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Battery Commander’s Foreword
7 Cdo Bty
Battery Commander
Maj E Clarke RA
Battery Captain
Capt A Nicol RA
Battery Sergeant Major
WO2 (BSM) A Harden
In the highest tradition, 7 Bty prepare some cool drinks before commencing ice-breaker drills in Jan 20
7 BTY BECAME THE FIRST SUB-UNIT IN DEFENCE TO LIVE FIRE IN THE AGE OF THE PANDEMIC
7 Bty Group on WINTER DEPLOYMENT 20.
Maj E Clarke RA
When I addressed the Bty upon taking command in March 2020, the country had just entered a national lockdown due to the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic. As a Very High Readiness unit, there were concerns about how we would maintain our preparedness to fight existing and emerging threats if we were prevented from training together by the insidious and invisible enemy of COVID-19. There followed a meticulous, highly disciplined approach to balancing the risk of COVID-19 against the reward of critical training to maintain the steely edge on operations which the Bty is famous for. As we sort to deliver on the widest range of capability options to UK Defence, I was, as always, deeply impressed and heartened to see the manner in which the outstanding men and women of 7 Bty set about preparing for the multitude of tasks they might be called upon to undertake. From military aid to the civil author- ities in the British Overseas Territories as a critical component of Operation CARIBBEAN, through to full scale warfighting anywhere in the world at five days’ notice to move; the Bty would be prepared and ready to deliver, whatever the undertaking.
In June, a proud moment for the Bty came with the deployment on Exercise GREEN CANNON 20, where, enabled by typical Commando tenacity and the strictest adherence to COVID-19 safety protocols, 7 Bty became the first sub-unit in Defence to live fire in the age of the pandemic. The exercise was a critical activity for the Bty to achieve trained, qualified, current and competent gunnery status, which also permitted the Fire Support Team Commanders’ Course to achieve readiness, alongside bringing 847 Naval Air Squadron into the mix to train in the delivery of airborne observation posts.
As we entered the autumn term, with a watchful eye on personal development, the command team carved time into Bty forecast of events to enable a full sub-unit deployment on Exercise HIGHLAND SPHINX, a fantastic multi-activity adventurous training package in the Cairngorm Mountains. Hot
on the heels of this retention positive undertaking, the Bty entered a period of mountain training in Scotland in preparation for the rigors of deploying to northern Norway on AQUILA 21; integrating with 45 Commando Royal Marines for the Fire Support Teams and Bty Headquarters was a critical element of this phase to ensure the development of the whole force. As the autumn progressed, the Bty moved to Lydd ranges for the execution of Exercise SPHINX SHARPSHOOTER, a small arms live fire tactical training package, organised and delivered by Bty personnel, an undertaking which proved highly rewarding for all involved. In a bid to develop the skills and drills so critical to commando soldiers, the Bty also seized the opportunity to utilise Dartmoor to great effect on Exercise SPHINX WARRIOR, a navigation and section battle drill exercise, followed closely by Exercise SPHINX COMMUNICATOR, a signals concentration aimed at raising the bar of communications training for the whole sub-unit.
With the new year came a return to the high north when, in January, the Bty deployed to Bardufoss, Norway, deep inside the Arctic Circle. Undertaking mountain and cold weather training as part of the continuing support to Project HEIMDALL and UK Defence’s contribution to the protection of NATO’s northern flank, the Bty set about deepening the knowledge and experience of living and fighting in the most testing of all environmental conditions. Meanwhile, back at home in the UK, elements of the Bty Rear Operations Group were deployed in support of the UK Resilience Task to support our amazing NHS in the fight against COVID-19.
So, as we move into Easter leave, another action- packed term comes to an end and the Bty now look forward to the next great adventure; a deployment aboard shipping as an integral element of Commando Forces and the innovative Littoral Response Group (North). Beyond this bold new undertaking, the men and women of 7 Bty will undoubtably continue to serve with the resilience and determination they are famous for as we continue our transformation of the Commando Force.
10 29 COMMANDO REGIMENT ROYAL ARTILLERY