Live grenade throwing restarts after training centre refurb
Throwing live grenades can begin once again at a range after its extensive refurbishment.
The grenade range at Colaton Raleigh Common on the Pebblebed Heaths in Devon, part of Woodbury Common Training Area, is used by Royal Marine recruits during their basic training and other defence users.
Refurbishment work involved the full excavation of the old range floor, repairs to the perimeter fencing and the replenishment of 500 tonnes of specialist stone to absorb the impact of explosions from the grenades.
The refurbishment brings the purpose-built range up to an operational standard for military units in the south-west.
The range has been in use since the 1950s and was closed in 2015 due to weather damage and erosion, meaning Royal Marines recruits had to travel to ranges in Wiltshire and South Wales to train.
The newly reopened facility will be mainly used by recruits from the Commando Training Centre Royal Marines (CTCRM) at Lympstone.
Lieutenant Colonel Chris Samuel RM, Commanding Officer support wing of the CTCRM, officially opened the new facility.
He said: "The grenade range will allow our Royal Marines to train safely and more realistically, whilst building their skills, experience and confidence before joining the United Kingdom's Commando Forces."
Training Safety Officer Rich Carter hailed the completion of the refurbishment work as "crucial to progressive military training".
Live grenade training will resume this month on weekdays and weekends, when necessary.
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