Page 34 - Chronicle Vol 17

Battlegroup. Mounted on Mastiffs, their activity focused along the Estonian bor- der where they developed new Anti-Tank tactics incorporating unmanned aerial systems (drones). Very sadly the battalion lost Rfn Delanimati whilst there, and his funeral in Fiji saw 10 Riflemen bid him farewell. Concurrently, Exercise ORION kept the remainder of the battalion busy in France on a Corps-level NATO exer- cise where an exceptional performance by the Quarter Master (Technical) helped prepare and maintain 60 armoured vehicles throughout.
As a regiment our ties to 4 RANGER remain strong. RIFLES Regimental Headquarters continues to provide support, not least through the Always A Rifleman Programme. The battalion’s relationship with the Worshipful Company of Carpenters, that began under 4 RIFLES, is healthy and thrives. Across the regiment our Riflemen continue to volunteer for the RANGERS and in 2023 this exposed them to deployments in over 25 countries covering the Middle East and Asia, where troops are rotated every six months supporting allies in counter ter- rorism, helping constrain hostile state activity and securing borders.
Because of 5 RIFLES’ commitments to the Armed Forces of Ukraine in 2022, the battalion had to play catch up by qualifying drivers, gunners and commanders to re-establish its core warfighting role in armoured vehicles. This prepared them for the German validation exercises, IRON CYCLONE and CABRIT TEMPEST, along- side the Queen’s Royal Hussars, 21 Regiment Royal Artillery and 1 Royal Horse Artillery in advance of the battalion’s third deployment to Estonia on Operation CABRIT later in 2024. Put through their paces in dismounted and mounted range packages, as well mounted close combat training, the battalion performed excep- tionally well and earned time off to conduct adventurous training and indulge in German culture and history. The shooting team continued to deliver, although it was disappointed to come third at Bisley in the annual competition.
Our reserve battalions have shown their considerable diversity and have stepped up by sending troops abroad on individual and Company deployments, pro- vided instructors for Operation INTERFLEX, entered successful teams into the arduous Cambrian Patrol Competition, as well as committed to Freedom Parades and a vast amount of other community engagement activities including Bugle Breakfasts.
However, once again Operation INTERFLEX continued to absorb considerable focus and manpower throughout the year, with most RIFLES battalions (includ- ing 4 RANGER) contributing their expertise to help train Ukrainian soldiers. The regiment now has more INTERFLEX troop training package rotations under its belts than any other British Army unit and, as you would expect, we have helped refine the courses and its delivery. Of note is that some of the training has been two-way and our Riflemen have benefitted from the knowledge of Ukrainian Border Guards who have experienced some of the most violent battles, including Bakhmut.
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