If you lost, well' Since all his medals were bronze, I pry no further. 1st Advance, 1st Wheel Change Then, having reassembled the guns, they crossed a 4-foot wall and on arrival at the other end of the arena fired one round. The Field Gun competition, the Guns and Guts of the Royal Tournament for over 90 years, considered by some to be the world's most dangerous sport, lives on in Devonport's Park Pavilion Caf. Both at Devonport base, HMS Drake and at Earls Court there was a very subdued atmosphere. The crews started at one end of the arena and began by negotiating an obstacle of planks fixed at 18-inches above the ground. HMS Collingwood cut that to 1 min 26.8 secs in 1962. They owed their salvation, in part, to 280 Royal Navy sailors, even though Ladysmith is 100 miles inland. And how on earth did anyone come up with the idea in the first place? At this time the winners' shields transferred to the new mounting, although not in the same order as they had appeared on the previous stand. By the later stages of World War II the majority of artillery in use was either in the form of howitzers of 105mm to 155mm, or in form of hybrid anti-tank/field guns that had high enough muzzle velocity to be used in both roles. The crew set up a wire and traveller so all 18 members of the crew and their equipment could cross the chasm. He reached the home ramp and released the ten-foot spar he was carrying as his drill required and ran on down the ramp. the ships company for their part in the saving of Ladysmith. Why are sailors running around with guns on wheels like the Royal Artillery? The guns were transported inland by rail and then drawn on makeshift carriages by oxen. The display consists of various movements carried out by a Naval Battery of six 12-pounder 8cwt. In 1900, the entire British Empire rejoiced after British forces, besieged inside the South African town of Ladysmith for 119 days, were finally relieved. 9-pounder and 12-pounder guns were used in the displays. However it is not just this year that records have been set and then broken. The display was so popular that it was repeated in 1897 and subsequent years. These penalties are turned into seconds and these are added onto the final time. Many ex-gunners, or simply a keen supporter of the gun race, will make an annual pilgrimage to Earls Court. Originally the term referred to smaller guns that could accompany a field army on the march, that when in combat could be moved about the battlefield in response to changing circumstances (field artillery), as opposed to guns installed in a fort (garrison artillery or coastal artillery), or to siege cannons and mortars which are too large to be moved quickly, and would be used only in a prolonged siege. The Field Gun Run is a tribute to the Royal Navy's involvement in the relief of Ladysmith during the Boer. The record was lowered to 1 minute 19.4 secs by HMS Daedalus in 1988. It is all done in just over a minute. Since the 1980s and 1990s, the field gun has been rarely used in combat. 5. It is an inch-thick, but it has simply snapped off in the hands of 37-yearold Petty Officer Anthony Din (known, needless to say, as Gunga). Fortunately for the General, Captain P. Scott RN of HMS Terrible was a gunnery expert and he quickly designed a carriage that could hold 6 inch, and 4.7 inch, 12 pounder naval guns for transit and in action. It was Scott, then a Lieutenant, who had helped Captain Fisher (later Admiral of the Fleet and First Sea Lord) establish a Gunnery School on Whale Island at Portsmouth in the 1880s. ALL RIGHTS BELONG TO THEIR RESPECTIVE OWNERS*American Reacts to The Royal Naval Field Gun Competition, royal naval field gun competition, royal navy, royal, naval, field, gun, competition, fleet competition, fleet, devonport, portsmouth, royal naval field gun, toughest competition, Eclectic Beard Gaming and Reactions, gaming channel, reaction channel, gaming, reactions, Two crews competed at each afternoon performance. 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The Royal Navy's command field gun competition was a contest between teams from three Royal Navy commands, in which teams of sailors compete to transport a field gun and its equipment over and through a series of obstacles in the shortest time. The following is the chronological evolvement of the competition, as we came to know and love it: 1900 - 4.7 Guns were hauled into the arena by four span of Oxen and Sailors, the animals were then out-spanned as though out to graze, the Sailors fired one round, and then manhandled the Guns out of the arena. The guns are then taken round the arena at the double and advance in close order, reversing twice in close order, they then wheel into the centre and salute.. From 2001 there will be a new Military Tattoo featuring ceremony, massed bands and pageantry, also at Horse Guards Parade. The original stipulation by Brickwood that the trophy was only open to teams from within Portsmouth continued until 1975 when the competition was widened to include bases from around the country. This was considered to be an easy jump for an ordinary man. Following the Second World War, the first post war Tournament was held in 1947 at Olympia with the addition of a crew representing the Fleet Air Arm. The track length is also fractionally shorter due to the size of the arena. Devonport v Fleet Air Arm at the Royal Tournament, Earls Court, July 1988 Currently only Wellington College and Portsmouth Action Field Gun Crews run the 'command' style of Field Gun Run. The larger arena allowed the display to be scaled up. Aggregate Time and Fastest Time Cups were introduced in 1924. In 1903, a party from HMS Excellent introduced an obstacle into their display. This comprised of cutlass drill and gun drill by forty ratings from HMS Excellent. There was never a shortage of volunteers - up to 300 for each crew. Two days later on the 11th October 1899 at 5pm war was declared and the Boers invaded. A.B Allen the Flying Angel (no.7) for Portsmouth was the last man being pulled across the chasm on the run back. At the sounding of the G on the bugle the final phase is to take all their equipment through the narrow gaps in the home wall. The crews started at one end of the arena and began by negotiating an obstacle of planks fixed at 18-inches above the ground. The average time for the "Run Home" was 21seconds. The youngest member of the team, Leading Physical Trainer, Matt Short, 27, is also in charge of team fitness. The winning crew in 1907 was HMS Cambridge, the gunnery school in Plymouth. The Naval Brigade transported guns over difficult terrain and brought them into action against the Boers. The teams will be competing for the pride of their respective bases - HM Naval Base, Portsmouth, and HMS Sultan in neighbouring Gosport. The first represents the guns being unloaded from HMS Powerful at Durban; the second the overnight transport of the guns from Durban to Ladysmith as the Boers surrounded the town; the third is the guns being put into position at Ladysmith to face the Boers.\r\rThe first section is called the run out. This was an outdoor event involving rival naval bases racing over a flat course. A spin-off, the Junior Leaders Field Gun Competition, using the Brickwoods format, was held for the 1st time in 2007 and is still held today. The top brass also viewed it as a drain on everdwindling manpower. Reserve stocks are held by other former users such as the People's Army of Vietnam. The siege of Ladysmith lasted for 120 days until February 1900. The gun is run to the end of the track, turned and stopped. The Royal Navy Field Gun competition was contested by teams from the Royal Naval commands of Portsmouth, Devonport and the Fleet Air Arm (although teams from Chatham and the Royal Marines have also competed). Result In support of the British Army, the Royal Navy landed guns from HMS Terrible and Powerful to help in the relief of the siege. This is the heaviest lift of all and life gets very difficult if the gear is dropped 2nd Retire, 2nd Action Gun and limber are run towards the start line, separated and stopped. Information on the period 1908 to 1922 is scanty but it seems that apart from the periods of war the Brickwood Trophy was competed for each year. Thank you to the Oggies for this article By Richard Thompson (aka Thommo-the-Phot), This article was first published in a Field Gunners Association Newsletter 2006. A similar "Command" Field Gun, is still being run by civilians as Wellington College (cadet-size) and Portsmouth Action Field Gun (full-size). On the night of Devonports last ever run the A Crew stayed in their mess for most of the day and when the moment came they all had tears in their eyes. The Royal Navy's field gun competition is a contest between teams from various Royal Navy commands, in which teams of sailors compete to transport a field gun and its equipment over and through a series of obstacles in the shortest time. Throughout the competition the results are signalled to the fleet worldwide where the men follow their crews progress with the same fanatical interest, as they would show in their football team of their choice. The British forces were quickly overwhelmed and forced back to the towns of Mafeking, Kimberley and Ladysmith, which were then besieged. The ZiS-3 could be used in direct fire against armored vehicles, direct fire in infantry support, and indirect fire against distant targets. The second part of the competition (the "Run Back") involved the crews taking all their equipment back over the 5-foot (1.5m) enemy wall and then back across the chasm. "We have been on a knife-edge ever since then. All the men and the field gun have to be carried over the enemy wall, and back across the chasm. The Royal Navy's field gun competition is a contest between teams from various Royal Navy commands, It used to be a yearly competition at the Royal Tournament. The second part of the competition (the Run Back) involved the crews taking all their equipment back over the 5-foot (1.5m) enemy wall and then back across the chasm. And yet, as far as Woolers was concerned, the men of the Royal Navy Field Gun competition were way out in front when it came to nominating 'the toughest sport in the world'. In 1999, the last Royal Tournament staged its last race. The original chasm was formed by placing two ramps opposite each other at a distance of 7ft 6in apart. When I find the whole contraption and its 18-strong team charging along faster than I can run, I have two options: dive out the way or get squashed. At the end of the two weeks field gunning, four trophies are awarded. The Royal Navy landed two 4.7inch guns and four 12-pounder field guns. At the evening performances, The Royal Navy Field Battery Display was carried out as follows: The Evening performance saw the choreographed display replaced by more competition runs sometime before 1928, possibly when the two other trophies were introduced. Ex-British Army. It is estimated that 15,000 men of the Royal Navy have taken part in the competition.\r\rThe gun run is divided into three sections. Their train was the last to complete the journey to Ladysmith on the 30th October just as the siege and bombardment started. In 1981 Portsmouth produced a record run of 2 minutes 42.4, only to see it snatched away again two years later by Devonport with a run of 2 minutes 41.1. In 1912 the organisers removed the chasm from the competition in favour of a single ramp which was negotiated on both the outward and homeward legs of the course. This comprised of cutlass drill and gun drill by forty ratings from HMS Excellent. The track is 85 yards (78m) long, which means a total run of 170 yards (160m). The original chasm was formed by placing two ramps opposite each other at a distance of 7ft 6in apart. "I would have hoped that the Ministry of Defence would take it on (financially), but I do understand when the Chief of Defence Staff decides they need an arena where they can display new equipment. The chasm returned in 1913 and was extended to a distance of 30ft. The guns and limbers of a four-gun battery were taken over a four-foot wall in the arena at Islington. The origins of the field gun competition lie in the Second Boer War in South Africa. Less than 24 hours later at 6 p.m. on the 26th October, the mountings were built and the guns dispatched together with four 12-pounders in HMS POWERFUL to Durban. The U.S. Army tried the long-range gun again from the early 1960s to the late 1970s with the M107 175 mm gun. It was considered a high-maintenance item and was removed from service with U.S. forces after a rash of cracked barrels. Records for completing the course have continued to be broken. As the evolution of artillery continued, almost all guns of any size became capable of being moved at some speed. A film clip of this evolution survives from the period [1] (requires Real Player) which was filmed by Alfred J West for his popular 'Our Navy' [2] film presentations in the early 1900s. Gridiron March and Half-Batteries brought into action. The Interport Field Gun competition was established in 1907 and was a highlight of the Royal Tournament until the Last Run in 1999. The record was lowered to 1 minute 19.40 seconds by HMS Daedalus in 1988. Next week, the 30,000 visitors to the Windsor Castle Royal Tattoo - including most of the Royal Family and celebrities from Coldplay's Chris Martin to Alan Titchmarsh - will watch two 18-strong teams of the Royal Navy's finest crashing around the main arena and performing a series of Formula One-style pit stops with a Victorian cannon. Colonel Iain Ferguson, director of the Royal Tournament, expressed regret about the tournament's demise. For the final part of the journey, sailors from the Naval Brigade manhandled the guns over very difficult terrain.