Page 20 - The Wish Stream Year of 2022 CREST

Exercise SECOND ATTACK – FALKLANDS COMPANY
On the morning of Ex SECOND ATTACK, there was a feeling of excitement mixed with trepidation as 31 Platoon went to put
their Bergans on the TCVs. We had just com- pleted Ex FIRST ATTACK the week before, and, for the first time, felt like we were undertaking some sort of proper soldier training as we cap- tured enemy positions. Now it was time for us to do this on a larger scale at platoon level.
We formed up in Denton’s yard and began to get on the buses having done the final kit checks, when suddenly the staff came rushing over and yelled: “STOP, STOP, STOP”. Hankley common had caught fire. Frustration took over as the anticipation of going on exercise that had built up in our preparation over the last few days was not realised.
After a night’s sleep in the lines stagging on the weapons, we set off at 0430hrs with the fire finally under control. Refreshed, we departed with great jubilation. Due to the heat, we only had time to get two attacks in before it got too hot. Great haste was made as we bombed up the magazines and went over the final checks ready to march off.
After setting up an all-round defence, we oiled up our weapons ready to spring into action and began patrolling out towards the first position, anticipating the first shots from the Gurkhas. As soon as 2 section was hit, a cacophony of rapid fire could be heard as they
engaged. They boldly rolled the position and, having secured it, we came under fire from the top of the hill. The platoon commander took charge and led 1 section on a flanking manoeuvre to deal with the threat.
After a great victory over the
enemy had been accomplished, we reorganised ourselves at the top of the hill. It was clear that everyone had been overzealous in their assaults – the platoon runner lay about shattered from running backwards and forwards with ammuni- tion during the attack, whilst the bombing of the
mags took far longer than had originally been thought.
We then moved off ready for the next phase and with a change of leadership. Walking down a hill we were engaged once again. After clearing the first position, we again found ourselves in a fire- fight attacking up a hill. Utilising the ground, we followed a dried up stream crawling to stay out of sight of the enemy before bursting out and
charging them down. With the blood pumping and a careful check of the body, the enemy had been soundly defeated.
As the sun reached its zenith, the exercise was finished. We gathered for a debrief from the staff to hear the many learning points that we should take away. However, seeing first-
hand the complexities and the different moving parts that go into a platoon attack, it began to make much more sense as the day wore on, and it became easier and easier to visualise the movements on the ground consolidating what we had learnt in the classroom the week before.
With the blood pumping and a careful check of the body, the enemy had been soundly defeated.
18 SANDHURST