Page 60 - ABA Salvoes 1999-2024

BLO TO NGLO - THE FIRST 60 YEARS
By Major P Brown TD RA(V)
In 1942 the first Combined Operations Bombardment Unit (COBU) was formed. In order to ensure effective ship to shore communications naval telegraphists formed part of the Royal Artillery forward observation parties which were known as Forward Observers Bombardment (FOB). Also Artillery officers were deployed to each of the bombarding ships as Bombardment Liaison Officers (BLOs). Each COBU, effectively of regimental size, had an establishment of 42 x Captains RA who could be deployed, subject to operational requirements, as either a FOB or BLO. In 1946 the number of COBUs was reduced from five to two and then a year later reduced further to a single battery (333 Combined Operations Bombardment Battery RA). In 1947, when the Territorial Army was reformed, 881 Combined Operations Bombardment Battery RA (TA) was established with up to 12 Captains of which 4 or 5 carried out NGSLO duties, thereby retaining the wartime practice of officers acting as either spotters or liaison officers as required. In normal practice it was the senior NGSFOs who acted as NGSLOs and this could be increased or decreased as the situation demanded. It was also at this time that the term FOB and BLO was changed to Naval Gunfire Support Forward Observer and Naval Gunfire Support Liaison Officer respectively. Later still the word “Support” was also dropped from the title to
Forward Observation Bombardment unit on D Day
Forward Observation Bombardment armoured lorry in operation in the Sword area
become NGFO and NGLO of today.
In 1967 881 Battery was disbanded and elements of the Battery were transferred to Central Volunteer Headquarters RA at Woolwich to continue the NGS role. They reformed as the Naval Gunfire Support Troop RA(V) with 2 sections – NGSFO and NGSLO. In 1976 the spotting role was moved to 289 Commando Battery RA (V) as the NGS Troop. The liaison officers formed the NGLO Section within the RA Specialist Pool of CVHQ, where it remains to this day. The current establishment of 12 x TA officers join the NGLO section from a Commando or Field gunnery background having served in the Regular or Territorial Army, and some are parachute trained. In addition in war the BK 148 Commando Forward Observation Battery becomes an NGLO. Today the section provides NGLO support to 148 Battery when required. This includes either single ship firings or multi-ship exercises such as the NATO JMC exercises at Cape Wrath. Over the last few years exercises have taken NGLOs to Sardinia, Belize, Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, Norway, USA, Vieques, Oman and Brunei. Since the disbandment of 289 Commando Battery in 1999, and the loss of the NGS Troop, the NGLO Section is now the only volunteer part of the British Army’s NGS capability.
Captain J F Burgess, RA, briefing a party of FOBs
58 | Amphibious Bombardment Association
Men of a Forward Observation Bombardment Unit in the Sword area