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4th Regiment Royal Artillery
Ex WESSEX STORM (6/36 Bty) Capt Ed Chapman RA
The onset 2023 brought fresh chal- lenges to 6/36 (Arcot 1751) Battery deploying on Ex WESSEX STORM. This particular iteration of the large combined-arms exercise was significant for the Battery in two respects. First, it was our last as a “Tac” Battery: although we were to deploy with 3/29 (Corruna) Battery’s gun group, this would the very last time we would deploy with another subunit’s guns. Second, this was the first time we would deploy and operate out of the Foxhound platform. Deploy- ing in support of 4th Battalion, the Royal Regiment of Scotland (4 SCOTS), Janu- ary saw the Battery quickly depleting the Quartermaster’s department of their winter sleeping bags and much-prized tent boots as weather reports predicted a rather chilly February and March on the Salisbury Plain.
Despite the usual headaches with adapting to a new vehicle platform, the Battery received a fleet of Foxhounds just prior to deploying. The success of the handover must be attributed to Sgt Dorner, Bdr Kirtley and Gnr Cooper who diplomatically and efficiently navigated the difficulties of requisitioning a fleet of vehicles from another unit within a month of deploying on a critical valida- tion exercise.
On arrival to the Plain, the Battery was stationed in the frost-covered camp HECTOR which housed the entirety of the 4SCOTS Battlegroup (BG). The teams worked quickly to integrate into their respective companies (Coys). Strikers and cam nets were attached to the new Foxhounds to provide some warmth from the snow and conceal- ment from much anticipated drone attacks.
Following the arrival of the final ele- ments of the BG the exercise com- menced in earnest, marked by the start of the Combined Arms Live Fire Exercise (CALFEX), providing the first opportunity for the teams conduct fire missions in support of the Coys. Despite the often freezing conditions the Battery successfully delivered joint effects with the help of 3/29 (Corruna) Battery Gun Group to ensure all Coys achieved their live fire objectives. By far one of the most telling lessons from this period was the unfamiliarity infantry have with artillery, and the fact that nearly all had never seen fall of shot. Naturally, there was a degree of nervousness from some of
the more junior infanteers when they saw artillery impacting just 800m ahead of them!
With the CALFEX over, and Task Force Hannibal (TFH) deployed across the Plain to provide a live opposing force, the scene was set for the 4SCOTS BG to recapture the training area from His Majesty’s enemies. The first tactical action saw the Battery required to sup- port 4SCOTS in defence of Imber Vil- lage. With observers deployed, trenches dug and target information sent (all reported over radio with an increasingly Scottish lilt as the effects of long expo- sure to the BG made themselves felt) we were ready to defend Imber Village. In the early hours, TFH launched repeated attacks, overrunning one of the compa- nies. Despite this, the impressive cour- age of LBdr Dy and Gnr Hall inspired them to remain hidden in their obser- vation post, despite being bypassed by the enemy. Their actions ensured the company could reconstitute and launch a successful counterattack. The pair coolly explained later that it was not the most exciting part of the day which had come earlier, when on foot, they were chased by an enemy AFV, only to then destroy it using Exactor 2.
A long cold night awaited us all as excitement frequently got the better of the BG, at one point mistaking Recce and Anti-Tank Call signs as the enemy. Fortunately, the cool heads of the Tac Group under the guidance of the JFC operated by WO2 Carr and the newly- promoted Sgt Scobbie saw the Tac Gp provide reassuring advice on bat- tle space awareness and management throughout the night
Having survived not only the threat of TFH but that of the cold, the Battery was then to be tested in its ability to operate outoftheirFoxhounds.Thiswastoena- ble the DELAY of TFH across the Plain. Prodigious target information was sent down the fires net to allow for multiple break-cleans, which would have sent any FST Commanders’ heads spinning had it not been for their acks carefully noting it all down. Once again, under the cover of darkness, the Teams moved to their initial defensive positions and awaited the inevitable arrival of the enemy which initially, did not come, due to the expert targeting of the enemy combat bridges using Exactor 2 by the JFC, operated by WO2 Carr and Sgt Scobbie.
Despite all their bridging assets being destroyed, TFH found a way across riv- ers and were soon hot on the heels of the Coys as they advanced West across the Plain. Throughout the night the teams sent down impressive weights of fire ensuring TFH never made it to within 600m of friendly forces. 16 hours after having mounted into their Fox- hounds, dawn saw the entirety of the BG recovered safely on the most west- erly edge of the Plain thanks to impres- sive break cleans fires which enabled their movement.
Having allowed TFH to be the aggres- sors, the final action was the attack and destruction of our adversaries. After living under ponchos for nearly 6 weeks in a rather unforgiving winter, all members of the Battery were ready to make TFH pay for the conditions they had endured. Once again, the Battery enabled the successful destruction of TFH having made themselves indispen- sable to the BG Commander and their respective Company Commanders over the past month. Victory was sweeter on completion of this phase as 4SCOTS BG was successfully validated – a feat now only three of the previous seven BG had achieved in the past 18 months.
From the outset, Ex WESSEX STORM was believed to be a tough experi- ence which would severely challenge a young and inexperienced Tac Gp. Many of our Junior NCOs would be stepping up in rank, and it would be the first WESSEX STORM for all the FST Com- manders and the Battery Commander. On reflection, none of these risks were realised in the Battery’s performance. This stellar accomplishment is a testa- ment to the confidence, professionalism and grit of the Tac Group’s soldiers and NCOs. A special mention must also go to WO2 Carr, now leaving the Battery asBSMtobecometheWOCIS,whose sage advice, guidance and steady hand throughout the exercise was an invalu- able ingredient of the Battery’s ultimate success. Looking back, Ex WESSEX STORM 5/22 was an outstanding test of the Battery’s professionalism and endurance, and a great opportunity to both revise old skills and learn new ones. 6/36 (Arcot 1751) Battery Tac Group leaves this exercise stronger, more determined and hungry for the next challenge.
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