WHAT'S THIS THEN?
This is one at Wittering:
(c)David Farrant
A derelict Hutch at Barnham:
(c)Dan McKenzie
A Hutch at Faldingworth:
(c)Nick Catford
My guess would be Faldingworth.
(c)David FarrantA derelict Hutch at Barnham:
(c)Dan McKenzieA Hutch at Faldingworth:
(c)Nick CatfordMy guess would be Faldingworth.
Originally Posted by Roadster280
My guess would be Scampton.
Based upon investigation of STH's photobucket site....
Based upon investigation of STH's photobucket site....
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Well, looking again at the photo, there's rust on the hinges, and flakes of paint on the floor. I'd say there's a good chance that if the world comes to an end because there's rust on one's personal weapon, then if there's rust on part of a nuclear weapon system, then someone is in deeeeeep $hit!!!
I guess anywhere with those kind of hutches, which would be just about any V-bomber, even Shackleton station, or dispersal, let alone the purely munitions stores.
But based on being sneaky, I stand by Scampton.
I guess anywhere with those kind of hutches, which would be just about any V-bomber, even Shackleton station, or dispersal, let alone the purely munitions stores.
But based on being sneaky, I stand by Scampton.
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It is a storage pit for the 'Physics package' of a nuclear weapon. Blue Danube type. See The English Heritage Book on the cold war for further pics and explanation.
It lists the sites including Faldingworth, Barnham, now Gorse Industrial estate and Wittering.
It lists the sites including Faldingworth, Barnham, now Gorse Industrial estate and Wittering.
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Soz about the poor quality, had to scan it in and then alter it to protect the guilty. Your little concrete pot is at the bottom of the photo. Note the helpful sign.
It's Scampton BTW.
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Well if it is Scampton it means the government have seen sense and have armed Scopies with their own Nuclear deterrent - about time too, there's a few air traffickers that need sorting out..............say goodbye Shawbury!
Thread Starter
It is, of course, a fissile core store of the type variously referred to above. The location is Scampton, but it is not in a Hutch. It is a building within the old weapons storage compound. The floor is carpeted, and there is a workbench to one side. There are windows in the building, which suggests it may have been a temporary store (or possibly a training rig?) as apart from plod and the dogs, there doesn't seem to be any significant security on the building itself. If anyone could shed some light ....
The photo was taken by Nick Catford (as per the picture on ZH875's post below) when he and his band of brothers from the Subterranea Britannica Group visited a couple of weeks ago. Interestingly, despite it not having been used for 20 years, the container is well greased, and opened with ease. The lid (which weighs loads) is beautifully balanced.
Although there is very little left in the buildings, the Guardhouse revealed lots of old bits and pieces, including bullet racks, RAFP instructions on ID cards and a list of personnel on the last ever shift. We left it intact for others to discover.
For those with an interest in such things, I can recommend the SubBrit web site:
http://www.subbrit.org.uk/rsg/index.shtml
Searches of Faldingworth, Barnham and Wittering will reveal more information on the spec weaps storage facilities.
Be warned though, these guys are (by their own admission) a bit sad. Personally, I think the record they are creating is a very worthy cause. Noone else seems to be terribly interested in the elements of our history that don't have wings attached.
Hope this was of interest - I enjoyed having a thread which didn't result in arguments, and there was no mention whatsoever of JPA ... oh bugger!
STH
The photo was taken by Nick Catford (as per the picture on ZH875's post below) when he and his band of brothers from the Subterranea Britannica Group visited a couple of weeks ago. Interestingly, despite it not having been used for 20 years, the container is well greased, and opened with ease. The lid (which weighs loads) is beautifully balanced.
Although there is very little left in the buildings, the Guardhouse revealed lots of old bits and pieces, including bullet racks, RAFP instructions on ID cards and a list of personnel on the last ever shift. We left it intact for others to discover.
For those with an interest in such things, I can recommend the SubBrit web site:
http://www.subbrit.org.uk/rsg/index.shtml
Searches of Faldingworth, Barnham and Wittering will reveal more information on the spec weaps storage facilities.
Be warned though, these guys are (by their own admission) a bit sad. Personally, I think the record they are creating is a very worthy cause. Noone else seems to be terribly interested in the elements of our history that don't have wings attached.
Hope this was of interest - I enjoyed having a thread which didn't result in arguments, and there was no mention whatsoever of JPA ... oh bugger!
STH
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
The Red Beard gaunlet was about the size of a grapefruit and a robotic arm. When we got access to the training round it was housed in a canister like a large ice bucket with a screw on handle. The handle was screw on because the whole bucket was held in a larger dustbin lined with padding and equipped with rolling rings.
There were a pair of these at the guardroom at RAF Finningley and used as planters. They may even still be there.
Man A, the plotter, would remove the top of the container while Man B, the radar, would done a pair of white cotton gauntlets. The top removed the plotter would fasten the screw handle and unscrew the top of the bucket.
The top of the gaunlet exposed the radar would use the gauntlet extraction tool and fasten in to the gauntlet. As he withdrew the gauntlet from the container the plotter would open the hatch on the bomb. The radar would then offer the assembly to the weapon and lock it in place. The extraction tool was removed and the cover replaced by the plotter - job done.
One practice we had gone inti the SSA and were met by the Chief who was to supervise the LML drill. He nipped behind the curtain that we were not allowe dbehind to get his cuppa. A minute or so later he returned and said OK you can start. No we said, we have just finished. We had done a load, unload and stowed everything in a minute or so.
Is the picture a Red Beard gaunlet stowage? No idea but I suspect it may have been for Violet Club.
There were a pair of these at the guardroom at RAF Finningley and used as planters. They may even still be there.
Man A, the plotter, would remove the top of the container while Man B, the radar, would done a pair of white cotton gauntlets. The top removed the plotter would fasten the screw handle and unscrew the top of the bucket.
The top of the gaunlet exposed the radar would use the gauntlet extraction tool and fasten in to the gauntlet. As he withdrew the gauntlet from the container the plotter would open the hatch on the bomb. The radar would then offer the assembly to the weapon and lock it in place. The extraction tool was removed and the cover replaced by the plotter - job done.
One practice we had gone inti the SSA and were met by the Chief who was to supervise the LML drill. He nipped behind the curtain that we were not allowe dbehind to get his cuppa. A minute or so later he returned and said OK you can start. No we said, we have just finished. We had done a load, unload and stowed everything in a minute or so.
Is the picture a Red Beard gaunlet stowage? No idea but I suspect it may have been for Violet Club.
