Page 7 - 1RHA 2023

1st Regiment Royal Horse Artillery
Chestnut Troop Tac Group after live firing on Ex SCORPION CYCLONE
Focus then switched to preparing the guns that were to be gifted. The majority of personnel from the Battery supported our REME team to conduct maintenance and repair on the vehicles in the UK, but we also had people in Germany to prepare the guns based there, in Marchwood to load the vehicles onto the ships, and in Eastern Europe to conduct far bank assurance.
Despite the busy period we managed to secure some time to cel- ebrate the Battery’s 230th Birthday, which we did in style with a trip to London. We visited the Imperial War Museum before moving on to the Royal Artillery Barracks in Woolwich. After a short but moving service in St George’s Garrison Church, the traditional inter troop football competition was also held, with Ross Troop winning by a narrow margin. In the evening the past and present mem- bers of the Battery gathered for a dinner in the Woolwich Mess – a poignant location given the Battery was formed there, 230 years ago.
The period March-May saw the Tac Group deployed across the globe. An FST deployed to British Army Training Unit Kenya (BATUK) on Ex ASKARI STORM, where they acted as enemy against the COLDSTREAM GUARDS (CG). The exercise saw the team work alongside the SCOTS GUARDS, as well as reservists from 104 Regt RA, to deliver challenging training that really tested the CG Battlegroup. It was also an incredibly rewarding training experience for the FST that deployed. The team caused 90% of BluFor casualties, gaining high praise from the CUBIC con- tractors. Simultaneously, a small team, led by the Battery Com- mander deployed to Texas on Ex WARFIGHTER 23-4, a divisional command post exercise designed to validate the 3rd UK Division as part of a US Corps. Finally in May, an FST deployed to Finland with A Coy 5 RIFLES, where they conducted three consecutive
Chestnut Troop celebrating the Bty’s 230th foundation day
training exercises: Ex ARROW, Ex LIGHTNING STRIKE, and Ex NORTHERN FOREST. In spite of initial difficulties deploying (the RAF planes being re-prioritised to support the evacuations from Sudan) everyone arrived in good order and was able to conduct all the planned training. Working primarily with A Coy, the team had the opportunity to conduct challenging training in complex terrain, as well as live firing on MLRS, 120mm mortars, and the South Korean made K9 Thunder, (a 155m South Korean howitzer that is being floated as a possible long term replacement for the AS90). Again, the team performed brilliantly and maximised the training opportunity afforded.
In May the Battery was told it was to be stood up for Op VENTUS between June and Sept. Op VENTUS is a HADR (Humanitarian & Disaster Relief) plan to provide humanitarian relief to the Carib- bean should it be required. The Battery worked hard over a short period of time to conduct the necessary training to meet the read- iness requirements. This included a number of range packages, as well as team medic, TRIM, and mental health first aid courses.
The announcement of our Op VENTUS commitment and sub- sequent training requirements clashed with the Battery’s plan to deliver an ITR Camp. While we had to cancel the ITR Camp in its initial guise (in an external location), we were able to deliver Ex CYPHER SHARPEN, a two-week exercise in June which provided a valuable opportunity for everyone to refresh their low-level sol- diering skills. It consisted of an overnight exercise on Salisbury Plain and important conceptual training on gun deployments and tactics in camp. The FSTs were able to conduct valuable training in the simulator, and the gun group and command posts were assessed on their currency and competency, which they all passed with ease. In spite of the challenges faced planning
Chestnut Troop conducting GPMG ranges
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