Page 40 - Mercian Eagle 2012

MTO: Capt P Mullis MT Pl Sgt: Sgt B Burgess
38
becomes, therefore, a game of patience, ensuring that all evidence is gathered to allow TFH to authorise engagement under the correct rules of engagement. Being a war of intelligence, ISTAR plays a pivotal role in winning the battle. It is now beneficial not to immediately engage a target, but
to HERRICK 15 where the Artillery have a much tighter control on the Battle Space, now they dictate where and when mortars can be employed. The use of mortars is
at the discretion of the local commander, and how much risk they are willing to take. This is due to the potential for collateral
inevitable. From the ML perspective, when trying to support a ground patrol with 81mm illum it can be hard to understand the delays, which in some cases can be over 40 minutes in duration. When the ADM works efficiently, however, it is a very good control measure that works well in the COIN environment. .
The 81mm ammunition has also seen vast improvements during the past decade. The proximity fuse for the HE Round has been introduced which when employed correctly can be massively advantageous
to ground patrols. The other development
is that of the 81mm IR Illum round, which has seen much use in Afghanistan and is of great advantage to the ground patrols when observing into areas with limited ambient light.
The ML is able to operate with the mortars to backfill platoons to enable them to patrol, especially during R&R periods, which also allows the ML soldiers to deploy and gain valuable experience as an infantry soldier.
The conventional Mortar Platoon has undergone much change in order to deal with the current counter insurgency battlefield. Incorporating advances in technology and understanding has ensured the 81mm remains a key asset. The Infantry Mortar Platoon have also accrued vast amounts of experience that must not be forgotten as the Army moves away from COIN, but rather retained to ensure the survival of the infantry’s primary indirect fire asset.
to track the individual
in the hope that they
will lead to a cache or command centre, where a single strike will have a devastating impact on the effectiveness of the insurgency in the AO.
Mortar Line Perspective Mortaring in the COIN Environment from
This is due to the potential for collateral damage and risk of injury or death to local nationals. This now plays a massive factor in deciding when fire support is employed.
damage and risk of injury or death to local nationals. This now plays a massive factor in deciding when fire support is employed.
Another development which has affected the way in which the ML operates is the use of ADM (Air De-confliction Message). This was used on previous HERRICK tours but not to the same scale and in the same manner as
the Mortar Line (ML)
perspective has seen
many changes as
Op HERRICK progresses. With the number of fire missions on the decline, the Mortar Line (ML) has seen an incline in the number of tasks it must fulfil. Consequently this has directly impacted on how a Mortar Section now trains and organises itself prior to deploying on operations.
On HERRICK 10, the ML provided ground commanders with indirect fire support,
with devastating effect and in a timely fashion. There was good integration with Fire Support Teams (FST) and there was a good working relationship between them and the ML. However, skipping forward
on current operations. The procedure of sending an ADM is relatively straight forward and on the whole a good process which ensures the airspace is clear for mortars
to fire. The main area of concern for the ground commander and mortar command post staff is the length of time it can take
for the airspace to be cleared – and in
some cases sees the mortars missing
their opportunity to fire, resulting in ground commanders having to rely on other assets. The time it takes is always questioned,
but with the large number of airframes
that operate at any one time this delay is
Headquarter company
MT Platoon
It seems that in every Mercian Eagle we
will always start with the line “It has been another busy period for the MT Platoon”. Over the last 12 months the Platoon has deployed, recovered, and been re-tasked in order to meet the new challenge of 2013.
The MT deployed en-masse on OP HERRICK 15 in September 2011, which saw the platoon being split to the corners of Helmand and across Battle Groups. This was to be completed with no more than 300 soldiers which was quickly referred to as “The 300” taking its name from Leonidas and his Spartans.
The bulk of the Platoon’s manpower was held in Camp Bastion as MT Rear under the guidance of WO2 Dickie Scales RA. Sgt Burgess was seconded to 3 SCOTS Battle Group for the duration of the tour in the capacity of a Primary Watchkeeper, whilst a band of determined men deployed forward to FOB OULLETTE as part of “The 300” to establish a forward MT with Capt Lincoln (MTO) as the Battle Group Logistics Officer and Sgt Perrott as Platoon Sgt. When
arriving in the deserted ex-USMC operating base and receiving two empty ISO containers as an office, the scale of the task was daunting, but with the assistance of the MT Rear in Bastion this was achieved and tested prior to approval by the Command Master Driver as part of the in-theatre inspection team.
We recovered back to Palace Barracks in March 2012 ready to take some well- deserved post operational tour leave before being plunged straight into our annual Combined Assurance Week which saw
the handover/takeover of MTO from Capt Lincoln to Capt Mullis. The MT element
of the Rear Operations Group under the guidance of Cpl Marshall kept the MT on track to receive the CAW team shortly after our return to Northern Ireland.
As with most of the UK’s forces that were not currently deployed, we were given the task of security for the greatest sporting event of our lifetimes. Op OLYMPICS saw most of the Platoon deployed as searchers and scanner operators across London for
the tennis at Wimbledon and at the Olympic Park in Stratford.
We have continued to keep the Battalion’s wheels moving as we look ahead into the New Year and the new tasks that lie ahead, including supporting a Coy deployment to Op FIRIC in the Falkland Islands.
The Platoon has had a massive shift in personalities during this period and our thanks go to all those that have left the Service to greener pasture on retirement from the Army. Farewell to Capt Lincoln
as he moves on to the role of QM(T) and
to Cpl Dave Williams on retirement after 22 years service. Farewell also to Cpl Kennedy on posting to DST Leconsfield and to LCpl Holmes, Ptes Wilson, Footitt, Browning and Stout to ‘Civvy Street’. Welcome to Capt Mullis (MTO), L/Cpl Larubi, Ptes Firth and Peters. Finally congratulations to Cpl Hill on the birth of his son Thomas.
THE MERCIAN EAGLE