History
Due to the aircraft stationed at RAF Coningsby there was an external bomb dump, in order to Reduce the quantities of explosives stored and the number of personnel exposed to risk, along with separating explosive processing from storage were the major lessons adopted in what I believe was the reason for a bomb dump further away than normal.
Historically I couldn't find much on this place. I did find out about an accident that occurred there in 1971 though.
An accident which killed 2 armourers while they were preparing 68mm SNEB Rockets. Without warning, one initiated in the process building they were working in. There was an unexplained electrostatic discharge causing the rocket motor to fire.
The Explore
Well this is pretty close for me, literally just down the road. I have been here before. Obviously having a connection to the RAF held some interest here.
I explored with @hamtagger as per We had a relatively leisurely stroll around. As far as bomb dumps go it was 'normal' in layout and relatively huge. Admin buildings scattered the front section of the site past the picket post and the remainder were process buildings or prep buildings.
We ventured in to one and noticed that we hadn't seen it before, on any reports or throughout social media but it was what was inside that caught my attention. Guns & not the handheld sort. I have had to do a bit of research on this because I wasn't aware that firstly they were Royal Navy guns & secondly what type of gun they were. It turns out that there was 2 types, the first was a GCM-A03 twin barrelled Oerlikon. This had a firing seat where someone could sit, almost like a little cabin. It was a bloody tight squeeze as well and I am tiny! Apparently capable of firing 650 rounds a minute. The second which there were 2 of didn't have a firing seat so it was fired by someone either standing up and shooting it or controlled electronically. The first fired 30mm rounds while the second fired 35mm rounds. Both would have been mounted on a ship & both had the barrels removed. Next to this we also found what we believe to be a small communication suite. I have never seen one before and may never do again but it was cosy and compact! We had more or less finished when we spotted 2 blokes part literally right outside & jump over the front gate, they seemed to follow us to the rear side of the site. No camera's or owt then just disappeared.
Anyway, enough of my waffle & on to the pics
This is where they would have serviced Skyflash & Sidewinder missiles
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This is the communication suite
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The GCM-A03 twin cannon Oerlikon
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This is it in action (Not my photo, obviously)
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This was the other gun, a GCM-A01 (I believe, could be wrong)
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The rest of the site
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A little mention of tornado here, which became stationed at Coningsby during the Gulf War
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Mercury Thallium is found in AIM-9 sidewinder missiles
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thanks for looking!
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