Page 129 - Rifles 2017 Issue No 3

Cadre line up
GPMG SF Cadre (General Purpose Machine Gun Sustained Fire)
It has been 10 years since the last 6 RIFLES (D Company) Guns Cadre and in a bid to re-establish the long lost identity as the Battalion’s Machine Gun Company we held a GPMG SF cadre.
Troops from D Company Truro and Plymouth, 3 PWRR in Folkstone and 1 RIFLES in Chepstow made their way to Sennybridge.
Over the course of the next 4 days, due to the pleasure of a mini heatwave, the GPMG SF SAA lessons were all conducted outside with each of the Sections having their own spot in the shade. PT was conducted rst thing in the morning in order to beat the heat and consisted of a short sharp circuit just to kick start the day.
There was an obvious buzz in the air as the students embarked onto Live Firing. We started with iron sight engagements at various targets from 400m – 1500m and then moved onto marking, recording and C2 sight engagements. A highlight was the rst night shoot where on command all 11 Guns unleashed a truly magni cent display of arching tracer on all targets. The smell of gun re and that rhythmic pulse could be felt though the body armour as the Guns sang in perfect harmony.
Tuesday was the start of the Tactical Handling Exercise where we packed up and shipped out from Sennybridge Camp and relocated to Farm 8. After numerous shoots and arduous serials the exercise concluded with a TAB to a location of pre-dumped ammo before moving to Celeini Village where the nal shoot took place; a Defence/Delay Operation from trenches. Targets were from 300m – 1400m with both iron sight and C2 Sight engagements. The nale was a rapid extraction from the gunline down towards X Range a distance of 1000m where endex was called.
Setting sights
Every day of the Cadre was an absolute delight. The next phase is continuation training; all set to be another top week for the SF Platoon and we will be looking forward to showing the Battalion why Guns are still a most valuable Battle Group assets.
Sjt Phil Kent, MG PL Sjt
Gun line up
THERE WAS AN OBVIOUS BUZZ IN THE AIR AS THE STUDENTS EMBARKED ONTO LIVE FIRING
Challenging STAP conditions
THE RIFLES
SIXTH BATTALION 127