Beverley C1 XH122 of 30 Sqn, 1959
 

I have a number of photographs from AATDC (Army Airborne Transport Development Centre) trials during July 1959. I believe that Beverley XH122 of 30 Sqn. took part during these trials. Any one remember any interesting stories dropping Champs, artillery, Ferret scout cars and what have you?

A few photos below

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8481/8...da1eda33_c.jpg

Beverley C1 XH122 of 30 Sqn
.
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8060/8...4b7063e6_c.jpg

Ordnance QF 17 Pounder


http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8066/8...575a7d63_c.jpg

L6 WOMBAT (Weapon Of Magnesium, Battalion, Anti-Tank)

What's the location?

AATDC were based at Old Sarum.

I think that XH122 might be at Blackbushe in this photo, but am not certain.

Old Sarum, I would say.

Nice to see the 17 Pdr on the MSP.
I'd love to see any other shots you have.
The AATDC dropped some strange things on the MSP such as a Skeeter and and an Auster AOP 9!

I shall be scanning further photographs this evening hopefully.

I have been trying to identify a few items which include what must be an early variant of the Vickers Vigilant surface to surface anti tank missile.

There is a photo of a lightweight howitzer I spent two hours trying to identify before it clicked that it is a Oto Melara Mod56 without its' muzzle brake (duh!).

Something I can't identify, but have seen previously is a lighweight air portable drivable two stroke mobile platform. Was used for ammunition transportation.

A bit before my time - I was born that month :\

Great pictures though - we need more :ok:

JATE (Joint Air Transport Establishment?) used to be based at Old Sarum. I used to go there to do trials on and clear various underslung loads so that they could write an SOP. Probably that was what the Beverly was doing.

Not the u/s load bit, just a loading trial.

Fareastdriver,

AATDC (Army Airborne Transport Development Centre) became part of JATE In January 1968.

Airdrop trials as well as load trials.

I have learnt something about scanning
 

Well,

I was unhappy with last nights scanning. Last night I was using my semi professional scanner and scanning through Adobe Photoshop which would then open Silverfast (Professional) scanning software to carry out the scanning. The scanning was brilliant. When the scan then transferred to photoshop the image quality was reduced. Tonight I have scanned in Silverfast directly (still using the same scanner) and then opened the photo in Aperture to edit it. A lot better quality.

I have scanned at the same 600 dpi as I did last night.

Is that a wombat!

It is indeed a Wombat. There you go, have done what I should have done in the first place and put details on for each photo

I thought a Wombat is what you used when playing a game of Wom.

RedhillPhil,

Oh dear, both Mrs Hval and I happened to find that funny.

Mobat, Austin Champ & Vickers Vigilant
 

Some additional Photos from the July 1959 AATDC trials.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8342/8...be617e55_c.jpg
Ordnance QF 25 Pounder

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8064/8...5098fe89_c.jpg
Vickers Type 891 Vigilant surface to surface anti tank wire guided missile. Range approx. 1600 metres.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8067/8...3249565d_c.jpg
Austin Champ Truck 1/4 Ton 4x4 CT. These were very slow in forward (max. speed of about 60 MPH, safe road speed of 50 MPH) but went as fast in reverse as they did forward.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8340/8...5fc84f3f_c.jpg
M40 recoilless rifle mounted on Austin Champ and a trailer loaded M40 recoilless rifle. Edited to change from L4 Mobat to M40 Recoilless Rifle

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8198/8...c69b9cbf_c.jpg
Vickers Type 891 Vigilant surface to surface anti tank wire guided missile. Range approx. 1600 metres.

Vickers Medium Machine Gun, Ordnance ML 4.2" Mortar and Humber 1 Ton Truck
 

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8057/8...e944bbee_c.jpg
Gun, Machine, Vickers, .303-inch. Water cooled and one of the best machine guns of all time.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8343/8...447e4292_c.jpg
The Humber 1 ton CT Truck. Designed to give outstanding cross country performance. It failed.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8486/8...83797103_c.jpg
Ordnance ML 4.2" Mortar mounted on Mk 1 Mobile Baseplate. Range 3,750 metres. Fired H.E. & smoke.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8068/8...a121f920_c.jpg
Oto Melara Mod 56 105mm Pack Howitzer. Known as the L5 Pack Howitzer by the British Army. Range was about 11,500m.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8200/8...d23dc8e9_c.jpg
Oto Melara Mod 56 105mm Pack Howitzer. Known as the L5 Pack Howitzer by the British Army. Range was about 11,500m.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8349/8...92798974_c.jpg
Oto Melara Mod 56 105mm Pack Howitzer. Note missing muzzle brake.

MoPlat
 

Other than being a MoPlat I know nothing about this thing. I also do not know how effective it was. If anyone knows anything please will they let me know.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8062/8...df7410bc_c.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8480/8...b1187807_c.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8339/8...dde634e1_c.jpg

Daimler Ferret and 17 Pounder
 

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8208/8...31ea7dae_c.jpg
Ordnance QF 17 Pounder

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8210/8...b1de0b84_c.jpg
Daimler Ferret Scout Car Mk 2

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8481/8...dcc461a6_c.jpg
Daimler Ferret Scout Car Mk 1

Last Post
 

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8347/8...7b26df0c_c.jpg

I am not certain as to what these radio sets are. I believe that the one on the left is the Wireless set No. 88 and the one on the right is its replacement the Station Radio A40 man-pack VHF-FM transceiver.

That's the full set of photographs uploaded (except a few which are these radios and a someone hiding in a ditch)