Page 28 - KRH Regimental Journal 2022

26 The Regimental Journal of The King’s Royal Hussars
D (XRH) Squadron
With the King’s Royal Hussars Battle Group firmly focussed on its Autumn deployment to Estonia, D Squadron was able to exploit opportunities for activity on Tanks and some more bespoke training on our feet.
The year began with the promise of February Castlemartin ranges, firing 16 crews through their annual crew test. Gunnery training expertly led by Sgt Naylor and Cpl Bennett the team arrived with the knowledge that C and A Sqns had not only long overstayed their welcome in Wales (tank availability and poor weather... apparently) but were still also hoping to borrow most of the fleet and half the range space.
As it played out a superb but fairly attritional fortnight of tank gunnery was had. WO2 Plant stood in for WO2 Oakes to deliver ammo, Capt Corne delivered laser keys and laser sarcasm in equal measure, and SQMS Field and his team delivered all the possible options of wrap – the latter (only) much to the commendation of the Bde Comd.
After ACTs, a range recce for Ex IRON STORM, a smoke dem- onstration and several beers downrange, the Sqn returned in good form to Tidworth for some tactical troop training on SPTA. A Change of Command was required in SHQ with OC, Joe Williamson, side-stepping to B and the Cornado planning a side-step to Civ Div, but not before they delivered a final hurrah (cutting the PRI off at the knees) to deliver Ex ALPINE HAWK.
After a well-earned Easter leave (or liver failure in the alps) the Sqn returned to what would be a nonstop series of exercises in Germany, Wales and Salisbury Plain as part of the Mercian Battle Group all under the guise of Ex IRON STORM. This period started with the arrival of a new Sqn Leader, Maj Rhys Wilson, and Sqn Second in Command, Capt Giles Skrine. A mixture of synthetic training (sweating in the tin simulator building under the German summer sunshine), live firing and battle group manoeuvre allowed the Sqn to show itself in the best way; a sub- unit capable of fighting tanks at pace and defeating a free-think- ing enemy, which happened to be our friends from the Queen’s Royal Hussars. Our time in Germany showed the Mercians the high calibre of Tank Crews they were getting on and off the vehi- cles. Some of the highlights including LCpl Robinson acquiring the title of BMP (if you know, you know), the Sqn demonstrating its singing prowess to the rest of the Battle Group at Karaoke and SSgt Field’s face as the coach was boarded by Customs at Calais.
A brief return to Aliwal Barracks saw the team taking the tanks onto Salisbury Plain to really demonstrate what we can do. Two
Target Stop...
weeks of hard fighting followed with far too many great examples to list them all here. One mention that must be made though is the numerous actions of Sgt Struan “Braveheart” Duncan who repeatedly made life incredibly difficult for the crews of the QRH, including an afternoon of racking up an impressive ‘kill’ count from his mobility killed tank and crashing out on QRF wearing Adidas sliders in the turret as his boots wouldn’t accommodate a horribly swollen ankle.
The end of July saw the Sqn bring its tanks back in from Salisbury Plain in time to say goodbye to the rest of the Regiment who would soon be heading off on operations. Despite being left behind we had much to look forward to, first of which was a deployment to Cyprus on Exercise Kronos Warrior with the Officers’ sights sights firmly set on the Dhekhelia Officer’s Mess for Op CLUB MED and the Soldiers finding out they would be staying only 15 minutes from the wild nights or Ayia Napa.
However, thanks to our colleagues from the Royal Marines, the Sqn found itself being accommodated on a disused airfield along
Night Firing