Page 46 - Bugle Spring 2025

8 RIFLES
Ex SAVA STAR
Given the ongoing war in Ukraine and
international tensions with Russia, it has
never been more important for us to support
and train alongside our NATO allies. With this
in mind, 8 RIFLES seized a late opportunity
to take part in an overseas exercise in the
Balkans in September. Some readers may
remember a previous deployment to this
region in the 1990s where Riflemen were
involved in peacekeeping operations in
a series of brutal conflicts. It was mere
kilometres from these same contested
borders of Croatia and Serbia that 8 RIFLES
were to train and develop our future
warfighting capability. Ex SAVA STAR saw
a company plus sized force, alongside
elements of our BG HQ, A1 and UAP, deploy
to Croatia to conduct an interoperability
exercise with the Croatian Armed Forces
(CAF) who were also preparing themselves
for a deployment to Kosovo.
The woods and forests of the Gasinci
training area offered a perfect opportunity
to upskill our Riflemen in techniques for
Fighting in Woods and Forests. The exercise
also incorporated rural, urban and trench
warfare elements, allowing our Rifleman
to experience the complex and diverse
environments they must be able to operate
in; this being the current reality for soldiers
in Ukraine.
The first part of the exercise was spent
acclimatising and integrating 8 RIFLES and
other Force Elements from UK 19th Light
Infantry Brigade and 1st Uk Division, with
the Croatian “Kune Battalion”. This involved
consolidated tactical moves and operating
and communicating in rural, urban and
entrenched environments, no easy challenge
when our language, tactics and equipment
all differ. It also provided an opportunity
for the exercising units to learn about each
other’s capabilities, culture and heritage.
The Croatian troops particularly enjoyed
tales of the daring deeds of Rifleman in the
Peninsular War, accompanied by rousing
bugle calls.
Overseas training opportunities such as
this are rare for reserve units and offer a
fantastic chance to test ourselves, not just in
our warfighting role but also in the logistics of
deploying our people and equipment across
Europe and returning them to their civilian
employers in good order. It is also a unique
opportunity for our reservist soldiers to work
closely with a foreign army, understand
their ways of working and experience a new
culture.
The second part of the exercise was at
battalion level, testing the newly forged
composite British and Croatian Battlegroup
Headquarters and the force elements on
the ground. The exercise also allowed us
to put our newly formed ‘Skirmish Group’,
a composite platoon of Reconnaissance
and Anti-Tank soldiers, through its paces
alongside the Croatian Reconnaissance
troops. Skirmish Group was used to great
effect during the validation phases, enabling
confirmation of forming up points and enemy
positions before transitioning to offensive
action with lethal effectiveness.
Another testing and critically important
element was in the planning of the battalion’s
tactical actions. Full battalion planning cycles
brought together staff from both 8 RIFLES
and the Kune Battalion to draw up plans,
build and test contingencies and then deliver
An 8 RIFLES Section fights
through the Croatian forest
46 RIFLES The Bugle
8 RIFLES ready to assault a
building on Ex SAVA STAR
Another
testing and
critically
important
element
was in the
planning
of the
battalion’s
tactical
actions
orders to the troops. It is rare for reserve
battalions to test full planning cycles at this
scale, and managing the complexities of
differing processes, tactics and language to
come up with a simple effective plan was no
easy feat.
After a hard exercise the 8 RIFLES
contingent did have some time to enjoy
being in Croatia, taking in cultural activities,
battlefield studies and a welcome batch
of adventurous training on the Dalmatian
Coast. Following Ex SAVA STAR, 8 RIFLES
is in a strong place to reach Full Operating
Capability in 2025, is ready to develop even
further on Ex RHINO HEART 2025 in Germany
and continue to excel as the fastest growing
reserve battalion in the Midlands and the
North.
Major Cooke
8 RIFLES troops storm a stairwell