Page 13 - 4RA 2021-2023

4th Regiment Royal Artillery
Soldiers from 6/36 Battery gun group practice direct fire drills
3/22, which would prove useful in six months to come.
At the end of 2022 the Battery saw the return of LBdr’s Miller and Dy who had deployed with 88 Battery on Op CABRIT 10.5 very shortly after having returned from Kenya. It is of note that LBdr Miller was awarded Comd BritFor commendation for his outstanding contribution to the deploy- ment. Capt Ellis had also deployed initially to Estonia and then to Finland as had Gnr Maher but owing to a reduced require- ment had returned early.
On the 4 February 2023 the 20 person- nel of the Battery deployed to a very cold Salisbury to conduct Ex WESSEX STORM 5/22 in support of 4SCOTS BG and its validation for future commitments. It is of note that this marked the Battery’s, and indeed the Regiment’s, first deploy- ment in Foxhound with BCs Tac and two teams mounted on the platform, the third remained light role. The exercise itself was a huge challenge and put the Tac Group as a whole through its paces and the despite the cold and frigid conditions, the relentless enemy, the relative unfamiliarity with a new vehicle and operating as part of a mechanised Battlegroup, the Battery gave a good account of itself and learned a great deal. Aside from accruing valu- able experience on Foxhound, the exercise reinforced the need to recognise the value of well-trained, motivated and empowered Level Two personnel. For his outstanding contribution Gnr Hall was awarded the Battle Group Commander’s coin.
On 12 April 2023 the 6/36 Bty Gun group paraded for the first time in 11 years having previously re-rolled as a Tac Battery fol- lowing the resubordination of the Battery to 4RA under the disbandment of 40 Regi- ment Royal Artillery in 2011. The movement of the gun group, as part of broader reform directed by the 2021 integrated review, involved a significant portion of the Regi- ment as although personnel and equip- ment were reassigned from 3rd Regiment Royal Horse Artillery the opportunity was
A 6/36 Battery gun hide on the Salisbury Plain on Ex SUNDERLAND DAGGER
taken to rebalance skills and experience across 4RA’s (now three) gun groups. As such, Regimental Headquarters under- took a “grand reshuffle” and split person- nel from 3/29 (Corunna) Bty and 88 (Arra- can) Bty and the personnel reassigned from 3rd Regiment Royal Horse Artillery and divided them equally among the three equipment batterys. Also new in post was the BK (Capt Harry Grantham) and the Battery Sergeant Major (WO2 Chris McInnes) as well as a new MT Sergeant, BQMS and Signal Sergeant. Such a large influx of personnel in such a short period led the Battery Commander to declare that the first priority was for everyone to learn each other’s name.
The challenge however did not end in the building of personal relationships, as the Battery – new gun group and all – was due to deploy on Ex SUNDERLAND DAGGER in just three weeks’ time. The period spent preparing for the exercise was frenetic to say the least but owing to the hard work and determination showed by all ranks the Battery stood ready to deploy on the Regimental “Detachments Front” on the 6 May 2023.
If the period prior to deployment can be counted as a success, the exercise itself can only be considered a huge success. The performance of the gun group went from strength to strength and under the close supervision of the BK, the BSM and the Gun Line Section Commander, SSgt McKenzie, soon developed a well-trained and motivated team that could be eas-
ily mistaken for a long-established gun group. Although there was much success throughout the exercise there were events of particular note. The first was B Sub, led by Sgt Brown, winning the best gun in the “best det” competition, and the strong performances from all teams, with the FST narrowly missing out by two points. The second event was in the final few days of the exercise when the Battery fired for the first time in 11 years, with the first round being fired by the Battery Commander.
The past 18 months has been very demanding on the Battery and its person- nel have been asked to undertake a great deal. The formation of a new gun group has arguably ushered in a new chapter, perhaps – but only one more in its 273 year history. But despite the challenges and changes over the past 18 months the Battery has strode to enhance its warfight- ing competency and today in all respects it remains ready for whatever challenges and demands service in a Light Mecha- nised Bridge brings.
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BC Maj Chanter (right) with former BC Brig Bennet