Page 15 - 1RHA 2023

1st Regiment Royal Horse Artillery
L (Néry) Battery RHA Major A M Charlton RHA, Battery Commander
Iam delighted to be writing this article as the Battery Com- mander of L (Néry) Battery, now formally part of 1st Regiment Royal Horse Artillery. It comes as little surprise that the previous
year has been one of change; after a brief sojourn ‘north of the wall’ at 3 RHA, the Battery has now returned to what feels like home. Despite the uncertainty and inevitable frictions that come with the resubordination of a sub-unit, it gives me great pride to report that the Battery remains in fine spirit, and that the soldiers and officers within the Battery have embraced change and are well underway towards achieving our ‘initial operating capability’ as an armoured Tac Group. Whilst the focus has certainly been on ensuring the Battery relocated to 1 RHA in good order, the men and women of the Battery have continued to support a var- ied and demanding series of exercises and operational commit- ments, alongside converting to armour at significant pace.
Ex CYPHER SPEAR – Nov 2022
L (Néry) Battery deployed complete to Otterburn Training Area, on Ex CYPHER SPEAR, a Regimental live firing exercise. Over the course of two weeks in typically austere Northumbrian weather, the Battery achieved technical currency and competency live fir- ing. There was a significant amount of ammunition that enabled the Battery to utilise some impressive rates of fire, particularly during the fire-planning serials.
The time, space and ammunition allocated to the Battery to conduct technical training was used to great effect to achieving TQCC. We also conducted numerous low level training events, including navigation and battlefield first aid. The culmination of the live firing saw all members of the Battery participate in a BC’s Fireplan – facilitated by the CO. This involved a tactical march to an RV, where we received orders for a hasty attack. The BC’s ack (Sgt Maybanks) and Sgt Wynn (stepping up as an FST Com- mander) showed superb determination and relayed the entire schedule via the JFC, ultimately resulting in rounds landing on time and on target.
The final phase of the exercise saw a number of local dignitaries attend a live firing demonstration, for which our OC TACP (Capt Dan Taylor) and our BSM (WO2 Carpenter MC) were pivotal in assisting with the live firing from the crew served weapon systems.
Ex VIGILANT ISLES – Nov 2022
As part of our early integration with 1 RHA, one of our FSTs was afforded the opportunity to deploy to Japan on Ex VIGILANT ISLES, a strategically important exercise with the Japa-
nese Ground Self Defence Force, a key UK partner
in the Indo-Pacific Region. It offered the FST an opportunity to participate in a demanding bilateral
Coordinated Illumination fire missions during Ex CYPHER SPEAR, Otterburn
L Bty after successfully completing Ex CYPHER SPEAR
exercise against a live, peer-on-peer enemy in a challenging and arduous environment. The team included Capt Trotman, CoH Lampard, Bdr Bower, Bdr Baker, LBdr McKenzie, Gnr McMahon and Gnr Mitchell.
Over the course of the exercise, they deployed across ardu- ous terrain, conducting light role, long range reconnaissance, expertly assisted by CoH Lampard who utilised his significant prior recce experience. The team also enjoyed a short period of R&R in Tokyo at the end of the exercise – a new and thoroughly rewarding experience for the whole team.
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