….. across the creek. The movement of the truck was, therefore, going to be a major logistics exercise over sand tracks around the end of the creek and down the coast to the range - being towed all the way.
Meanwhile, unknown to us until much later, the MTO had been approached by the local equivalent of Rodney and Del Boy who offered to buy the truck for £600 (cash only you understand) and, what is more, they would provide a clapped-out three-ton truck to use on the range as a target - smart, these boys, they even knew what we were going to use it for. The MTO being a man of great integrity, and a warrant officer to boot, told them they could stick their money followed, presumably, by the three-ton truck. He lived to regret this.
Now what, you are asking, should a pair of local wide boys want with a broken-down radar truck. Ah well, it seems that there was a lot of copper wiring in the vehicle, which was the main attraction, but I’m positive that the rest would have ended up as a bus in downtown Dubai. On the day of the move all went well for the early part of the journey, in fact until the truck and its tow truck reached the range and left the main track for the narrow access track to the range. At this point a small water tanker that had been delivering water to the range hut headed back towards the main track, head on to the radar truck. There was only room for one vehicle on the track and, naturally, it was the tow truck and radar truck combo, with their RAF drivers, that moved over to let the water truck pass (we really must stop playing cricket!) - disaster - the radar truck left the track, broke through the hard surface crust and was instantly bogged to the axles.
It was only about 800 yards to go from where we needed it but it was far too close to the road for safety and just about in line with the range safety officers’ hut. It would have to be moved one way or another. The saga then commenced. Firstly, the MT drivers and the local range personnel tried digging the radar truck out so that they could pull it with the tow truck. This was not a great idea and it resulted in the tow truck also becoming bogged down. Right, on to the second plan - back to base and get a bigger vehicle. When this also became bogged desperation was beginning to set in. Eventually, the Army was called in to help, much to the chagrin of the MTO. The Army appeared with all kinds of lifting gear, cranes and winches - most of which also became bogged. But, eventually, they moved it on to the track and over the last 800 yards - success - it was now exactly where we wanted it thanks to an outstanding effort on the part of all concerned. The whole deal had taken four days.
In the evening of that day, Paul and I went down to the range to confirm that it was correctly positioned. All was well and, as a final act as the sun sank in the west, the army fixed charges to the axles of the truck and with a huge roar, blew all the wheels off it. It settled on its chassis in a great cloud of dust. Now there was a target and it would certainly stand up to a great deal of battering. Now, as the two weapons guys, Paul and I had to have first crack at the beast so next morning we were airborne just after first light, 06:30 or so, for the five minute transit to the range.
