A member in Derelict Places posted these pics of Arne Hill AA battery near Holton Heath in Dorset-
Arne Hill, Dorset. AA Battery first report from Hilts - Derelict Places
What intrigues me is the object in the last two pics. To my less than expert eye it looks like the base for a 3.7" gun- but why would it be separate?
Any ideas?

__________________
Regards,

Gordon
History Vault Bookshop
FortressScotland-http://s2.photobucket.com/albums/y20/Historian/

Hello Gordon !

First off I must say that the pics are quite mouth-watering ; an excellent example of an AA battery.....

I'm getting into the realms of guesswork here, but my thinking ( aided by pics in my trusty copy of Hogg's 'British And American Artillery Of WW2' ) is that there would have originally been one gun with an 'emplacement'-type fixing ( possibly mounted on the pipe-like object in the pictures ). The ( fascinating ) object in the last two pics looks like part of the 3.7 Mk 6 field/AA mobile mounting ( rather similar to an 88...).

Could a mobile gun or guns have been moved up there at some time to bolster the defences ?

As I said, strictly musing out loud here.....

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"Stand by to pull me out of the seat if I get hit" - Guy Gibson

Hi Martin-
Muse away, old boy! I thought the same, but I'm not sure if it's wishful thinking on my part.
Found this pic on the Royal Artillery 1939-45 website-
http://www.ra39-45.pwp.blueyonder.co...ns/page10.html
It certainly seems similar.

__________________
Regards,

Gordon
History Vault Bookshop
FortressScotland-http://s2.photobucket.com/albums/y20/Historian/

I'm wondering if what can be seen is part of the 3.7" base.....

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"Stand by to pull me out of the seat if I get hit" - Guy Gibson

This is only based on the working of my brain, and I have no evidence to back it up, but is it possible that the 3.7inch gun arrived at the site on its mobile mounting, but this wasn't required for the static mounting, so it was put to one side until it became unusable, and when the site was abandoned, just left behind.

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if in doubt....Panic!!!!

Think you both have valid points. It's definitely worth further investigation.

__________________
Regards,

Gordon
History Vault Bookshop
FortressScotland-http://s2.photobucket.com/albums/y20/Historian/