Army Blast Sites

[luke williams]

G'day

I've just watched one of "Bush Tucker Man"'s videos and in it he walks to an old army blast site in QLD. I'm just wondering if anyone knows the location or where I could find out.

Thanks alot
Luke

[THE BOOGER]

Didnt see the show but do you mean firing range if so there are serveral in Qland:) most are closed to the public tho:(

[luke williams]

Didnt see the show but do you mean firing range if so there are serveral in Qland:) most are closed to the public tho:(

No, the rough location is the Jardine River, it was a test to see the affect of a bomb in rain forest country, round about 1960.

[UncleHo]

G'day Folks :)

Probably proofing a ?? type of bomb for Borneo and used later in SVN :)


cheers

[Sketer]

The bomb test you are refering to was called operation-blowdown. This was in the Lochart river area. 1963 I think. It was to be a nuc test but was changed to TNT.

Cheers
Sketer

[luke williams]

The bomb test you are refering to was called operation-blowdown. This was in the Lochart river area. 1963 I think. It was to be a nuc test but was changed to TNT.

Cheers
Sketer

Thanks for that info, any rough idea of location - map refrence.

Thanks Luke

[KarlB]

The detonation was in the Iron Range. Details from the ScreenSound Australia website says:

"Operation Blowdown’s simulated nuclear charge was composed of a large spherical mass of TNT, sourced from obsolete shells and filled into special containers, situated at the top of a high tower. On Thursday 18 July 1963 at 8:30 am the shot was fired. Observers were positioned in a bunker at Lamond Hill, 3.2 kilometres from the test site and 198 metres above it. After the explosion, troops and personnel went in to take readings and record observations. Analysis of the data, which took some months, revealed overpressure and dynamic pressure measurements along the blast line, as well as the effects of the blast on military material, field fortifications, supply points and foot and vehicle access".

ScreenSound has a video you can have a look at: Operation Blowdown (1963) clip 3 on ASO - Australia's audio and visual heritage online (http://aso.gov.au/titles/sponsored-films/operation-blowdown/clip3/)

Details for the location of Lamond Hill from the National Gazetteer:
LATITUDE: 12º 43' S [Decimal Degrees -12.717º]
LONGITUDE: 143º 18' E [Decimal Degrees 143.300º]
EASTING: 750000 [UTM zone 54, GDA 94]
NORTHING: 8593000
100K MAP No.: 7572

Cheers
KarlB

[luke williams]

The detonation was in the Iron Range. Details from the ScreenSound Australia website says:

"Operation Blowdown’s simulated nuclear charge was composed of a large spherical mass of TNT, sourced from obsolete shells and filled into special containers, situated at the top of a high tower. On Thursday 18 July 1963 at 8:30 am the shot was fired. Observers were positioned in a bunker at Lamond Hill, 3.2 kilometres from the test site and 198 metres above it. After the explosion, troops and personnel went in to take readings and record observations. Analysis of the data, which took some months, revealed overpressure and dynamic pressure measurements along the blast line, as well as the effects of the blast on military material, field fortifications, supply points and foot and vehicle access".

ScreenSound has a video you can have a look at: Operation Blowdown (1963) clip 3 on ASO - Australia's audio and visual heritage online (http://aso.gov.au/titles/sponsored-films/operation-blowdown/clip3/)

Details for the location of Lamond Hill from the National Gazetteer:
LATITUDE: 12º 43' S [Decimal Degrees -12.717º]
LONGITUDE: 143º 18' E [Decimal Degrees 143.300º]
EASTING: 750000 [UTM zone 54, GDA 94]
NORTHING: 8593000
100K MAP No.: 7572

Cheers
KarlB


Can't thank you enough KarlB,

Thanks Luke

[ScrubPleb]

There is a good display of photos and some history of the blast site on display at Iron Range airport. I have not walked into the site myself but locals tell me you can still see the remains of the tower and damaged tree stumps.

[sashadidi]

YouTube- Nuclear Detonation Timeline "1945-1998"

[windsock]

YouTube- Nuclear Detonation Timeline "1945-1998" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I9lquok4Pdk&feature=player_embedded)

:Thump: as one of the comments on the youtube site says... "...stupid humans..."

[Bearman]

I wasn't aware this happened at Iron Range. Amazing the stuff that surfaces in later years.In the first clip I see the troops had SLR's. These must have been pretty new at the time.

[Bushie]

From the info board at Iron Range Airport,

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2010/08/1.jpg
and
Operation Blowdown - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
and
LiveLeak.com - 50 Ton Explosion 1963 ; 'Operation Blowdown'


Martyn

[nayto]

Interesting stuff, will have to try remember about that site next time im up in that area.........one day! Awesome footage to see how it shakes the trees etc.

[Bushie]

A bit more in depth stuff (video) here

Operation Blowdown (1963) clip 1 on ASO - Australia's audio and visual heritage online (http://aso.gov.au/titles/sponsored-films/operation-blowdown/clip1/)

Martyn