Aben Heide 2016

[Stephen White]

No, not another music festival. Every year, the Danish Army puts on a spectacular firepower demonstration at their main training area in SW Jutland, Oksbol. The event is called Aben Heide (Open Heath). The Danes still have large quantities of obsolete 105mm ammunition, which they fire off Centurion and Leo 1. The live firing is very impressive, particularly to firing on the move against hard targets with 105 DS (T), the sabot training round. They were getting good hits at 1500m on the move.

There is a good overall vid here:



And this one shows the action inside the Leo1 turret.



The event usually happens in June. I have a good friend still serving in the Danish Army and, if there were sufficient interest, might consider organising a trip next year.

Regards.

Stephen

[Ian Rodney]

Hi Stephen,

I had a look at the Aben Heide 2016 youtube videos earlier on when you first posted them.
I thought by now someone from the forum would have replied to your topic!…..specially seeing there are a few
members with Centurions kits out there!

Also I see no replies, just 200 viewers!

I was originally supposed to have had a week's holiday in Denmark at the beginning of July with my Danish friends who live way up North near a place called Skive on the west coast.

Can you tell me where the Aben Heide is held each year! Is it down in the southern half of Denmark or middle of the country?

Anyway I enjoyed these videos, and trying to imagine the real one's in 1/6th scale running about blasting everything in site!

Thanks for posting them….

Cheers Ian
from Glasgow

[Stephen White]

Ian, my pleasure, glad you enjoyed it. I have a friend who is still serving and who has offered to help visitors to Aben Heide. I have a very tentative thought about going next year if there were sufficient interest to make up a small party, maybe hiring a van and taking some models.

The event is held in the big training area/live firing range at Oksbol, just north of Esbjerg. It's number 10 on the att map.

All the best. Loving your 25pdr saga and full of admiration for your skill in making the bits by hand.

Stephen

[Ian Rodney]

Thanks Stephen,

For putting up that map of where Aben Heide is held, especially number 10.

Thanks for your kind remarks on my 25 PDR. Seems to take forever making my upgrades by hand!
But I enjoy these little challenges for sure.
Once I have sorted out the connecting rods in the lower half attached to the firing platform I can
move on up to the gun shield and main gun!

And just to say I enjoy following your great progress on the Centurion tank, amazing upgrades you have made yourself.

Best regards
Ian

[Steve Stuart]

Depending on the how and when I can arrange a Van or even two
Steve

[stephen smith]

I just realised I'm in this area every month or so, it's only a 3 hour drive from home.

Looks good let me know when it's on.

Flights to Copenhagen on easy jet if booked in advance are actually pretty cheap.