Page 98 - Rifles 2017 Issue No 3

Equipment Support Op Shader
The deployed tter section set up in Al Asad Airforce base in an empty compound and quickly made it their own. By the time they left, they had set up a cam net as shade, a sunbathing area with deck chairs made from old pallets, and a fully working set of loudspeakers from an old broken set and an ammo tin. The deployed tter section eventually even had a better working environment than those left on the ROG, as the LAD in New Normandy Barracks is notorious for its lack of working space and Vehicle Mechanics often nd themselves working in the pouring rain.
This added comfort was essential in what would have been a fairly bleak compound in which to spend four months. Work came in ts and starts, with all hands on deck for recovery events or for safety checks after a FOXHOUND re. This one re was an exception; the MASTIFF eet in particular were unceasingly reliable and much better suited to the dry desert conditions than those of rainy Aldershot.
For the deployed tter section, accustomed to the HERRICK days of daily supply ights and instant spares arrival, keeping the eet on the road meant spotting problems and demanding components in advance. Regular inspections every 21 days of every vehicle meant that the equipment was extremely well looked after and availability consistently high, hovering at around the 95 percent mark for the majority of the tour. This was fortunate as there was no redundancy in the kit sent out and all vehicles were in constant use.
On the occasions that components in a vehicle failed, the tter section then had to make a decision over whether an expedient repair was possible, and if possible, was it safe. The apparent fragility of MASTIFF tyres led to a potential lack of lift capability for BPC teams until the LAD team found an ingenious way to combine an undamaged wheel housing with an undamaged tyre, no easy feat without the right equipment.
Half way through the deployment, a late addition to LAD capability, an SV(R) and Recovery Mechanic were sent out. This suddenly meant that the LAD could do pack lifts and recover MASTIFF, and it gave to the
British Army the best recovery capability in Al Asad, with the crane, towing capability and hydraulic cutting gear for use in road accidents. The recovery vehicle was only needed twice, but as the vehicles spend more time in theatre and components wear out the number of breakdowns is expected to rise.
The tour as a whole was rewarding for all those in the LAD who deployed. Junior tradesmen had a chance to practise their job in a different environment and were forced to think in more detail about problems in order to maximise eet availability, and the more senior NCOs were able to put their HERRICK experience to good use in the type of deployment that we can expect more of in the future.
Capt S D’Inverno REME
S of S pays a visit
THE TOUR
AS A WHOLE
WAS
REWARDING
FOR ALL
THOSE IN THE
LAD WHO DEPLOYED
96 FOURTH BATTALION
Kenyan STTT
– A journey to Africa
Amidst the maelstrom of 4 RIFLES deploying on Op SHADER, Support Company was tasked with delivering a Mechanised Infantry Short Term Training Team (STTT) in support of the Kenyan Defence Force (KDF). A team of eight was required to deploy to the Kenyan School of Infantry in Isiolo County and deliver a Train the Trainer (T3) package – or so we thought.
The KDF’s major current operation is supporting the African Mission in Somlia (AMISOM) and securing its borders against Al-Shabaab. Their experiences have demonstrated that they need mechanised forces to deliver the survivable type of combat power required. They have also seen its utility in humanitarian operations such as the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS). The KDF, therefore, reached out to the UK for mentoring in this capability.
The 4 RIFLES team, drawn mainly from the Anti-Tank Platoon, was prepared to deliver a two week STTT. We were also to be supported by a Danish C-IED team. However, following the Kenyan Government’s announcement of their intention to support UNMISS, the team was required to deploy two weeks early to train those deploying to Sudan. We were also requested to stay on over our original time period to train other, dismounted, elements preparing for operations in Somalia.
The team leapt on the opportunity to deploy earlier and stay longer as we had worked hard to be able to offer as much as possible to the KDF. After some rather entertaining liaison and much searching around Laikipia, we eventually found our training audience encamped at a KDF range complex nested against the back fence of the BATUK QM’s department. With our tents set up on the 800m point, we rolled out our T3 package which included as many of the practicable elements from our own Mechanised Infantry conversion courses as possible. The KDF were impressive in almost every respect and held on tightly to all we had to teach. Many had signi cant experience of intense opera- tions in Somalia and placed great value in mastering basic soldiering. Our only regret is that we didn’t have longer to work with them and more to train.
With our business in Laikipia concluded, we relocated (via a stay in Ashnil Mara safari lodge) to Isiolo and the School of Infantry. There we spent a week helping where we could with the KDF equiv- alents of SCBC, PSBC and IWOC. Our nal week was spent mentoring a 200-strong audience from 6 Brigade, KDF, on Stabilisation Operations. At their own admission, the KDF are adept at ghting Al-Shabaab but needed inspiration on how to deliver constructive, non-kinetic effects aimed at securing the people.
For a team of eight, we came away feeling that we had delivered all we could to the KDF without losing enthusiasm for our material. Only the forward elements of our Defence Engagement in Kenya will know what effect we had on the KDF but we hope that it did much to promote their operational success and safe return from operations.
Capt T Foster
THE RIFLES