This large complex is centred at TR 0556 1738, and extends across an area measuring approximately 1.4km east to west and 930m north to south. It is situated just to the west of the Dengemarsh Gut Shafts and Coastguard Lookout, on the coastal shingle characteristic of the area. Tanks would have driven around a triangular track at the north of the site (centred at TR 0554 1776) while firing at moving targets on a system of tracks to the south. A smaller circular tank track lies to the east of the main triangular circuit (TR 0595 1754). The system of tracks for the moving targets forms a complicated zig-zag arrangement in plan view. Narrow tracks or rails are just visible on the vertical aerial photographs of 1946, flanked on either side by banked-up shingle. At the north-western edge of the site, the complex of zig-zag tracks converges to form a single track (TR 0495 1786) which leads north-westwards; presumably to link-up with the adjacent firing range (Monument Number 1539764). Ten blockhouses adjacent to various points of the trackway may have housed equipment which controlled the moving targets. These structures were protected by substantial banks of shingle over the top of them. To the south of the zig-zag arrangement of tracks, a mass of bomb craters is visible on the vertical aerial photographs of 1946. These were presumably formed by artillery fire that overshot the targets. Shots that went further still would have fallen into the sea; which probably explains the choice of this location for a firing range. Four sub-circular mounds with central depressions are visible on vertical aerial photographs as earthworks within the triangular tank track on the northern edge of the site (TR 0543 1780). These may have formed part of the firing range, or may alternatively have been an anti-aircraft gun emplacement or battery site. Later vertical aerial photographs of 1973 show additional structures within the triangular tank track. These comprise three substantial shingle-covered bunkers or blockhouses, with an adjacent building (TR 0545 1777). The addition of these structures, along with an extremely dense cluster of bomb craters on the western edge of the range (TR 0500 1737) suggests continued use of this site as a training facility beyond the end of the Second World War. None of the structures of this firing range were visible on aerial photographs of 1941, but had appeared by the time of the next available vertical aerial photographs of 1946. As mentioned above, additional features were visible on vertical aerial photographs of 1973. By the time of the latest available vertical aerial photographs of 2007, the tracks for the moving targets are no longer visible, although all the earthworks of the trackways and blockhouses can still be seen. Both the circular and triangular tank tracks are recorded on the modern OS map, but have been included in the NMP transcription so as to present a coherent overview of this Armoured Fighting Vehicle firing range (1-3).

<1> RAF, 1946, NMR RAF/106G/UK/1725 3095-6 10-SEPT-1946 (Photograph). SWX23821.

<2> National Monuments Record, 1973, Vertical aerial photograph reference number (Photograph). SWX23787.

<3> Historic England, Archive material (Archive). SKE58353.