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Bdr Hodnett being promoted by the BC on visit to XI Sqn
The largest commitment of the first term was ex White Horse Arena, a Divisional CPX hosted by the Bundeswehr with 20 ABCT as one of the subordinate Brigades. This afforded the Bde Plans and JFC the opportunity to immerse themselves within an allied partner structure and develop our processes. Bdr Cot- trell impressed as she coordinated the R2 requirements amidst the execute phase and the aggressive use of fires at the earliest opportunity meant Joint Fires contributed to the success of the mission and indeed the exercise. Whilst deployed to Germany the 1 RHA contingent managed to find some space to visit Leip- zig, visiting the Monument to the Battle of Nations, where Capt Bogue fell and his subsequent burial site. It was a very memora- ble experience and the sheer scale of the battle at the time the
Bogues Troop preparing the 6 Pounder
largest single battle in history in terms of numbers present was inspiring. Significantly a relationship has been developed with the museum that would see battery history items loaned to the museum for visitors to see.
20 ABCT assume lead ABCT commitments in 2025 and as part of the validation process, 20 ABCT have developed a little and often approach to validation that mitigates the risk of staff churn and provides self-critique and development throughout the process. This period has seen 3 seperate planning and execute exercises, under the FIST series of exercises, that have developed the team and expedited processes. The lessons from Ukraine talk to plan- ning quickly and often and that is the approach that the Bde has sought to achieve with 4 Hr planning processes. In order for this approach to work, the Control CPs have to be extremely compe- tent and able to act decisively. BSM Byrne and now BSM Harris have both epitomised this ability and are exponentially improving the lethality of the BCT.
As the Army transforms its equipment platforms under moderni- sation programmes The Rocket Troop through 20 ABCT have been facilitating CONEMP and CONUSE studies through Pro- ject ASTRID, identifying how an ABCT may fight in 2030 and what part Close Support artillery has to play in the battle. It is this higher conceptual work that truly underlines the range of
1st Regiment Royal Horse Artillery
LBdr Andrews conducting vehicle checks on Ex RAU FIST
Bty Visit to the Monument to the Battle of the Nations
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