Page 28 - 4RA 2021-2023

4th Regiment Royal Artillery
Ex SUNDERLAND CLIMB was a welcome change of scene after a few weeks on Otterburn training area in in the British winter
by a snap deployment to Estonia on Oper- ation CABRIT, the UK’s contribution to NATO’s reassurance and deterrence mis- sion in the Baltics. The workshop worked around the clock to prepare 88 (Arra- can) Battery’s fleet in time, and deployed workshop personnel provided extensive equipment support in-country through- out the entire 6-month deployment. While deployed some of the workshop were also tasked with supporting Exercise SILVER ARROW in Latvia. This multinational NATO Exercise took place in the Camp Adazi training area in Latvia. Around 4200 troops from 17 NATO-country armed forces par- ticipated and took part in the exercise.
While 88 Battery and their fitter section were away in Estonia the cycle of UK exer- cises continued for the workshop remain- ing behind. In September 2022 Exercise WESSEX STORM saw the workshop stretched thin due to the limited workforce available and the intensity of training con- ducted. The main aim of the training was to fine-tune the new concept of how an artillery regiment must move and work in
The mission does not stop for snow and ice
the field in response to the modern peer threat. After the return from Estonia in December and a well-earned Christmas break, 2023 began with Exercise SUN- DERLAND DAGGER 23/1 in Otterburn training area. With some of the workshop’s soldiers deploying directly from post-tour leave after Estonia, the exercise was an intense 7-day experience in which more than 3,000 artillery rounds were fired.
Throughout the entire 21⁄2 year period and all these exercises and deployments the trickle of routine duties, changeover of staff and daily life continued. A total of 35 personnel of all ranks were posted out
and replaced with new faces, from newly- qualified Craftsmen to the OC. There were also 6 births and 2 marriages in this time. The whole workshop sends their congrat- ulations and best wishes to Mr and Mrs Anderson and Mr and Mrs Brown on their respective weddings, and also to the fami- lies of Cpl Lindsey, Cpl Garlick, Cpl Mitch- ell, LCpl White, LCpl Lovick and Pte Rob- erts on the safe arrival of their little ones.
Looking ahead, the workshop anticipates a busy and exciting remainder of 2023, with regimental and battery exercises to support along with preparing the whole fleet for 2024. Next year promises much work and excitement with the regiment being placed onto high readiness in order to provide fire- power to the VJTF Light Brigade.
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Soldiers maintaining the guns when deployed in Estonia. Exercising in the Baltic winter was a new challenge for the troops on Op CABRIT