The Competition Today

The competition on HMS Collingwoods parade ground

Published: 17/11/2010

This takes place on HMS Collingwood's famously large parade ground - reputed to have once held as many as 8,000 ratings - and is the perfect setting for the event.

The competition has changed somewhat from the obstacle course it was in 1982 when A. B. Allen was killed and today teams compete over an 85 yard long flat track, a total run of 170 yards.

The details are:

  • 1st Advance, 1st Wheel Change. The limber is lifted, its wheels and drag ropes are shipped and it is run forward. The gun wheels are exchanged with the limber wheels. The gun and wheels are heavy! The gun is brought to the back of the limber and connected, then both are run forward.
     
  • 2nd Advance, 1st Action. The gun is unhooked and the limber is run to the 70 yard line where it is turned or spun to face the start; its wheels are removed and it is dropped to the ground. The gun is run to the end of the track, turned and stopped. The gun is fired three times, each shell being run to the gun from the limber by the fastest man in the crew.
     
  • 1st Retire, 2nd Wheel. The limber wheels are shipped and it is run back and hooked to the gun. Both are then run towards the start, stopped and lifted together to exchange wheels. 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. The gun is fired three times as quickly as possible.
     
  • 3rd Retire and Finish. The limber is run back and hooked to the gun then every member of the crew strains to accelerate the gear over the finish line. This is not the best time to fall in front of the gear because it is very heavy and cannot be stopped.
     
  • Result. Time penalties are added to the running time for each contravention of the rules. There are 34 possible penalties. The track is 85 yards long, which means a total run of 170 yards. The record time was achieved by HMNB Portsmouth in 2011 with a time of 1 min 17.7 secs.

 

back to previous page