RAF Wainfleet Tactical Target Gallery 2

Armoured fighting vehicles are now being used on the range as more realistic targets to the dive circle. It is hoped that these can be moved between the first (cold) and hot runs to simulate a moving target. There are considerable problems to overcome before this can be achieved, if indeed it is possible at all.

This was the vehicle used for transport on the range. It is an ex-missile launch vehicle and I can report that it was the noisiest vehicle I have ever ridden in, but terrific fun!!! While out on the range the engine was kept running due to the rapid movement of the water as the tide comes in. While taking photographs of target2 the water encroached by about 20ft in 90 seconds - it's definitely a place where only the most experienced should venture, a good reason to heed the notices advising the public to stay outside the range boundary.
These vehicles are being prepared for use as targets. The plan is to tow them, possibly in convoy, around the range and position them at different locations to produce a more realistic scenario for the aircrew. It was originally envisaged that this could be done between attacks but this is proving to be a difficult procedure because of tides and the shifting sand banks of the range. AFVs which have been prepared for use or have been temporarily removed from the range are stored near the old quad 5.
Typical damage to an AFV from a 3kg practice bomb. This is the cheapest for of tactical target, constructed of scaffold tubes and orange netting they are surprisingly realistic from the air.
Another tube and net tactical target representing a vehicle alighting from a landing craft. This target has been built to represent a tank and once again is surprisingly effective.
This AFV has succumbed to the treacherous sand banks and their constantly shifting dykes. Once they have settled this low in the sand they are impossible to retrieve and can literally be lost overnight.
 
Another two AFVs fall foul of the range sands......  
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