Royal Navy Field Gun Competition 1988

Devonport v Fleet Air Arm at the Royal Tournament, Earls Court, July 1988

[@earlofeastwood]

bring it back I'd pay the license fee just for this one pleasure to watch, instead of all the celebrity shite factor bollocks and the poxy premiership footie..

[@Talbot6832]

Hmmmm. Instead of this fabulous spectacle of British military finesse we are subjected to utterly pathetic reality TV programmes. Welcome to 21st century Britain. Fucking sickens me to the core.

[@davey.f.demarco3858]

Talbot6832 Hit the nail on the head!! Fully agree!!

[@Thefoilingguy]

Totally agree mate, does my fucking head in the idiots we are subjected to.

[@LionheartNh]

Talbot6832 you are so right....I wish we could have the 70s and 80s back, the Royal Tournament was amazing, I know I was there as a Royal Marine when they first had a laser show in 79...The other day I watched the xfactor or some such crap..it made me cringe. Makes me sad to see how Britain has fallen so far....how did we come to this...how did we come to this .

[@earlofeastwood]

cos we took our eye of the ball allowing those lying CUNTS we elect into parliament to get away with bloody murder literally.

[@davenewman4596]

I cant tell you how much I miss this, I was Army and was at the tournament in 92, plenty of beer was drank with those excellent teams

[@Wanderer628]

Tragedy that this was cancelled. Yet another victim of never ending cuts.

[@Puzzoozoo]

More like an other vindictive action by country hating war criminal Blair.

[@johno2499]

When I was young and fit I was running along the beach at Lee-on-Solent one day and was overtaken by the FAA Field Gun team - all of whom were carrying sand bags on their shoulders - and jumping the groins whilst I was on the footpath. It's a great pity that this was discontinued.

[@MKR5210]

One of the worst governmental mistakes ever!!! It was a massive source of pride in the Navy and a kick in the groin when it was discontinued. There is a value to traditions that is vital to society....

[@neriorus]

Very nice. So bad it got discontinued due to the amount of broken bones and lost fingers during the competition.

[@davidhoward5392]

​@@neriorusif was discontinued due to Manpower shortages, injuries had nothing to do with this, it was highly regulated but people get hurt when throwing large heavy objects at speed. I speak from personal experience as I was the medic attached to Devonport in 86 and 87..

[@richardfox7487]

Good times it is a pity it's stopped but there are still compo still happening

[@biggest23]

@@neriorus….It was discontinued due to the growing influence of political correctness in western institutions, with a recently "unified" South Africa giving the green light to those that are ceaselessly trying to represent all displays of European derring do, as evidence of "colonial oppression". Check out the timing of the cessation of this amazing event and public statements made at the time, that pointed to the current situation in SA, making it the correct moment to put this apparently parochial display to bed. What a fuggin shame.

[@2bsure]

I was there that year. An amazing event to watch. There need to have the Royal Tournament every year again.

[@zeeshansyed710]

There is Field gun challenge i came back home yesterday from the challenge but it is different and easier than this, but we are just colleges or schools competing but there are teams of the navy

[@vincentcushnahan5292]

YES WE DO MUCH MISSED

[@Berkcam]

For all of you that never ran with the guns - you are lucky - you have avoided contracting a disease that never leaves you. Believe me when I say that all we ever want to do is just one more run, even though we know our bodies can no longer take it... hanging from the traveller with that wheel would wrench my right arm out of its socket now.

[@waynefoulkes5377]

Same here 😀. Like an old cavalry horse scratching his hoof at the sound of a bugle, my heart has just done a 2min 40 run 😃. Never forget that adrenaline !Stay safe and man the drags 👍

[@dawnaird9590]

My dad did the run twice in the 60’s served with Fleet Air Arm, very proud, but sadly gone now along with this fabulous tournament.

[@pauldavies152]

What years did your dad run dawn? My dad ran for devonport in 66.

[@neilshots]

My dad was in that race for Fleet Air Arm. I remember going to see this what a great day out it was. A tear in my eye now as i hear that music at the beginning.

[@SuperParatech]

Bring back the Royal Tournament, RY Britannia, a larger navy, schoolies and invest in more subs and another commando carrier

[@michaelball1307]

🇬🇧 This event needs to be restored into the armed forces... especially in this year with Charles's coronation 🇬🇧... 👍🏻👑

[@alanwood7373]

Absolutely amazing loved to see these on the TV when I was growing up. Shame it all got stopped. Amazing men who took part. The injuries they suffered, many with broken bones and some losing fingers.

[@camrenwick]

You'd have to be extremely fit and tough to be a Field Gunner.

[@sevvy101]

This typifies why our armed forces are held in such high regard. It's so sad that this tournament isn't held anymore....such skill, aggression, precision. Incredible!!

[@Omshanto55]

My grandad used to take me every year. I loved it, such a shame it is no longer around

[@JeffBilkins]

Proper mansport this. Nothing like that whiny soccer diva crap we get these days.

[@Berkcam]

Interesting to see the Air Arm 'speedy wheels' still crossing over each other on the run back though Devonport had adopted the 'turn and run' technique used by Pompey for years. Turn and run makes more sense as both wheels can run at the same pace making dual arrival at the ramp easier.

[@TRikZMaStErZ4]

Awsome. My dad was in that race. It would be great to see it live.

[@JoMoMoss]

It just HAS! to be good to know you were a part of UK & RN history taking part in this event with EVERYTHING! involved in getting the teams to Earls Court. With our FU**ED-UP country and the WRONG! decisions to stop the support and funding of this event...which is internationally one of the toughest team events in history......showing the world what can be achieved with teamwork, dedication and good training.

[@I_am_NEVER_wrong]

I was lucky to see this magnificent spectacle at the Royal Tournament in the 1970's it has lived with me ever since toughest sport in the world? probably!

[@lookiloo007]

I remember watching this on T,V. This was the greatest event ever.

[@karlpeart1752]

I watched it live in 1990 when I was 9 years old it was incredible to watch live the strength of these guys was insane the run is a lot longer than it looks like on TV

[@desyoung]

What great footage this is, it brought back memories of when I was in a field gun crew at HMS Ganges 1954/55. They certainly don't do this these days with the Health and Safety brigade's rules and regulations.

[@VRichardsn]

Wow... quite impressing. Those guys are like a watch. Really impressive. P.S.: the part when the gun is moved via ropes quite dangeroues, specially when it lands. I suppose there were some serious injuries in some of these competitions.

[@karlpeart1752]

Broken fingers. Lots n broken toes n feet

[@evo5349]

When I served the Royal Navy would stop for Field Gun and all the ships at sea would have the results sent real time on the runs.

[@Green1812Arrow]

I believe they were actually giving the old Devonport shout of Oggie, oggie, oggie oi oi oi. Like desyoung I was also at HMS Ganges and was in a Field Gun Crew. Great place. Great days.

[@rachelpenny5165]

As I grew up in Devon on the edge of Dartmoor, I would support Devonport. But I loved watching this when I was younger. But the army and other forces did a lot of community work when I was growing up. I remember airforce helicopters flying low over the school and the soldiers would wave at us. I also remember jets dive bombing our house and you could hear the army practicing on the moor. It was what happened and if we visited Dartmoor near the army camp, the officers were friendly and would often open the gate for us.

[@corgiplumber]

I bet the health and safety fellows crawled all over this !!!!! Gits!!!!

[@paulforeman8894]

Lots of activity at the moment from past members as we seem to be loosing a few, so sharing some fantastic old times. This was a somewhat larger version of me all those years ago! Think I appear around the 45 seconds mark with other short slots!! Many happy (although challenging) memories! Think I got off lightly one year with 118 stitches, fractured scaphoid and crushed thumbs!!

[@infamyinfamy]

I was there in 1985 with my school band, our head of music took us there. He was the only teacher, and was in his 60s waiting to retire and we were over 30 kids between 10 and 13 years old. He basically told us to go off and explore round Earl's Court Exhibition Centre and be back in time for the show to start. So of course we ran around in small groups blagging every freebie we could, explored all the back stairwells etc. During the show we were on the Devonport side. One of my favourite childhood memories, it was awesome. Was gutted when i first heard Earls Court was being demolished.

[@johnmercury2272]

This is madness, the only thing madder was Mad Jack McMad, the winner of last year's "Mr. Madman" competition. :-)

[@rnf1227]

Used to watch Pompy training when I was at Excellent. They had their own pub there - The Hole In the Wall. Great times.

[@KrillLiberator]

The greatest sport ever; utterly thrilling and I would watch it every year; one of those totally unmissable TV events. Seeing that first limber come over the wall... that's when the magic really starts!

[@OutMastered]

Andrew Givens

[@jnairac]

Litterally Half a Ton of equipment.. Some saw bodies flying during trainings...those wheels are massive.. The guns deadly in full swing. Discipline is the Key in teamwork 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

[@jreacher79]

Impressive stuff! Now I know why the old school Matelots refer to Brickwoods as 'Car Park Field Gun'

[@Strum2223]

3:28.....LOOK AT HIS HAND. He fucked that up royally. This has got to be the most dangerous sport I've ever seen

[@romeo9017]

Used to run the galley for these gentlemen - my profound respect as always....

[@simonbridges3835]

Where I used to work there was a maintenance man everyone knew as Scuba Steve 😂 As strong as an 'oss, he was a specimen of a bloke, even in his mid 50s. He'd competed in the gun run for 4 years and continued after losing his right index finger but packed it in after losing the first joint of his thumb off the same hand! 😱 To say he was nails is an understatement.

[@nelsonhibbert5267]

My Dad ran field gun for pompy an he's still a bloody lunatic. I would've joined the Navy but around about the time I was applying this was scrapped. I couldn't see the point in joining if the opportunity to take part in command field gun was no longer there. These days it's just people running up and down a car park.

[@tykingswell3717]

@@nelsonhibbert5267 Admittedly nothing will come close to command field gun in terms of sheer strength, speed and quick wits, but after having done both field gun and brick woods, brick woods is no joke, just a lot less technically complicated, still bloody difficult business

[@markwalker2373]

I read somewhere this was cancelled because the public couldn’t handle seeing fingers being ripped off not sure wether it’s true or not

[@SRT480]

these guys are beasts

[@brucejobs]

12 years later.... worse. This was fine viewing, real people battling their bodies and mind.

[@johnparker4538]

Used to watch this regularly from the high gallery with my mum. I miss both very much.

[@alanfaulkner6329]

Need to bring this back now with the new carriers in service.

[@admiralbenbow5083]

My Dad used to take me to the tournament. This was the high spot of the evening.

[@TheRingDragon52]

I'm glad these men are on my side. My personal favorite is the Fleet Air Arm, but they are all British.

[@bobnice3044]

The HSE ruined it now.

[@LutzDerLurch]

Absolutely incredible!

[@barrytipton1179]

Hope they don’t move the Queen so quickly

[@Steveoqotsa]

Used to bloody love this,went a couple of times,why did they stop it??

[@terencericketts8017]

absolutely Brilliant.

[@liesacoates9617]

I remember this well - I was there as an air cadet! So thrilling!

[@gamma500]

Excellent! Portsmouth Action Field Gun now do it!!!

[@grahamjordan1040]

I saw this live many times, should still have the royal tournament it was brilliant.

[@borlani]

We used to be based next door to the Training ground for this stuff, must have watched this hundreds of time live, never fails to astound me, gonna take this to my interview as an example of "Teamwork" fantastic stuff. You can almost smell the rum and gunpowder! Bring it back!!! Not this pussy stuff you see nowadays. Wonder how many of today's youth could manage this?

[@granskare]

incredible!

[@robleary3353]

So sad it's no longer going. I saw this race live as a young kid back in the seventies and it was one of the most amazing things I'd ever seen. Tough b*stards! Nuff said.

[@DavidHarrison-js3ji]

Hearts of gold . God bless the senior services .

[@JahRasta01]

Good to know Brits march the same as they walk normally down a city street

[@Berkcam]

While doing basic training in the Royal Navy you get shit if caught 'marching', "SAILORS DON'T MARCH - THEY SWAGGER!"

[@vernonperry]

Amazing teamwork. vp

[@davidlyons3678]

Loved this when I was a kid. Health and safety will never bring this back.

[@MultiTruther]

seriously cool!

[@DreamBelief]

I have a recording of the whole thing from the 90's if anyone wants it. Not sure if someone else has uploaded it

[@steamfandan9682]

I only went to the royal tournament once last ever year of the royal tournament

[@punchingbeatle]

my dad did this he was on the devonport team

[@D15GSY]

7:00 mins is the No1 1999 mac. Legends. real men.

[@lovesongsframpton9915]

These men were made of Oak Would love to see a reality show tying to do this

[@MichaeljRanger]

You are right tho,now I see where you are coming from. Todays world, with it's rules etc, is a mixed up place! To add to your "elf & safety" bits, I didn't see any paramedics on stand by?

[@alanfrost4661]

Wasnt this one of Blairs cut backs?

[@gazzaroth321]

nd seaman staines :P

[@davidsaxon8660]

Please bring this back

[@TheGreatAcePilot]

cool!

[@sandradean-nl4cm]

Why was this stopped

[@wilson0408]

vert interesting :D

[@deanmizzi4624]

Amazing!!!!! 🇬🇧💪

[@picklehead82]

Always used to go with my late dad who was in the navy at devonport. Memories I cherish forever xx

[@rogerhudson2814]

I saw this performance four times when I was young, late '50s early 60s, those were very good times not like today.

[@philipjeremiah5042]

As the numbers in the RN have declined don't think there are enough bodies to run three crews, plus H&S would not allow it.used to watch them train in Devonport in the 60's plenty of broken bones but super fit physicaly & mentaly

[@WELLBRAN]

@hbomb1964 I suppose its a question of these days if its too hard in the Navy no one will join, when the old days it was I want to join as it is hatrd ( to prove ones self) also the female ratings would not have to do this so then the males would say why do we have to do this kind of stuff. Something anong those lines I guess.

[@D15GSY]

Yes it's a joke. But looking back wasn't it great, back then my heros as a boy, joined the RN in 96 was blessed to be picked in the fleet air arm field gun crew 1998 as a 19 yr old and loved evey minute of it, in the crew there is no rank just the innner rack as in ur number and place in the team. G.S.T.Q

[@DaveJMcGarry]

Was serving at this time. My lads from Devonport!

[@chilled99]

alot of grazing must have occurred during practice

[@SOUTHWEST778]

Earls Court been flattened now, watched it there years back,

[@davidmckeown9936]

Absolutely amazing, recorded when men were men and you felt proud to be British. None of this lgbt woke crap in those days. RESPECT

[@D15GSY]

Fook me 5 mins 59 that's number 1 FAA FGC 1998 Legend * No1 trainer*

[@BenSTA09]

do the brits also use pounds and not the metric kilogram

[@hindelarbi3710]

That more than pretty cooooool.....

[@technotoaster]

I would have watched this on TV, when I was just 13

[@kfinnguy]

has anything ever gone wrong in this tournament?

[@johnburt7935]

I notice that the lads are controlling the flared cuffs of their bellbottom trousers with the gaiters which were the origin of the term "boot camp" (because most sailors do not march in formation at any other time). BTW, why *is* this a Navy exercise, and not a Marine one . . . ?

[@zetlandersoaghar7551]

+John Burt The origins of Royal Navy Field Gun lay in 1899, in the Second Boer War, and in particular the epic 119-day Siege of Ladysmith. As the British Army was besieged by Boer fighters in the garrison town of Ladysmith, Natal, the Royal Navy landed guns from HM Ships Terrible and Powerful to help in the relief of the siege. Special carriages and mountings for these guns had been improvised by Percy Scott, before the Naval Brigade manhandled six field guns each weighing nearly half a metric tonne over rough terrain to assist their opposite numbers of the British Army. I know this as I am in this vid Guz wheelie.

[@livtyler83]

We use Stones if its personal weight.

[@305Lfx]

Come on your air arm...

[@dantimmy]

love watching these competitions lol

[@gamma500]

PAFG co uk are still doing it...

[@csrtitus]

Hilarious.

[@spokesnpancakes]

Wow!!!

[@Lumpyone]

I'd like to see this done IN THE FIELD, with real buildings etc., and a team that has NOT been trained for anything but the gun operations and typical sailor's training of the period. I'd bet it would take a lot longer than 3 minutes elapsed.

[@chrislewis8714]

Looks to me the Fleet Air Arm were the fitter and stronger team, but Devonport were ahead on technique and team synergy.

[@Berkcam]

Fitter and stronger... is that a joke? I can tell you as a former field gunner that there is no difference in physical abilities between all three commands. What makes one crew faster than the other is the 'drill' - sometimes this comes together and it all works like a well oiled machine - and sometimes it doesn't. One mans cock-up at any point can cost you that run.

[@mephistophelescountcaglios1489]

This is a reenactment of 1882

[@paratrooper6]

lol Aussie Aussie Aussie, Oi Oi Oi :D You can hear it just before they start

[@RicTic66]

It's 'Oggie Oggie Oggie Oi Oi Oi' it pre-dates Aussie etc by about 100 years. In Devon a 'pastie' is known as a 'Oggie'

[@VisinskiRadoviBeograd]

Grotesque.

[@CuriousMoth]

It'd be good if once they got done with a run, they pointed the gun at the other team and fired, and it was full of fun house gunge, so the loser gets gunged. I think that'd see some serious viewing in modern Britain, maybe get some celebrities in there for good measure.