Page 12 - Bugle No. 17 Spring 2021

1 RIFLES
Mortar Platoon
Mortar Platoon formed up in June to conduct a COVID compliant mortar operator’s cadre. The focus in the initial weeks was the handling and operation of the 81mm mortar, and physical training to develop the ability to carrying the heavy mortar equipment.
It was then onto exercise in Caerwent employing the mortar in different scenarios including support to a Battlegroup Advance to Contact and deliberate attack serials.
Next the Platoon deployed to Salisbury Plain to conduct the live firing phase of
the cadre. 44 Riflemen from 1 and 2 RIFLES conducted their mortar annual tests and subsequent shoots. Highlights included the firing of coordinated illumination missions during the night shoots, the chance to observe the effects of concentrated bombardments and the masking effect of white phosphorus. In total 30 Riflemen were qualified as mortar operators. Congratulations goes to Rfn Paul Strom who was crowned ‘Top Student’ and was presented with the Silver (Plated) Mortar Round.
A High Explosive round leaves
the barrel of an 81mm Mortar
Significant Events
• Ex BUGLE SPHINX – Support Weapons cadres, UK.
• Ex CHOSEN MAN and Skirmisher Competition – individual skills, Chepstow & Brecon.
• Support to Liverpool COVID Mass Testing (B and S Coy).
• Ex ELIXIR BUGLE
(live firing camp and H Jones patrols competition), Otterburn.
• Ex MAPLE RESOLVE – B Company embedded within a Canadian exercise.
• Taskforce HANNIBAL (OPFOR) for Ex WESSEX STORM, Salisbury Plain.
• Battalion at readiness to support COVID operations, UK-wide.
Ex BUGLE SPHINX
The need to renew Support Company’s capability stood as a high priority this year as the last Support Weapon Cadres were back in mid-2018. Initially scheduled to run in mid-May, the restrictions of the first lockdown pushed the training later into the summer. The aim of Ex BUGLE SPHINX was to maximise the opportunities for Rfn from across 1 RIFLES to achieve Support Weapon qualifications. As places within Support Company were limited, some Riflemen returned to their Coys having completed the cadre taking their new knowledge and experience with them, therefore increasing the support weapons awareness across 1 RIFLES. By November, all Support Coy Platoons had completed their cadres. Ex BUGLE SPHINX proved good training can be conducted in
a COVID environment and it set the standard for the rest of Bn as we ‘fight to train’ in the current situation.
12 RIFLES The Bugle
LAST SIX MONTHS
NEXT SIX MONTHS