In the 1970s and early 1980s soluble cobalt 60 sources were used as Radioactive Miss Distance Indicators (RAMDI) on Rapier missiles. These missiles were test fired out to sea at the former Royal Artillery Range on South Uist, close to the island of Benbecula in the Outer Hebrides.

In 1979, cobalt 60 radioactive contamination was found at the Range. Decontamination was undertaken of the Launch Area and other areas of the site in 1980. Decontamination arisings containing very low levels of radioactive material contained in steel drums were buried on the site in a fenced off area with the agreement of the regulatory bodies. This allowed the radioactivity in the drums to decay naturally in isolation.

Firing of missiles using radioactive sources ended in November 1981. An environmental radioactivity survey was carried out at the Range by MOD between 17 and 28 May 2004. Two reports have been produced of the environmental survey, one covering the terrestrial environment and the other the marine and intertidal shore.

Analysis of foodstuffs from the vicinity of the rangehead has been conducted by Dstl and the results are available.

Forces Reunited Forum Posts involving Royal Artillery Ranges Benbecula

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