Page 53 - Light Dragoons 2022 CREST

The hard work and preparation started months before we deployed to Castlemartin (CMR) en masse. The RGSS deployed on Op Newcombe in March which left stand in Sgt Cheshire to run with the early liaising and planning with the staff at CMR. After Summer leave and with the return of A Squadron from POTL the Sabre Squadrons started get- ting themselves to the start standards dur- ing September and October. Thankfully through some last-minute bookings and lots of hard work from those involved we were able to deploy to Castlemartin in late October good to go for both a mounted and dismounted package.
Squadrons were on a weekly rotation of mounted firing, dismounted firing and their own BCS training. A Sqn (The Empire) was first up on Range 2 to com- plete the mounted package. They were to go from LFX 1-8a within the 5 days they had of firing. Thankfully for them the weather wasn’t an issue, which is something that bit us hard in the following two weeks, and this meant A Squadron were able to complete their mounted firing package in good time and with some great scores. Cpl Julien, LCpl Newcombe and Tpr Horner were the top crew during the week and will get their name placed on the Saddle within A Sqn lines. B Sqn (The Guards) were first up on the dismounted week which was run by Sgt Smart (2SCOTS) who along with members of 2 Mercian,1 Lancs and 4 Lancs formed the PRT who added value and ensured our soldiers grew in confi- dence and ability. The Sqn were tested by the range and this allowed them to hone and perfect their dismounted capabilities.
Up next on the mounted package were C Sqn (The Legion). The weather took a turn for the worse during this period which meant The Legion could not com-
plete their full package. Despite this their Gunners were allowed extra time behind the weapons in a static role, to gain more confidence with their point of aim (POA) and burst lengths. C Sqns top crew was Cpl Hodgson, Tpr Hill and Tpr Cornish. The Empire were next up on their dismounted week and again were happy to be conduct- ing Section Attacks with dems, Grenades and an overhead fire gun being used, which added the realism aspect of these events. Cpl Atkinsons Section stood out from a very strong cohort, as being a very well organised and executed attack.
For the final week of mounted firing we had B Sqn on Range 2. As per the previ- ous weeks training the weather and the added issue of delivering training to 3 Royal Irish soldiers who were required to complete LFX 1-8a so they could deploy on Op Newcombe the following week, meant that The Guards were not able to complete
all scheduled shoots. Despite these issues some good scores for the Annual Crew Test (ACT) were achieved by all within B Squadron. The top crew from B Squadron was Sgt Punton, Tpr Gilmour – Gath and Tpr Newman. C Sqn were doing dif- ferent shoots from the remainder of the Regiment. They conducted Fighting Patrol day and night, vehicle extraction drills and a Platoon Attack which culminated with a Squadron Raid on the final day.
Overall, 3 Sabre Sqns and HQ Sqn got to the start standard for Wessex Storm in the dismounted role. On the mounted side of it we got 49 x crews through LFX 5 (ACT), with the remaining LFX 6-8a to be conducted on SPTA prior to the start of Wessex Storm. Well done to everyone for achieving some great results and working hard during Steel Dragoon 21.
DP
The Regimental Journal of The Light Dragoons
Steel Dragoon 21 – Regimental Range Package, Castlemartin
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