Page 40 - WishStream Year of 2023

Exercise
MARTELLO
ASHARPSHOOTER
Martello is a small defensive tower or fort, many of which were built between 1805 and 1808 by the British government, known
as ‘Martello towers,’ along the south-east coast between Folkestone and Seaford. Their intended purpose was to defend the most vulnerable coastal areas against the expected invasion by the French army of Napoleon Bonaparte. They were never put to the test, as the south coast of England has never been invaded, perhaps because at any time 180 Sandhurst OCdts, renowned for their marksman- ship ability, could be on Hythe and Lydd ranges, on the south coast of Kent, putting rounds down range on Ex MARTELLO SHARPSHOOTER.
We step off the coaches on the first morning of our Intermediate Term range package onto the wind- swept pebble beaches of Lydd, battered by a biting cold onshore breeze. Immediately, we don respira- tors from the hip for the CBRN shoot that simulates engaging targets through the haze of chemical warfare, squinting through my SUSAT to align sight aim with sight picture, breathing laboured through the filters.
In the urban environments that we may face in our careers, accuracy at close quarters and the abil- ity to shoot instinctively is paramount. The close quarter marksmanship shoot achieves this, under the instruction of experienced staff, and applying the same principles, but under the pressure of time at a target that’s close enough to easily inflict very real damage.
The section in defence shoot puts into practice the skills we’ve so often used in the field, but with live ammunition and unpredictable targets, emphasis- ing the need for breaking down the ground, and accurate communication to conserve ammunition. Targets appear anywhere from 50 to 300 metres away, with the added atmosphere of speakers on a constant loop of battlefield noise and the ever- watchful Colour Sergeant on the section com- mander’s shoulder, asking the classic, “What now? What next?”, and using a lull in the battle to draw up a quick range card.
38 SANDHURST