Page 69 - Mercian Eagle 2013

map reading, sniper knowledge, judging distance, stalking and camouflage and concealment. This was all conducted on a cold and snowy Haltern Training Area. It was also the start of my takeover of the Platoon and my introduction to the sniper world. This would give me the ability to take over the Platoon from the previous commander who was coming to the end of his full military career.
in Otterburn. I am pleased to say that they were all successful and passed – “Well Done Lads” The remainder of the Platoon were busy conducting various sniper ranges from unknown distances at moving targets in Sennelager. Invitations were sent out to 4 SCOTS and to the rifle companies to send available snipers to make the most of this training. It was a great success. The ranges were of
Within 3rd Battalion five soldiers passed the Snipers Cadre and are now badged as Snipers. After a successful sniper cadre the Platoon
was to start their pre deployment training for Afghanistan with the mandatory all ranks brief and tactical commanders cadre which gave us a more up to date view of the goings on
There were also the various mandatory annual training tests that had to be completed
huge use to the snipers, where they were able to concentrate on improving their shooting techniques and collect valuable shooting data. As well as the Sniper Rifle, we also had the opportunity to train and fire with the new sniper support weapon designated L129A1.
As it stands for manning, the Sniper Platoon has been split up to act as battlefield casualty replacements, Rear Operations Group in Germany and instructors for various career cadres. The lads have completed their
in Afghanistan. From what we could gather
Afghanistan had changed huge amounts
compared to the last time we were there a
couple of years ago. There were also the various
mandatory annual training tests that had to be completed which are also a challenge with the platoon tasked over many different locations.
Three LCpls were sent away to complete SCBC (Section Commanders Battle Course) after completing a gruelling pre-course
combined live fire exercise and are about to complete there final pre- deployment training exercise which would give them all the ticks in the box to go to Afghanistan.
The lads now are waiting eagerly for the call up to go on tour.
3 MERCIAN Mortar PL by Lt Freddy Priggs
The Mortar Platoon provides 75 per cent of the Commanding Officer’s fire power and
is his only guaranteed indirect fire support. The 81mm mortar is a key battle winning asset and therefore the mortar operators who use it must be first-rate hardy soldiers. They must work day or night, in extreme conditions in order to destroy, neutralize and suppress the enemy. In a situation where the smallest mistake at a critical moment may cause disaster, the mortar operator must be switched-on at all times. These were the critical demands of the mortar operators’ cadre and took place in a bitter cold February in Northern Germany. It is a right of passage for all soldiers that join the Senior Platoon of the 3rd Battalion.
The cadre began by periods of instruction and handling tests on the 81mm mortar weapon system, which is a far more complicated beast than the SA80 rifle the soldiers were used to. The students were taught how to assemble the mortar from
its constituent parts, the trainee mortar operators developed their skills in the biting cold until deploying the mortar from scratch became second nature to them. The students had to achieve the ‘two-minute- switch’ a task in which they lift a mortar from the ground and then on one bearing and elevation accurately lay it onto a new bearing and elevation within two minutes. The 81mm mortar has a range of 5675m so a small deviation of bearing or elevation will cause the mortar bombs to land off-target at the point of impact. Precision and well rehearsed drills are key, with the eagle-eyed NCOs diligently making sure each switch is performed correctly.
Live firing with the mortar is a critical component of training, with the live fire package on the Bergen-Hohne ranges
Live firing with the
mortar is a critical component of training...
giving the mortar operators the chance to experience the 81mm in action. Launching a 4.5kg bomb several kilometers requires
a large initial explosion that occurs only a few inches away from the mortar operators’ heads. The mortar operators had to learn how to cope with this and the NCOs from the mortar platoon were critical in imparting their knowledge on how to do this. The Bergen-Hohne package showed how exciting and challenging being a member
of the mortar platoon can be, it was simply inspiring to see the combined effect of all the Battalion’s barrels in action.
The cadre ended by testing the students in a traditional physical test. The 81mm mortar system may be disassembled and carried on foot, but the weight demands both robust and strong soldiers. At midnight the students were awoken by simulated counter-battery fire on their mortar line, they were subsequently ‘bugged-out’ into the darkness. They carried all their personal and platoon equipment 15km through the night and early morning back to camp. Throughout they were encouraged by
the ever-inspiring platoon staff and the knowledge that at the finish line they would be qualified mortar operators.
THE MERCIAN EAGLE
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