Atomic Weapons Research Establishment. Orford ... - English Heritage

Ballistics Building and was able to communicate with the aircraft from an adjacent radio
transmitter mast. For the trials work, three mobile, wartime American gun-laying SCR
584 radar trailers were set up, along with two mobile trackers equipped with cameras
(Figure: 7) (TNA: PRO AVIA6/14752).
Figure 7: Early 1950s radar station used during the bomb ballistics trials showing two SCR 584
type radars TNA:PRO AVIA 6/14752
One of the organisations that were sent a copy of the report on the radar station was
ARE/HER (Armament Research Establishment/High Explosives Research), the cover
name for the atomic bomb team. One drawback of this location was its vulnerability
to flooding and the destruction of valuable equipment and records, which was
demonstrated by the February 1953 floods that swept the east coast. Air photographs
show that this facility was in operation in 1952, but by early 1955 no mobile radar
equipment is shown in place, which may indicate that it was redundant by this date
or that it was only occupied during trials work (RAF 58/877 (F14) 5163 21 May 52;
RAF 58/1674 (F21) 0122 4 Mar 55). The trials were also recorded by cameras and
kinetheodolites, a number of whose mounting plinths still survive; they were not visited
during this survey (Figure 15).
To further support the bomb ballistics work the RAE also operated a Model Ballistic
Firing Range that was built at the southern end of the former RFC area (Figures 8 and 9).
Air photographs allow the construction of this facility may be dated to early 1955 (RAF
58/1674 (F21) 0121 4 Mar 55). It comprised a control building with timing and measuring
equipment, a platform for a 17-pounder gun and a 50 yard (45.72m) range, covered by a
semi-circular corrugated steel sheet roof. In operation models were fired from the gun
in a projectile known as a ‘sabot’ that then fell away to allow the model to travel down
the range. Internally, were a series of spark photography stations spaced at 5 ft (1.5m)
intervals and for stability mounted on 40 ft (12.2m) piles, which recorded the pitch and
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