Looks like quite an interesting film, but unfortunately there is no sound.
RAF Regiment In Training (1969) - YouTube
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Looks like quite an interesting film, but unfortunately there is no sound.
RAF Regiment In Training (1969) - YouTube
Its got me thinking of Frank Spencer (from Some Mothers Do 'ave 'em... sit com of the '70s, starring the extremely talented Michael Crawford)
Guess that's just me...! :D
It would be helpful if there was sound but I thought that the images were interesting.
What was interesting is that it clearly shows that even in 1979 the RAF had their own procurement system. The Bedfords and Land Rovers are that dark blue colour, so suited for the European landscape (sorry, just a joke) and their own number plate system such as 12 AA 34. They'd started to get 58 pattern webbing though. I mean, those blokes abseiling from the hueycopters!!!!! What did they look like! They could have come down another 10 feet and just jumped out! Something is clearly wrong because it shows the RAF blokes near the helicopter wash. That wouldn't happen in real life because it really messes up your hair
You shouldn't take the mickey Pete, I once completed an Advanced RAF Regiment Map Reading Course, whilst on a NAAFI break with nothing else to do.
It went like this........................ Out of the Gate, turn left, airfield on the left....................airfield on the left.......................airfield on the left...........................airfield on the left.............................airfield on the left.............................back at the gate. .................phew!
:rofl:
While our ex RAF Regiment members blow fuses and grind their teeth with anger, I will cause a diversion....
With my anorak on and zipped up, it's interesting to note the laminate forends on the L1A1's featured in the video.
They (laminates) were a relatively recent arrival in 69 and it does suprise me the RAF would have damaged (beyond repair) the wooden forends on their rifles so early on, after no more than 10 years of service.
Interesting.
Does anyone have any knowledge and is able to explain about the version of Bofors Gun and mount seen in the video, please?
Yes, it's what we called a 40/70 version with a shorter barrel and radar directed.
There was sound, but the 40mm's cancelled it out along with everyones hearing...Quote:
Originally Posted by Flying10uk
Not an ear pluh to be seen...crazy
Health and Safety, 1960's style.Quote:
Originally Posted by Lee Enfield
The 40-70 had a barrel of 40mm cal x 70 calibres long as opposed to the older 40-60. It also had a longer higher capacity shell case resulting in much higher velocities. I think the Army used the radar controlled model. To my knowledge the RAF Regiment never used the radar version. The mount was electro hydraulic and the power was balanced by a big box full of valves and things (?). (I was a gunner not a technician) The guns had a nasty habit of going haywire. Basically like a demented carousal on steroids. Fortunately the no 4 had a big red stop button just in case.
Every gun flight had its own Meadows generator, a large trawler engine on a trailer. This was capable of supplying a large village or hospital with power. The gun had a rate of fire of 4 rpm and we normally fired bursts of 4, single shot could also be selected. The range appears to be Manorbier ranges near Tenby. My job as the No 3 was to lay and fire the gun. My head was next to the breech no one use hearing protection and yes I'm deaf.
The big red STOP button was called the 'Jesus Christ switch'. Our guns certainly fired more that 4 rpm. Are you sure that you don't mean 40? I did an air gunners course at Manorbier in the very early 70's, firing at drone sleeves towed by old Meteor aircraft, hosing them down with GPMG's. The drones I mean but we did try to hit the Meteors.
The biggest 'bangers' for noise were the recoilless types. The Carl Gustav 84mm and the BAT family. Mind you, the 3.5 was a bit of a pu55y-cat
Yes, a typo. We were always told a 4 round clip per second. However, the 40-70 specification stated a cyclic rate of 300 rounds per minute. I was posted to Germany in the mid 70s where we used the ranges at Den Helder. The Dutch used the Queen Bee remote control target towing aircraft with crossing passes. Much better sport.
One year at Manorbeir 72 or 73 we shared the range with the army using GPMGs mounted on vehicles. They set the heather alight with stray tracer. We spent the rest of the day trying to beat the fire out (?)
Good old "Pongos" wherever the Army goes the ------.
Always good to keep the RAF Regiment on their toes :lol:
I thought some of their helicopter training was humorous...one man hanging from the hot rope, a section commander directing a man that paid no attention...and the 81mm mortar crew. Must have been their first day on the 81... Anyway, good old propaganda films.