Page 47 - Chronicle Vol 17

In the early part of the year, most of the battalion soon found itself deployed on Salisbury Plain on Exercise WESSEX STORM as the opposing force for 4th Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland (4 SCOTS) on their annual validation exercise. 4 SCOTS operate as Light Mechanised Infantry unit, primarily using the Foxhound vehicle platform. As Light Role Infantry, the battalion was out- gunned and outmanoeuvred on paper in the open countryside of Salisbury Plain. However, the thinking, fighting Riflemen of C Coy, supported by elements of A & I Coy were well up to the challenge, and keen to demonstrate the forward think- ing and innovative characteristics that define us as a Regiment. As the battalion lead for ‘optimisation’, C Coy were well poised to combine new technology into their tactics, techniques, and procedures. The company used lightweight drones, digitised situational awareness systems on smartphones, remote trap cameras, and satellite networking to ensure connectivity in otherwise communications blackspots. The new technology allowed them to see further, understand bet- ter, and react faster to ‘the enemy’. The outcomes made 4 SCOTS work harder to achieve their validation, but more importantly, contributed immensely to the ongoing development of the Army’s capabilities.
Shortly after, A Coy had their chance to demonstrate their operational prow- ess when they deployed to Valladolid, Spain on Exercise IBERIAN SUN. The annual exercise saw UK and Spanish forces of the ‘Isabel la Catolica Battalion’ work closely together to develop interoperability. Both nations detached units to work within the other’s chain of command, completing a series of challenging urban and trench assaults, before culminating in the two partner forces complet- ing a Battlegroup advance to contact. The Riflemen were visited by His Majesty’s Ambassador to Spain, Hugh Elliot, and conducted a demonstration attack along- side the Spanish forces on to a series of trench positions. The Riflemen were buoyed by the Ambassador’s high praise for The Rifles. Once training had finished, A Coy visited the battlefield of Salamanca, a place that holds deep significance to The Rifles. Silence fell at the top of the Greater Arapiles as A Coy conducted an act of remembrance for all those lost in the battle, punctuated only by the sound of the bugle as the last post was sounded.
From April to July a team from C Company deployed to Zambia to assist with the pre-deployment training (PDT) of a Zambian Battalion (ZAMBATT) prior to their
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