11 minute read
Op NEWCOMBE
By A/WO1 Dean Boys
Seven RLC personnel have been sustaining the Long Range Reconnaissance Group (LRRG) in Mali on Op NEWCOMBE rotation four. Op NEWCOMBE is the UK’s contribution to the wider multi-national UN mission in Mali, known as MINUSMA. Currently 1 Royal Irish is the lead BG, with elements of the Scots DG under command.
The LRRG deploys from Camp Bagnold on various missions missions have included DETERing Terrorist Armed Groups, PROTECTing civilians, reinforcing Sector East and SUSTAINing MINUSMA force elements - and it conducts operations in human terrain reconnaissance.
The Senior Ammunition Technician (SAT) The SAT is A/WO1 Dean Boys. His duties include planning advice to SO3 EOD&S for the estimate; management of the EOD and Search Task Line (TL); referral chain for the EOD operators; EOD and explosive advice to the LRRG; overseeing and advising on the management of the Explosive Storage Area (ESA); overseeing munition investigations and logistic disposals.
NEWCOMBE is a great opportunity to take on the full spectrum of ammunition technical duties.
The Estimate Process works within Task Group Headquarters (TGHQ). TGHQ is there to plan the missions. The estimate process can take up to 15 days.
The EOD and Search Task Line (TL) consists of 14 personnel and includes a seven-member search team, three-member EOD team, a MWD handler plus dog, two REME technicians and a forward deployed operator from 2 Military Intelligence Battalion. They deploy as a heavy TL including three Mastiff vehicles, a large and small RCV and an array of other equipment.
The Explosive Storage Area (ESA) is run by the National Support Element (NSE) AT, Sgt Cookson. This is a fantastic opportunity to conduct the storage pillar of the trade. Sgt Cookson is busy 24/7 sorting out ammunition. This involves back loading surplus, ordering stock, working out trundle mileage, referencing technical details, writing SORs, contacting project teams for information and the list goes on. He is doing a fantastic job. Well done Cookie!
Munition investigations Unfortunately, there has been need to conduct a munition investigation due to a near miss which occurred on a range. The decision was made for the Weapons Intelligence Specialist Warrant Officer (WISWO) to investigate as although part of the LRRG deployment, he works as an LO within the Combined Exploitation facility (CEXC), so he can make much needed recommendations.
Exploitation - To ensure the LRRG force is protected, the WISWO and I attend weekly meetings with the CEXC and visit other troop contributing nations’ EOD teams, which gives us access to the most relevant information.
Logistic disposals - Disposing of ammunition through Shelf life Expired (SLED) and trundle life expired (ammunition can only travel a certain distance. E.g. 40mm GMG has a trundle life of 2,000km).
The National Support Element Ammunition Technician
The National Support Element Ammunition Technician is Sgt Blake Cookson. His duties include management of the British section of the multi-national ESA; he provides advice on management of ammunition and is responsible for ammunition husbandry, inspection and conditioning.
The ESA is a multi-national storage area run by the Germans. Sgt Cookson is the primary liaison with his German counterpart, ensuring all policy and storage requirements are adhered to. The LRRGs section of the ESA comprises 24 ISO Containers (REEFERS), allowing a full range of force protection and mission specific ammunition that the TG requires. As a vital element, management of the ESA is his primary role. Daily tasks include rotating stock, ensuring licences are adhered to and explosive safety is upheld.
Ammunition management provides technical advice on ammunition requests, forecasting and ensures the TG always has the correct tools for the job. This includes ensuring ammunition is serviceable
8 The LRRG on patrol 8 The Ammunition Technicians – Sgt
Cookson, WO2 Auld, WO1 Boys, Sgt Parry
and all JSMCR constraints are adhered to. Additionally, Sgt Cookson provides direct liaison to the project teams, the safe to move inspections, liaises with the RAF, aids planning and execution of demolitions and ensures an effective stock rotation is in place.
Ammunition husbandry is part of ammunition management and Sgt Cookson routinely inspects all ammunition stocks ensuring natures are correctly stored, free of damage ensuring the TG is fully operational. As a mobile TG utilising Jackal and Foxhound vehicles, there is a wide range of ammunition natures, from 40x53mm HEDP GMG, Javelin Anti-Tank Guided Weapons to the standard 5.56mm.
The Logistic G4 Detachment The Logistic G4 Detachment consists SSgt Kubuabola, (7 Regt), Sgt Gurung (9 Regt) and LCpl Ghale (9 Regt).
The team of SMEs are responsible for management of accounts, including entitlements, ammunition, USA, FLIG and medical supplies. An extensive amount of equipment worth over £600,000,000.
The team supports the function of the RAP and Ground Surgical Manoeuvre Group (GSMG) and provides close liaison with the medical team to address shortfalls and concerns. These are then articulated to our 2-star headquarters at PJHQ.
The team ensures the management and security of CD (Fentanyl) and the management of cold chain medical supplies on a golden hour box from the flight line to blood storage unit.
LCpl Ghale is the acting node supervisor managing all the consignment tracking using Log IS and VITAL to track package ID of all the commodities in and out of theatre. This is important to maintain both forward and reverse supply chain within theatre.
2nd Military Intelligence Battalion (2MI) WO2 Auld is deployed to 2MI as the UK’s liaison to the CEXC and is the LRRGs WISWO. Sgt Parry is the Forward Deployed Exploitation Operator (FDO).
Sgt Parry explains his role. “I am currently deployed on Op NEWCOMBE 4 as the Materiel Personnel Exploitation (MPE) FDO. The FDO is co-located with the EOD&S team during operations. My role is to collect exploitable materiel, which ranges from weapon systems to IED components, while maintaining the chain of custody for evidence purposes. On recovery, further exploitation is conducted by the WISWO, who works in the CEXC which is currently run by the Swedish contingent. However, the Swedish contingent has announced it will be leaving Mali. The plan is for the Germans to take over the CEXC and continue to employ UK LO/WISWO. The collection of evidence is meticulous as it serves two functions: it may be used by the UN to build cases to prosecute individuals, but the primary function is force protection of the LRRG. This is achieved by identifying trends and emerging threats, which can be weighed against current TTPs and in extremis, changes made. We have currently completed three patrols in support of peacekeeping operations and are confident that the LRRG is having a positive effect.”
Patrolling in Mali is made all the more difficult by Haboobs (sandstorms), camel spiders and scorpions. The TL told the SAT that Sgt Parry screamed at the top of his lungs, waking everyone in the leaguer, when a camel spider crawled out of his boot. He slept with his boots on from that point…!
Op NEWCOMBE is a great opportunity to ply trades in an adverse and different environment. The deployment is an especially good opportunity for Ammunition Technicians to develop as it’s highly demanding but highly rewarding in the same breath.
8 A Haboob (sandstorm) on Camp
Bagnold
8 UK and German EOD teams works
together to dispose of unserviceable ammunition
Monty’s D-Day Rolls Royce Wraith
By Major (Retd) Simon Walmsley Director, The Royal Logistic Corps Museum
Whereas senior officers today might be transported in a Skoda Octavia, things were very different in years gone by. 80 years ago, British Generals would be transported in the very best marques of the day. During World War Two, the Army had a large fleet of prestigious vehicles including several Rolls Royce’s. During its RASC and RCT days, 20 Transport Squadron RLC, based in Regents Park Barracks, was responsible for the Army’s limousine fleet. The Squadron only disposed of its last remaining Daimler limousine about ten years ago.
In 1944, Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery was the most important soldier in the British Army. He decided to replace his sand-coloured Humber Super Snipe from his North Africa days with something that would make a real statement when he arrived in war torn France.
Montgomery understood the importance of psychological demonstrations of power and leadership and he wanted to show to the French people, and to the German Army, that “we have
8 Monty’s Rolls Royce Bury St. Edmunds
in Suffolk in the spring of 1944 just before D-Day
arrived to stay.” His 1939 Rolls Royce Wraith was exactly what was required for this task and thus it was was the first ‘civilian’ vehicle to land on Juno Beach on 9 June 1944, only three days after the D-Day landings had started.
King George VI, Sir Winston Churchill and General Patton are just a few of the passengers it carried during this period. The Rolls has leather seats for the driver but much more expensive (at the time) luxury cloth seats in the rear, as well as a glass partition which can be raised for privacy. The Wraith remained with him in Germany for two years (1944-1946), firstly whilst Montgomery was Commander of 21 Army Group and then later as he transitioned to Commander of the British Army of the Rhine (BAOR).
The Wraith remained a Senior Officers’ Staff Car for many years before retiring to become a museum exhibit. It was involved in a serious accident in the 1970s and required extensive repairs. The RLC Museum, supported by donations, has just spent £30,000 on a much-needed mechanical overhaul, which included a complete rebuild of the rear axle and other essential renovations. The Wraith is now ready to support RLC events and to promote the heritage of The RLC and its museum for many years to come.
8 The Rolls Royce undergoing repairs at a
specialist classic car restorer
The Royal Logistic Corps Foundation exists to foster the relationship between The RLC, industry and academia; sharing best practice, knowledge and mutual understanding amongst logistics professionals.
On 19 Oct 22, the RLC Foundation held a project management event at Worthy Down. The event was hosted by Brig Mike Caldicott CBE, outgoing Commandant of DCLPA and attended by his successor Brig Lee Daley. The event attracted a large military audience with some RLC Foundation corporate membership also attending. The opening presenter was Iain McKend, a senior lecturer on project management, from the University of Cumbria. In a previous life Iain was a senior Army officer (late RLC) with extensive operational and programme management experience. Keith Winterflood, (managing director construction) and Terry Caswelln (mobilisation manager) from Wilson James gave a fascinating insight into major infrastructure projects and how they are managed throughout the different phases until their completion. The military presenter was Brig Mike Taylor, head of the customer service support team at MOD Abbey Wood, which supports over 600 live programmes across Defence. Brig Mike has had extensive project management experience in Defence Equipment & Support and shared some of those experiences with the audience. This event proved to be extremely popular and the Foundation intends to run something similar next year.
On 1 Nov 22 the RLC Foundation held its first annual Awards Dinner since 2019. The dinner, hosted by the Master General of Logistics, Maj Gen Simon Hutchings OBE, was held at the Combined Mess, Worthy Down. Over 110 military and corporate members attended an excellent evening of recognition and celebration. The Awards Dinner gives the Corps the opportunity to formally recognise the achievements of its soldiers, officers and units together with industry partners across a broad spectrum of award categories. Also, for the first time, six Conductor’s Coin Winners were recognised. Details of all awards and the Conductor’s Coin recipients are shown below:
8 Project management event 19 Oct 22
The RLC Foundation
8 RLC Foundation President Maj Gen Hutchings OBE is piped into dinner
8 Mentoring Support Award –
Capt Matthew Totton, 6 Regt
RLC. Sponsored by TVS Supply
Chain Solutions 8 Industry Professional
Development Award – PA
Consulting. Sponsored by Leidos 8 Regional Partnership Award –
STEM Team, Defence Munitions
Kineton. Sponsored by Kuehne &
Nagel.
8 Apprentice of the Year Award winner Pte Joslyn and Mr Peter Edwards WFS
8 Thought Leadership Award –
Leidos. Sponsored by Squarcle 8 Junior Initiative Award – Pte
Kathryn Grimwood, 9 Regt RLC.
Sponsored by Pearson TQ 8 Apprentice of the Year Award 2022 – Pte Aferna Josyln, 23
Engr Regt. Sponsored by World
Fuel Services 8 Sustainability Recognition
Award – Sgt Sean Pothecary, 17 Regt RLC. Sponsored by PA
Consulting
Conductor’s Coin Winners Pte Amrit Gurung
Logistic Specialist (Supply) Cpl Alan Fuller Marine Engineer LCpl Craig Stericker Driver Communications Specialist Cpl Ben Kendall Mariner LCpl Pauliasi Korobiau Vehicle Support Specialist Cpl Christopher Mavin Port Operator
