Ashley Walk WW2 Bombing Range.

[tigbrand]

I thought i would show some pics i took on Monday. I was hoping to spend time this week walking on Dartmoor, as ive a week off before starting my new job. This range is in the New Forest near Fordingbridge, but it certainly felt like Dartmoor! Dave(Rickoshea) lent me a book about this place and he was going to give me a tour,but i couldnt wait! It felt quite strange as it was dark and bleak and very wet and the whole place was reminiscent of a WW1 battlefield,some areas are cratered beyond belief. This range was used to test all types of HE and fragmentation ordnance(air dropped) and air to ground weapons. No incendiary though due to fire risk. The biggest weapon dropped here was the only test of the 22,000 pound Grand slam,before it was dropped in anger,which makes this place unique. Ive posted pics of some craters biggest is aprox 30 feet by 15 deep, a rough looking area due to repeated smaller he drops, and a pic of the Frag bomb target marker. The chalk circle is still obvious after all these years.The brick building is an observation piont for filming Frag bomb drops, and shows signs of hits!! I will visit this place again and get more pics to post,hopefully with Dave when the weathers better!Cheers Dave for getting me interested. Tony:tinysmile_fatgrin_t

 

[Chris 42 RQ]

Well interesting !

Hi Tigbrand, thanks for the excellent pictures of a very interesting area indeed.

Amazing that the O.P. has not been ripped out and still stands to mark the historic area.

Chris :tinysmile_shy_t:

 

[Weasel]

Hi Tigbrand,
Looks like a good trip, it looks like a shattered landscape. Thanks for posting the pics. Dartmoor is definitly worth a trip.
Best Weasel.

 

[waffenamt]

Nice one Tig!

Smashing pics mate.:tinysmile_grin_t:
What do you think made the whopper of a crater?

cheers

waff

 

[tigbrand]

?

Cheers chaps,the big crater has to have been at least a 1000 pound He bomb. The Grand slam made a crater 130ft wide by 70 feet deep!!!! Similiar in size to some of the mine craters blown on Vimy ridge(25000 pounds of TNT). The obs building is the only one left.More pics to follow.Weather permitting. Try a google search on this. Loads of info. By the way both types of bouncing bomb were tested here aswell. And also in the fleet.(Chesil bank bombing range).Tony:tinysmile_fatgrin_t

 

[dave4997]

There is the remains of the illuminated target, wallis's wall, submarine pen and quite a few other bits and pieces to be found on Ashley range! (the ship target base is still there too)