been wrong I guess?

 

[Chris_Robb]

I'm planning a passage which goes through the south coast military practice areas.

Have searched on Google but can't find out where I can get information regarding planned exercises for the future. Anyone know a website or telephone number or?

Coming round Dodman Point the other day we got forced to cut in close to the point in wind over tide conditions due to a Portugese warship claiming to be firing in an area that we happened to be in. Was odd. The lat/longs of the area they claimed to be firing in was outside of a practice area. Had to assume they gave the wrong lat/longs as the area included some land which must've been wrong I guess?

The South coast ranges - Lulworth, is related to the Army ranges ashore. When they are firing, you need to go out round the range bouys, just in case of an overshoot. This area is nothing to do with any Navy Wargames.

 

[CaptainBob]

I'm talking about between Falmouth and Plymouth. Designated navy practice areas.

 

[cagey]

I'm talking about between Falmouth and Plymouth. Designated navy practice areas.

Gunnery practice times and areas published weekly in "West Briton" local paper down here so don't know of another ready to hand source.
If you contact QHM Plymouth they will tell you, number in Reeds from memory under Gunfacts and Subfacts.
Flag Officer, Sea Training Operations Room 24hrs VHF 74 , 01752 557550
Falmouth and Fowey HM have them on their notice boards or radio or phone Falmouth Coastguard.
QHM Plymouth has interesting website although cant remember if it includes firing times.
The range is marked on charts by 3 Yellow buoys
Fishwick gives a good description how to contact vessels on exercise
Keith

 

[barfly4657]

[QUOTE Lulworth is related to the Army ranges ashore. When they are firing, you need to go out round the range bouys, just in case of an overshoot. QUOTE]

Not true - just increase engine speed to maximum and advise the Range Patrol heavies that you will clear the area a.s.a.p.

Former YM editor Des Sleighthome fought long and hard to prove the right not to be hassled - don't watse it!

 

[Dipper]

My local paper reports that the Lulworth ranges have finished firing until Tuesday 1st September.

 

[srm]

Was west of Plymouth May bank holiday and they were playing 'frighten the yachts with live gunnery'. Range Patrol boat asked me to alter course slightly to clear a target area. About an hour later the 'foreign' warship started to demand a 10 mile exclusion zone around a lat and long. Was tempted to call tham up and ask if they realy wanted the south end of Fowey evacuated. Lots of yachties calling up to check if their passage was OK - none were refused. I carried on right through the exclusion zone as to go 9 plus miles offshore would have kept me in it for a lot longer, had passed the target buoy, and a diversion was damn inconvenient at the end of an 800 mile passage - and no one troubled me. Most disapointed though, no gun fire heard.
Basically, if they are playing cowboys and indians you will hear them calling all ships on Ch 16 at 30 min intervals with a working channel for details and a range patrol vessel will chase you out of any immediate danger.
On another day fishing stopped play - Range Patrol reported that a fishing vessel within the target danger area would not be able to move for a couple of hours.

Don't take it too seriously, just wait for the range patrol to advise you if too close to the target area.

 

[CaptainBob]

Thanks for all the info everyone. I called up the Falmouth CG in the end and seems there's no live firing planned for a while.