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Legacy Member
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.
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09-16-2019 05:02 PM
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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
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Legacy Member
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 (?)
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Contributing Member
Good old "Pongos" wherever the Army goes the ------.
Always good to keep the RAF Regiment on their toes
'Tonight my men and I have been through hell and back again, but the look on your faces when we let you out of the hall - we'd do it all again tomorrow.' Major Chris Keeble's words to Goose Green villagers on 29th May 1982 - 2 PARA
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Advisory Panel
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.
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