NHER 27521 (Monument record) - World War Two tank training course

July 2005. Norfolk NMP.
A World War Two tank training course is visible on contemporary aerial photographs (S1), (S2), (S3) and (S4). This earthwork obstacle was located on the west side of Caister Road at TG 5234 1027.

The tank training obstacle comprised of earth banks and a central concrete structure. It was aligned north to south, parallel to the adjacent road and measured up to 100m in length. The obstacle appears to have been designed to have been approached from the north. The first 22m were on level ground with a slight rise at the southern end. This section is defined by earthwork banks and divided into two 3.5m wide lanes by a further low bank. This section was followed by a ramp into a water filled pit with revetted earth banks on each side. This section measured 20m in length. A concrete ramp led out of the pit onto a slightly raised platform at the start of the central section. The central section of the course, which measured up to 20m long, widened out to 8m and was bounded by concrete walls on both sides. The middle part of this section comprised a lower area of bare soil, which was retained by the concrete walls. A concrete ramp at the southern end of this section led into a further pit. This southern part of the course measured 12m long including an earth ramp leading up to an access road.

This training course had been constructed by March 1944 (S1) although it is more clearly visible on later aerial photographs (S2). It is likely that it formed part of the larger military training area located on Great Yarmouth racecourse to the east of Caister Road (NHER 27528) where further tank training appears to have taken place. The earthwork was still extant in July 1946 (S4) but had been levelled by 1952 (S5).
J. Albone (NMP), 28 July 2005.