Page 34 - RSDG Year of 2023

32 EAGLE AND CARBINE
team, the opportunity to exercise outside of the UK has dwindled and it would be the first time abroad for two of my Craftsman. Due to the fast-paced nature of any Lt Cav Recce LAD now, there was a fair amount to do in Leuchars to get equipment up to the start state for Ex and not a great deal of time to achieve it. As REME always do however, we did due to the amount of ‘good guys’ and ‘hard workers’ we have - even managing to conduct a BOWMAN advanced assurance task which really improved our comms on exercise. Preparing the fleet for a long and challenging journey and crossing multiple borders enabled the newest members of our fitter section to expand their Knowledge, Skills, and Experience (KSE) on JACKAL and COYOTE which is a vehicle they do not see in training. Testament to our good preparation, there were only minor problems on route. The move from Leuchars to Sennelager via Marchwood and Emden went very well. We deployed with an EMELt who travelled as a 4th person in the Fitter sect COYOTE after some training. The aim was to provide some 1st line Land experience to a Platoon Commander from 7 Aviation Battalion REME.
After arriving in Hohne. The first task was to conduct mounted ranges with low level CTC training in between. Getting members of the Fitter Section qualified on HMG, GPMG and for those who needed it, Platform Weapons Operator (PWO) qualified was the aim. It was great training and we trialled night shoots firing without illume, only using our thermal and night vision aids. By the end of the range package, the Fitters were all qualified up to LF 9a which is a half-Squadron shoot.
Germany in the summer can be a shock to work in if you are not used to it. The temperature gets to the mid-thirties and due to this heat, range fires were a common occurrence. Although not good, the team made the most out of the situation by creating and presenting Equipment Care lessons for the Troopers. These included first parades of all Sqn vehicles, different systems the vehicles have and general maintenance task on the vehicles.
Having a Babcock FMST with us was a massive force multiplier. With no second line FRT, they became our echelon facility enabling the ‘first line’ fitter section to complete all the required shoots, repair only minor tasks forward while the bigger jobs were managed back in camp.
Before moving from Hohne Training Area to Sennelager Training Area (STA), we were given the weekend off. The Seniors took the opportunity to show the Juniors what life was like for those of us who had served out here previously. Most of us headed to Heide Theme Park, others visited the Bergan Belsen Concentration Camp, and a few enjoyed the benefits of the local ‘Bad Therma’ or Naked Sauna.
The road move to Sennelager for the exercise phase was an experience. Watching Cfn Radianorova, recover a HMTV by the side of the Autobahn was a remarkable sight with traffic flying past us at warp speed. Other than that, it was an uneventful road move. Once in STA we headed straight out to the training area after a quick rolling resupply, the terrain of the area was challenging, which meant the recovery mechanics had a lot of work to do. As usual, they came into their own. The HMTV platform served