US Installations details - 18

Rose Range was in Berlin Zehlendorf to the rear of Checkpoint BRAVO. The Range itself was surrounded by fenced-up woods. The whole area was about 2000 yards long by 800 yards wide. It was a German Army facility taken over by the US Army following WW II. Opposite the main gate was the GDR (Communist East German) border, the area behind the fence belonged to the GDR Potsdam District. Driving down Potsdamer Chaussee toward the Wannsee area one made a left turn in front of the railway tracks to go down the dead-end street of Stahnsdorfer Damm. After passing the LS (German Labor Service) guard shack one found himself on the right side of the main firing Range.

Rose Range had several separate ranges. Most were small, open places with dark brown wood sides. The firing sites were for short distances under 100 yards. The small 400 yards rifle range just had space for only 5 shooters. Keerans Range was built by the US Army to facilitate training larger numbers of troops. At Rose Range the Army fired all small weapons, from .30 cal., 7.62 mm, .45 cal., 9 mm and the new 5.56 mm. Rose Range was also utilized by German police, customs units (Zoll) and the LS Guard Battalion.

Past the entrance to the main firing range and down a paved road to the east, were the other practice locations. To the left was the skeet and hand grenade range. (blasting area) The American Rod and Gun Club at McNair Barracks used the skeet site every weekend. Further down, next to Checkpoint BRAVO, was Berlin Brigade's main picnic and camping area. The woods inside the Range were used by US troops for training with blank ammunition. Army Engineers (42^nd ENG) and MPs of the 287^th MP Co. practiced there often. ARTEPS or FTX the fenced-up range area was a good location for Army tents, vehicles, or huge camp sites.

End of the 1980s the Army also maintained a life firing course in the woods of the range. The special light blue plastic bullets (5.56mm) were similar to the regular life ammo but lost its energy after short distance. Within about 50 yards a realistic firing was possible but after less than 100 yards the danger radius of this ammo ended, the light weight plastic bullets dropped down, lost energy. So the troops had the opportunity to fire on several hidden pop-up targets in between bushes and trees while attacking the special practice "lane". Machine gun crews provided "cover fire" with blank ammo to give a touch of reality. The results were visible and satisfyed the units whom had to ran through. A similar training also was set up at Doughboy City. (some buildings were prepared to do this)

When the Allies left, Berlin City government asssumed control of Rose Range. The name is still the same; but now private German gun clubs, forestmeisters, and of course, the Berlin Police Department and other security agencies use this range for their daily firing practice. Buildings were renewed and enclosed to keep the noise down. Machine gun chatter and grenade explosions are no longer heard. Those sounds have been replaced by "normal" police weapons (9 mm) currently in use at Rose Range.