33 minute read
Squadron Updates
Brigadier G J Thompson (late RTR)
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When I wrote last year’s foreword and praised the virtue of our innovative DNA, none of us imagined that the next challenge would be a global pandemic, requiring the Regiment to disperse for force protection whilst also providing direct support to the NHS response. This extended the time spent away from armour but over the coming two years, the Regiment will revert back to armour and its core operational role. Beginning in early 2021, the entire Regiment will begin to cycle through Estonia in the forward presence contribution, Op CABRIT.
Many of you will be following the current Integrated Review and may wonder whether the debate is unsettling the Regiment. I can tell you that it is not, but that does not allow us to become complacent. There are compelling arguments for the UK to invest more into the cyber and space domains. As scientific progress opens these domains they are inevitably becoming contested and it is quite right that the UK wants to have a leading global role in response. Allowing an asymmetry to exist between the UK and our adversaries in any domain is inadvisable. What is true of cyber and space is equally true of the land domain. It makes little strategic sense to disinvest in armour and permit an armoured asymmetry in order to close gaps in the cyber and space domains at a time when armoured forces face each other in Eastern Europe.
History can help us in this analysis. The French disinvested in armour at the end of World War One, believing the tank to have been a solution to the static idiosyncrasies of that war and failing to recognise it as a decisive weapon of the future. Their hasty attempt to reinvest in armour in response to German aggression in the 1930s delivered an inferior tank that was defeated with ease by German armour advancing through the Ardennes in 1940. Similarly, the US closed its armoured programme after World War Two, believing that disinvestment in the land domain was an inevitable consequence of the development of nuclear weapons. This decision had to be reversed after early defeats by Chinese and North Korean forces at the start of the Korean War. It is important that we play a role in reminding the current generation of these earlier follies. While I cannot predict the choices Defence will make in the Integrated Review, I do not sense at this stage a threat to armour that challenges our Regiment. One aspect of Regimental life that was not adversely impacted by COVID-19 was the winter sports season. This year, our Alpine and Nordic teams, backed by a new winter sports strategy, over-exceeded expectations. Both teams were crowned RAC Champions but then went on to improve at an unprecedented rate to peak at the Army Championships. The Princess Marina Cup is awarded annually to the Regiment with the best combined Alpine and Nordic results. In previous years we have succeeded in peaking in one or other of the disciplines but not in both concurrently. This year however, the Alpine team finished second in the Army Championships, the Nordic team ninth and these results combined led to a runners up spot in the Marina; an outstanding result, the best in 50 years, which re-asserts the Regiment as a pre-eminent winter sports regiment. Whilst the Cavalry Cup football final had to be postponed, we were the first team to qualify for the final. For the second year in a row the Regiment was awarded the Iron Trophy, the 12 Brigade completion for overall physical fitness and physical development. Finally, I am writing this foreword in advance of our traditional Cenotaph weekend but in the knowledge that it will be going ahead in a curtailed virtual format. This is regrettable but I do hope that it is understandable. Our priorities must be to pay our respects, to protect our veterans and to uphold the reputation of the Regiment as a professional and disciplined unit. We can do each of these with a virtual event. It will not fully compensate for the full weekend but I am confident that the rationale will be widely understood. We are pragmatic in nature and comfortable with novel solutions when faced with changing circumstances. It is a fitting Tankie response to the national situation. Let us all hope life returns to normal before next year.
Brigadier Gavin Thompson, Colonel Commandant, The Royal Tank Regiment
NOTES FROM THE COMMANDING OFFICER
Lieutenant Colonel J R Howard
Lieutenant Colonel James Howard, Commanding Officer, The Royal Tank Regiment
Throughout 2020, COVID-19 has heavily influenced the Regiment’s activity, both directly and in its second order effects. In January 2020 the Regiment had recently transitioned into 12th Armoured Infantry Brigade, had rerolled to a Type 58 Regiment and were preparing for an exhilarating year.
Recce Tp were going to be deploying in the dismounted role to the jungles of Belize whilst AJAX were taking their tanks to Finland in order to train in forest warfare against Finnish Leopard 2s and the M1 Abrams of the US Marine Corps. CYCLOPS were due to join the US Army on Exercise DIAMONDBACK, swapping out their tanks for American HMMWV and a force reconnaissance role in the Nevada Desert. FALCON had been training hard in preparation for a deployment to Estonia as a vital manoeuvre support asset for the 1RRF battlegroup. Unfortunately, the pandemic resulted in much of this activity being cancelled, introducing uncertainty in its place. However, where some doors have closed, many others have opened. The measures introduced by the government in response to COVID-19 triggered the Army to disperse the force, with most service personnel returning to their hometowns in order to conduct lockdown and preserve our combat power. Before long however, the Regiment had been re-called in order to take part in Op RESCRIPT, the military response in support of the Government’s COVID-19 testing plan. Numerous officers and senior NCOs were embedded in NHS planning teams across the country as individual augmentees. The bulk of the Regiment focused on the training and delivery of mobile testing units (MTUs) across South West England. Small teams of Tankies, operating out of car parks and Army Reserve centres, delivered an incredible 18,000 tests to members of the British public over a period of several months. The teams executed the task in traditional Tankie fashion; without fanfare or complaint, drawing praise from local councils and reinforcing positive perceptions in what is a key recruiting area. The unusual circumstances in which we find ourselves have only served to stoke the fires of technological and procedural innovation, (something which will feature heavily in this edition of TANK). The need to continue training during dispersal generated some truly ingenious ideas, from online virtual TEWTs to simulated squadron engagements (complete with voice procedure!) over the internet, utilising commercial wargaming software. The STREETFIGHTER 2 project continues to evolve under the stewardship of Capt Tom Quant and 2020 has produced some ground-breaking concepts. The project is now focused on our upcoming Estonia deployments and is seeking to make us more effective, lighter and faster and the team have been developing working prototypes that we will trial in theatre. To name just a few of the ideas – the ‘Wolfpack’ concept is where a tank acts as a mothership for several unmanned ground vehicles, mounting both offensive and defensive systems, achieving dispersion and generating complexity for any enemy. We have a smaller and more robust boresighting device which is able to calibrate every weapon system on the tank. A power generator that is silent, has no thermal signature and powers the whole of BGHQ on a fraction of the fuel required for the current Lightweight Field Generator. These ideas have been generated from the ‘bottom up’ by young Tprs and NCOs who are engaging and challenging these capability gaps rather than simply accepting them. Whilst COVID-19 has disrupted most of the sporting calendar, those fixtures which have gone ahead have delivered results. In the first month of the year, we secured first place in the Iron Trophy (for overall fitness) for the second year running and were also the first team to qualify for the Cavalry Cup final. The RTR now make up the majority of the RAC eSports team and contribute heavily to the Army squad. Of particular note are the efforts of the Regimental Alpine and Nordic ski teams who achieved the best results since the competition began. 1st in the RAC for both Alpine and Nordic with the Alpine team going on to secure 2nd place in the Army Championships. The end result was second place in the Princess Marina Cup, a trophy rarely held by a small unit and normally reserved by the larger, Corps teams. Rivalling this achievement (although perhaps less so in sporting excellence), the Officers Mess beat the Sgt’s Mess in the annual football match for the first time in serving memory. To his credit, WO1 (RSM) Upham (mostly) accepted this crushing defeat on his watch with good grace and humility whilst the Officers were (mostly) magnanimous and humble in victory. Looking forward, the Regiment has an exciting and operationally focused 18 months ahead. As I write, RHQ is preparing to deploy on Ex CERBERUS, during which we will provide the OPFOR against 3(UK)Div in a month-long HQ exercise. On the other side of camp, AJAX and CYCLOPS are conducting final kit checks prior to deploying to Liverpool on the first city-wide COVID testing operation. In 2021, the majority of squadrons will rotate through Op CABRIT (Estonia) and we hope to integrate FALCON into the battlegroup and leverage their unique and important C-CBRN capability. BADGER will be first across the Line of Departure, adding an armoured punch to the 1 MERCIAN Battlegroup. The RTR Battlegroup will then deploy later in the year. The deployment will be supported with a full training wrap including 120mm ranges and a series of field exercises, and a return to an old haunt; Sennelager training area. 2021 offers the Regiment the opportunity to get back into armoured warfighting and in an operational context. Forecasts of events don’t get much better than that!
AJAX UPDATE
Major G C H Wilkinson (AJAX)
A tank on the Plain during an AJAX Battle Craft Syllabus training exercise
The theme of this Squadron update is making the most of opportunities.
2020 started well. The troops had tanks at their disposal and space on the Plain to conduct troop-level training. It felt great to be back in action doing what we do best and with an eye on an overseas adventure in the spring.
AJAX was destined to conduct a multinational exercise in Finland in April. Not a NATO member due to the sensibilities of a certain nation with whom they share a significant border, they are a member of the UK-led Joint Expeditionary Force and they invited us to take part in the final exercise for their Armoured conscript soldiers. With us taking 14 Challenger 2s, we would have had the opportunity to exercise alongside Finnish Leopard 2s, T-72s and various Russian-built AFVs, US Marine Corps Abrams, US Army Striker and Estonian CV-90s. The exercise would have been a significant demonstration of allied cooperation and challenging considering the postage stampsized exercise area and close terrain. With the whole country densely covered with trees, the exercise area, partially deforested in the 1950s through accidental fire, is as narrow as 2km in places and the sand and existing woodblocks would have posed a significant challenge for the running gear and tank tactical employment. It would have been interesting to see some of the ways the Finnish adapt to such terrain – for example, their use of motorcycle dispatch riders to report on their own and enemy forces – and the way they aggressively use their armour to strike in depth. However, after some entertaining recces, hot saunas, cold vodka (and colder lakes), the inevitable happened and the plug was pulled and the challenge of how to conduct meaningful training throughout lockdown became the next issue.
Through invention and determination on the part of the Troop Leaders and Troop Sergeants, the troops were kept appropriately busy. Using the many video communications platforms that are available today, the troops virtually met daily for lessons, presentations, meetings and even wellness sessions. The lessons were mainly focussed on tank soldier skills of gunnery, signals, driving and maintenance and tactics. The presentations covered topics from the broadest fields of history, to current affairs, to the most niche of military capabilities. Relevant books were read and discussed in book clubs. Films and YouTube videos were used as vehicles for learning and understanding. Innovation workshops were held throughout the Regiment to generate proposals to put to the Hobart Committee. Over 40 new ideas were created, many of them destined to tap into the £15k innovation fund with potential for scaling up following successful prototypes and testing. A model for future innovation, whether conducted virtually or otherwise, was born. Fitness was also not forgotten, and the AJAX fitness club used the technology to set challenges and keep everyone in shape. All of this was done at varying degrees of readiness with a backdrop of a military that was becoming ever more involved in the fight against COVID-19.
1 Troop and SHQ deployed to the West Country with CYCLOPS in June for the first month on what was to be over two months of Military Aid to the Civil Authorities; in this instance the NHS. 1 Troop remained on task in Cornwall for the second rotation led by AJAX and were joined by 2 and 3 Troops and Troops from BADGER, DREADNAUGHT and EGYPT, including the LAD. Whilst providing nine Mobile Testing Units in towns from Torquay to Truro, the soldiers performed impeccably. They looked fantastic among the population, delivered a real effect for the country and letters of thanks and praise flooded in. This wasn’t an opportunity anyone would have envisaged when they joined the Army but they certainly made the most of it.
After some well-earned summer leave and (new) normality restored, it is time to get familiar with tanks once again. There has been a change at the helm but business and the focus remain unchanged and weekly concentrations on maintenance, gunnery and signals have brought the Squadron back to its core role. This is the beginning of a two-year journey for the Squadron to get AJAX ready for war. The rest of the year holds in store live and synthetic training, both mounted and dismounted, in preparation for armoured exercises early in 2021. Following the regimental firing period expected in the middle of the year, AJAX will be battle grouped to the Royal Welsh. This will see the Squadron deploy on Op CABRIT March to October 2022. The Squadron welcomes this new challenge and looks forward to excelling in front of the Regiment and Battlegroup.
BADGER UPDATE
Major P S A Hartley (BADGER)
Cpl Ratcliffe gifting his experience to BADGER Tprs in preparation for their PNCO Course
It has been another busy 12 months for BADGER, with multiple sub-unit training events, both mounted on Challenger 2 and dismounted, in addition to the unexpected frictions and tasks the COVID-19 pandemic has generated.
The autumn term saw the BADGER focus on dismounted skills with an exercise on Salisbury Plain designed to train and improve our basic soldiering in the field. Ex BADGER’s BRAWN was a brilliant opportunity for the Squadron to re-visit our fieldcraft skills and dismounted soldiering capabilities and served as extremely useful preparation for Tprs who would soon be completing the Potential NCO Course. Following five days of hard work in the field, this exercise culminated in a transition from blank to live training with an intertroop march and shoot competition on Bulford ranges. BADGER then conducted Challenger 2-based training through Ex BADGER’s BRAIN, a series of Tactical Exercises Without Troops (TEWTs) designed to get the vehicle commanders thinking through tactical problems, before then taking part in Ex BADGER’s BATTLE, a simulated (CATT) exercise allowing the Squadron to focus on its core role as a Challenger 2 Squadron. Training alongside AJAX, both squadrons took the opportunity to test themselves further with a day of force-on-force training, pitting both squadrons against each other. It was a delight to see BADGER end the battle victorious and special mention goes to Cpl (now Sgt) Lugg who, with his crew, proved to be a lethal tank-killing machine. Following Christmas, BADGER was set to conduct the lion’s share of Challenger 2-based activity within the Regiment, supporting numerous training exercises such as the Challenger 2 Commanders’ Course (Ex COMBAT SPIRIT) and the Anti-Tanks Course (Ex INITIAL STRIKE and ULTIMATE STRIKE). Whilst our role on these training exercises was to support the training of others, they proved invaluable free opportunities to operate for extended periods on Challenger 2s in addition to learning, and re-learning, what the current batch of crew commanders are being taught. On Ex COMBAT SPIRIT, the weather was particularly challenging as it
5 Troop on mounting biking adventure training. Note Lt Catmur not in office.... again Lt Catmur (an aspiring Recce Troop Leader) asking a passer-by for directions
was conducted under the full force of Storm Dennis, resulting in an eventual track ban on Salisbury Plain and recovery back to Tidworth. With much of the year’s training plan still to come, COVID-19 ripped up the planned forecast of events. Initially, the Squadron transitioned to dispersed working, conducting necessary training remotely via Zoom, Facetime and Skype. During this time, the Squadron was held at readiness for support across the UK in response to the COVID-19 pandemic as part of Op RESCRIPT and eventually deployed 4 Troop to Devon to conduct a Mobile Testing Unit role – unglamorous stuff and not our core role, but great that BADGER was able to contribute to efforts protecting the UK population. Following four months of operating in a dispersed manner under COVID-19 restrictions, BADGER tentatively came back together over the summer months to re-start training, albeit with new ways of working to ensure we were all as safe as possible.
As ever, this year has seen a churn of personnel within the Squadron, new arrivals in addition to those leaving for fresh challenges on posting. Of particular note, WO2 (SSM) Williamson has departed the Squadron on promotion to WO1. COVID-19 had denied BADGER the opportunity for the Squadron to say congratulations and goodbye properly, but much of the work he did whilst SSM ensured the Squadron was physically and mentally prepared for the challenges it faced over the last 12 months – we wish him all the best.
Looking forward to the next 12 months, the Squadron has now been warned for deployment on Op CABRIT 8 as part of the 1 MERCIAN Battlegroup and is set to commence a pre-deployment training package including Challenger 2 and small arms live firing, further Squadron training and then a series of training events with the Battlegroup in Sennelager, Germany, prior to the March 2021 deployment.
CYCLOPS UPDATE
Major T Lloyd-Jukes (CYCLOPS)
Further proof of LCpl Jackson’s steadiness under fire
“Go anywhere, do anything, willingly.” Even if it involves other people coughing a lot and shoving swabs up their noses...
It’s been a strange year for everyone, and the hand of COVID-19 has made some sweeping changes to how we thought 2020 would pan out for CYCLOPS. Since I last wrote a Squadron update, we have gone from routine tank work, through re-rolling the Squadron for recce tasks, to being on standby and supporting the government’s COVID-19 outbreak response. As I now write we are on task in the South-West of England running Mobile Test Units helping the Government test for COVID-19. Strange days. As ever, RTR soldiers have shown their resilience, flexibility and their much-needed sense of humour.
As this publication went to print last year, the Squadron had just returned from a Battlefield Study of the Market Garden campaign, with 84 soldiers deploying to study the actions around Arnhem. On our return, the focus remained on armoured warfare up until Christmas with a spell in the Virtual Battle Space 3: (VBS3) suite conducting simulated training. The Cambrai season found the Squadron once again on fine sporting form with victory in football and boxing. We entered 2020 with a limited deployment to Canada. Fourteen soldiers deployed on Ex CHEVALIER ROYALE, an arctic warfare exercise run by our partner unit the 12ieme Regiment Blinde du Canada. This distinctly chilly activity is covered by another article later; however, in short, it was -34 degrees centigrade, involved a helicopter and the live-fire (in four feet of snow) of Canadian small arms. A great opportunity and the partnership with 12 RBC remains alive and well worth continuing – indeed we need to up our game in hosting them next time.
2020 began with a clear focus for the whole Squadron. The Squadron was to take part in Ex DIAMONDBACK – a US Brigade force-onforce exercise taking part in California. We were to be a recce Squadron operating on HMMWV (Humvee) under the command of the US 2/1 Cavalry Regiment. In the January to March period, the Squadron began the driver, weapon handling, CBRN and tactical training to fulfil this requirement. All ranks did a great job of getting into the right headspace for this dramatic change in role. Sadly, the exercise was shelved due to COVID-19 and our people ‘changed cassette’ again to go on standby to support the Op RESCRIPT effort. We remain poised to get stuck into whatever task may be required of us.
While the loss of the deployment to California is a blow, the Squadron has not been idle. Whilst operating dispersed, we remained connected through the delivery of lessons via Zoom. The ‘Trooper’s Lessons’ programme has seen Tprs and LCpls deliver ten-minute presentations to their troops. These have been on subjects as diverse as the action of Tpr Joe Ekins to Concorde and the South African Apartheid. The quality and imagination of these deliveries have been impressive and reflect the evident time spent in preparation.
Which brings us to deployment on Op RESCRIPT. The bulk of CYCLOPS deployed to sunny Devon and Cornwall to run Mobile Test Units in the face COVID-19. As ever, Tankies have demonstrated their capacity to adapt to any task. CYCLOPtics, supported by 24 very welcome AJAXians, have dealt with dog-walkers, travellers, friendly builders and unfriendly accountants in the service of trying to keep the COVID-19 test numbers up. I am proud to say that our soldiers have been firm but polite, regardless of some bizarre questions and even more bizarre driving from the great British civilian public. I salute the patience and clarity of our soldiers in talking the old, infirm, hard of hearing and sometimes scared visitors to the sites through what is an uncomfortable test. For those for whom this pandemic has been terrifying, the calm and measured instruction in how to self-test for COVID-19 has, I am sure, helped ease them through the invasive process. In the margins of the major activity, the Squadron has got away on several teambuilding days including paintballing, golf and providing rioters to civilian police training – great fun and well worth a repeat. As I finish my time with CYCLOPS, I would like to thank all ranks for their dedication, hard work and sense of humour. It has been a huge privilege. To steal from Game of Thrones, “I wish you good fortune in the wars to come”.
DREADNAUGHT UPDATE
Major N Stafford (DREADNAUGHT)
DREADNAUGHT soldiers on a dismounted Battle Craft Syllabus exercise in January
The word Dreadnaught has many meanings. The most well known, a fearless person, is probably why it was selected to be the name of the newly amalgamated RTR’s D Squadron back in 2016. HMS Dreadnought (an alternative spelling) is famous for being the first ship in the Royal Navy’s 1906 Dreadnought Class, a vessel which sparked an unprecedented naval arms race and gives the Squadron’s name a subtle link to the tank’s naval history. However, as I recently learnt, a dreadnaught is also a type of heavy coat designed to be worn in foul or changeable weather. As the author recently reflected, if the year 2020 was a weather system, then one could do far worse than to sail out into it, tightly wrapped in a heavy coat, surrounded by fearless people and standing on the deck of one the most formidable warships ever built. Not a bad analogy for being OC DREADNAUGHT in the year 2020.
The winds of change blew. The first change of the year was a major one. The RTR, as part of the Army’s Type 56 to Type 58 restructuring programme, moved from having three tank squadrons of 18 tanks, to four tank squadrons of 14 tanks. For DREADNAUGHT this meant waving goodbye to Recce and Command Troop and welcoming in three tank troops, one cut from each of AJAX, BADGER and CYCLOPS, to stand up as the Regiment’s fourth sabre squadron. Thankfully, the Squadron quickly came together and settled back onto its new course.
Some hail arrived. Shortly after having changed all of its people, the Squadron proceeded to change all of its vehicles, taking over the Training Uplift Fleet (which is designed to remain in the UK) to enable AJAX’s deployment to Finland with the Regiment’s usual fleet. Having navigated this turbulent event with some experienced tank park hands at the wheel (Sgts Morrin, Thorn and Rayner), the Squadron got ready to deliver support to experimentation and training tasks.
The storm hit. However, only a few weeks later, the Squadron went from conducting an exercise on Salisbury Plain to being dispersed at home (having parked up its tanks in some haste). A storm, in the form of the COVID-19 virus, had engulfed the UK, and the Squadron personnel found themselves, like most of the population, battening down the hatches and finding new ways of keeping active until it passed. This period provided further proof, if it were needed, of just how adaptable Tankies are. Troops continued to train over Zoom, delivering some remarkably engaging presentations, and skills usually employed keeping tanks on the road were applied to gardens, houses and personal vehicles instead. Even physical training continued over Strava, which as it turns out was inadvertent preparation for the CO’s return to work challenge – Arras 80, running 80 miles in the month of August – which the Squadron won by a handsome margin.
All hands are called. In July, the Squadron was recalled from dispersion to provide Mobile Testing Units across the South West of England. From Falmouth to Torbay and Yeovilton the soldiers of DREADNAUGHT worked long hours dressed in a different kind of PPE to usual, delivering the UK’s COVID-19 testing capability. Despite the serious, and occasionally monotonous, nature of the task, the soldiers of DREADNAUGHT were thrilled to be back at work and spending time with their mates. A few of DREADNAUGHT’s soldiers were unlucky enough not to deploy on Op RESCRIPT. Thankfully for the Squadron, those who were left behind, and in particular ‘the men of ten’ (10 Troop), exorcised their frustration by hammering the Squadron’s vehicles back into a credible state – a shift that the Squadron is still benefiting from.
Next came the fog. As the Regiment returned to work in September, plotting our course for the rest of the year and into 2021 was extremely difficult. The news that BATUS would not open in 2021, combined with the uncertainty caused by an impending Integrated Security Review (and the usual accompanying media speculation), left the Army, Regiment and Squadron sailing blind into uncharted waters.
The weather clears…well unless that cloud we can see is really a
Tsunami… As I write this now the weather seems to be improving. The Squadron has a destination – operations in Estonia next year – and has a course to get there, via training in Germany and some live fire in Castlemartin. DREADNAUGHT has held together well, despite the pounding that 2020 has brought, and I continue to be amazed at the resiliency and dedication of our group of fearless people.
In summary then, despite the stormy and changeable nature of 2020, the Squadron has continued to thrive and is living up to all aspects of its name.
EGYPT UPDATE
Major P D Rooney (EGYPT)
EGYPT retains the ability to support, sustain and administer all Regimental activity both home and abroad. It has transitioned to a more familiar and traditional footing with the arrival of Regimental Headquarters, Command Troop, Recce Troop and the Training Wing from DREADNAUGHT. This transition has recreated EGYPT as a HQ Squadron.
With key deployments, Battle Craft Syllabus exercises and COVID-19, the Squadron has remained critical to all Regimental activity and success. In such uncertain and challenging times, the Squadron remained galvanised to enable whatever task or deployment it was presented with. With the majority of the fighting force dispersed and conducting training at distance, the enabling and supporting elements remained active by sourcing critical spares and additional stores and equipment for troops to deploy in support of COVID-19. This included quite an impressive and large fleet of civilian vehicles to enable three Squadrons and BGHQ to deploy as COVID-19 Support Forces (CSF). The SSM WO2 Les Edwards, managed (just) to contain his excitement when he and the BGLO were allocated a Range Rover Sport. It was certainly a dramatic improvement to the usual white fleet, taking pressure off the MTO Capt Steve Lassman to upgrade the CO’s staff car. Once the Regiment were logistically set, uncertainty remained until we eventually got tasked and deployed as Mobile Testing Units (MTU), deploying across the South West of England. EGYPT not only sustained the deployment, but we also deployed three MTUs predominately made up of soldiers from the Light Aid Detachment and Command Troop. With all other planned activity delayed or cancelled, the Squadron was able to take stock and direct its focus on concluding the Ex KHANJAR OMAN 19 (Ex KO19) stores, equipment and vehicles. We also conducted work on the rebalancing and allocation of the Challenger 2 and B vehicle fleet; whilst maintaining a minimum workforce and abiding by the COVID-19 rules and restrictions. This was all achieved as a result of the professionalism, competence and flexibility of all EGYPT personnel. The strength of the Squadron remains with its soldiers; through diversity they continue to be the Regimental heartbeat at the core of all its success.
After nearly two and a half years at the helm as OC EGYPT I reflect on all its achievements during my tenure. We deployed to BATUS on Ex WARRIORS CRAFT, to Oman on Ex KO19 and Australia on Ex SUMAN WARRIOR. As well as numerous Battle Craft Syllabus exercises, Castlemartin ranges and adventurous training. There are many highlights; of particular note was sport. We managed to reach the Cambria Cup final two years running in both football and rugby, we received Cambria awards for best Troop (QM Department) and the best SNCO award (Buck Kite trophy), rightly presented to SSgt Tom Davies, who at the time was the Welfare SNCO. There have been plenty of individuals of character who have supported me along away, of particular note are the two SSMs, WO1 (RSMI) Sean Woodward and WO2 (SSM) Les Edwards. We also managed to achieve some continuity with a Squadron Second-in-Command, Capt Lee Johnson, with the key ingredient and part of the selection process for Squadron HQ being you must support Liverpool!!
To conclude this update, I would like to thank and bid a fond farewell to the Regimental Medical Officer Maj Katie Mieville. Not only was she an excellent Dr, she was fantastic company and a great character. She served the Squadron and the Regiment extremely well adding real value and selfless service. We all wish her well for the future. The new OC EGYPT, Maj Warren Brennan (Bren) will inherit an excellent team and Squadron who under his guidance and leadership will continue to deliver, regardless of the challenge and circumstances. It’s been an absolute honour and privilege.
EGYPT Squadron catering team – Ex Scorpion Support
FALCON UPDATE
Major M P N Bonner (FALCON)
2020 has represented another watershed in a history of watersheds for FALCON. We’ve settled into our new home under the command of 28 Engineer Regiment (C-CBRN), trained overseas with French counterparts on Ex TOXIC PATH, got ready for overseas operations, experimented with our structures and, like everybody else, adapted to COVID-19.
Lt Nick Warren-Miller, the first officer to be trained as a Fuchs commander, halts his vehicle in a tree line on Salisbury Plain
28 ENGINEER REGIMENT (C-CBRN)
In last year’s edition of Tank, the Squadron reported that it had re-subordinated from 22 Engineer Regiment to 28 Engineer Regiment (C-CBRN). A year on, FALCON is thoroughly in the fold. The Commanding Officer has a vision for deployable multi-component CBRN Squadrons by the time the Regiment has reached Full Operating Capacity in 2020, for which we will offer up Squadron Headquarters and troops to attach to the other 28 Engineer Regiment (C-CBRN) sub-units. As the longest-established Squadron in the Regiment, FALCON has enjoyed building towards this vision through Lt Nick Warren-Miller’s early integration work with the dismounted Reconnaissance Exploitation Teams in 77 Field Squadron (C-CBRN). Reassuringly, integration has been intuitive; we have been able to draw on our core mounted close combat trade to overcome the complexities of mounted and dismounted capabilities working together. Equally the Royal Engineer soldiers, with their roots in close support engineering, have quickly taken to manoeuvre support in a chemical, radiological and nuclear environment. The faith that the Commanding Officer has in the Squadron is further reflected in the intent for FALCON to hold readiness as the first CBRN Squadron Group since Joint CBRN Regiment days.
EX TOXIC PATH
In September 2019 FALCON deployed to Camp Ruchard, France on Ex TOXIC PATH. The purpose of the exercise was to prove technical, procedural and human interoperability between 28 Engineer Regiment (C-CBRN) and 2nd Regiment Dragoons specialists, to validate our working together within a Combined Joint Expeditionary Force (CJEF) construct. Within just a few days, FALCON and 27 Squadron RAF Regiment were able to overcome language barriers and differences in equipment to conduct, mostly seamless, combined C-CBRN missions. This was due to easily dovetailed tactics, techniques and procedures and a common professional curiosity across capabilities and nations. This was most evident during the exercise’s final mission – a close target reconnaissance and exploitation of a functioning chemical factory, thoroughly testing interoperability by exposing soldiers to the friction of carrying out missions in an urban, civilian setting. Outside of interoperability, of particular note was that despite the deployment taking place within just days of SSgt Creese’s arrival as the SQMS, it demonstrated that FALCON could confidently project and sustain itself overseas for discreet periods.
OP CABRIT 6 EX SPRING STORM
Building on the combined arms exposure on Ex PRAIRIE STORM 1/19 and 2/19, FALCON was called upon to deploy on Op CABRIT 6 as part of a surge of capabilities during Ex SPRING STORM: to vary the geometry of UK Forces and reassure Estonia of NATO’s commitment. From Jan 20, overseen by the Squadron Second-in-Command Capt Josh Benn and Squadron Operations Officer Capt Tom Chapman, 13 Troop were fully immersed in pre-deployment training. This required them to undertake Fuchs and Panther Annual Crew Tests, Transition to Live Fire Tactical Training, Combined Arms Tactical Trainer (CATT) and Battle Craft Syllabus field training, as well as Op CABRIT specific training requirements such as All Ranks Brief and cold weather training. Concurrently, FALCON’s fitter section under Artificer SSgt Bunting worked against challenging timescales to prepare Fuchs for deployment. The complexity of the task cannot be understated given that the section concurrently had to conduct abnormal equipment support tasks such as power pack asbestos remediation and winch upgrades. Alas, whilst FALCON was ready and the equipment deployed, our participation was cancelled due to COVID-19. Far from being a wasted effort, as an operational sub-unit held at perpetual readiness, the Squadron is better for the equipment, training and sustainment activity undertaken. Furthermore, having proved itself ready, FALCON can look forward to being invited on future deployments.
FALCON EXPERIMENTAL ORBAT
The FALCON Experimental ORBAT (FEO) activity took place Dec 19 - May 20, to address a need to increase FALCON’s operational tempo and improve structural resilience. Chiefly led by 14 Troop under Lt Kyle Moore, the experiment drew on experiences from exercise. It consisted of a study day, Virtual Battle Space 3 (VBS3) exercise and an analytical wargame, all of which comparatively analysed the conduct of Fuchs missions between troops of two pairs and three Fuchs. The experiment began by defining the problem, a quote from Army Doctrine Publication Land Operations: the side which consistently decides and acts fastest should gain and hold an advantage. It is therefore paramount that FALCON should seek to generate operational tempo in a chemical, radiological and nuclear environment. However, it was found on Ex PRAIRIE STORM 1/19 and 2/19 that the timings and speeds to conduct our tasks were too long to generate this advantage. Through experimentation, it was found that on the balance of FALCON’s tasks, tactical functions and experience from previous exercises, three Fuchs troops optimise the Squadron by enabling concentration of force to reduce timescales and generate tempo. The move to three Fuchs troops also creates the opportunity for a third troop to increase FALCON’s structural resilience through the creation of a workforce, equipment and training resilience margin at a reduced readiness. The proposal to change FALCON’s structure is undergoing 29 (EOD&S) Group (28 Engineer Regiment (C-CBRN) higher HQ) scrutiny before submission to Army Headquarters.
13 Tp taking part in a Battle Craft Syllabus exercise on the Plain
COVID-19
Like everybody else, FALCON has been heavily impacted by COVID-19, rapidly dispersing and only gathering physically to maintain force elements at readiness. It was reassuring of the Squadron’s adaptability that despite this immense change we were able to confidently maintain our operational outputs through reducing our footprint to a minimum and utilising virtual platforms to deliver individual training to prevent skill fade. Of note is that we were able to balance the maintenance of our operational output with protecting the force, through the tireless efforts of the Squadron Echelon under Capt Craig Halkerston making Harman Lines social distancing compliant. This was tangibly demonstrated during 13 Troop Battle Craft Syllabus training in July 2020 where, despite not having deployed on exercise since February 2020, within a short period, the Troop were able to slickly carry out its key tasks.
2021
FALCON looks forward to emerging from COVID-19 ready for what 2021 brings; no doubt another watershed... The Squadron will continue to set the pace for development of the C-CBRN Squadron Group and looks forward to continuing to take its place alongside other arms in a combined arms environment, with aspirations for deployments to both BATUS and Estonia. The Squadron also looks forward to a Fuchs uplift, with the renewal of chemical and radiological sense equipment making the platform competitive on the 21st Century battlefield; all whilst maintaining readiness for contingent operations.
