Page 18 - The Wish Stream Year of 2021

Ex SECOND ATTACK
On the the 12-13th November 2021 OCdts from 18 Platoon Ypres Company deployed to to to the desolate ‘warzone’
of of Hankley Common to to to to practice offensive actions at at at at at platoon platoon level With the Platoon Commander’s lesson on on on on on on platoon platoon attacks ringing in in in in our ears we we deployed overnight Unfortunately the the chinooks were were busy so the the tried and tested white fleet were were employed as the rapid response replacement service Once deployed we bombed up our our maga- zines put on our our Bergens and stepped off into the unknown Come morning we we were informed by our recce team that that looked surprisingly like the platoon staff that that some Donovian forces had dug in with likely depth posi-
Serjeant demonstrated that anticipation at at at at at all levels is paramount to to keeping the platoon functioning After a a a a a a quick reorganisation the the the staff handed over their command command positions to to the the the the OCdts to to to let them experience what commanding at at at at at a a a a a a a a a a a a platoon platoon level level is like for a a a a a a a a a a a a further two full platoon platoon level level attacks also dealing with tak- ing ing casualties concurrently This was an excellent opportunity for the OCdts to to really put into practice what we have been taught throughout Junior Term so far This involved conducting battlefield casualty casualty drills and then rapidly evacuating the the casualty casualty to send- ing ing MISTATs contact reports reports and situation reports reports (SITREPS) Radios though heavy proved to be an an invaluable asset and also demonstrated how a a a a a a a a a a a platoon fits into the battlespace on on a a a a a a a company level and we we were ‘reminded’ of of the importance of of sending regular SITREPS and contact reports when we we were engaged by indirect fire taking 3 casualties However with no no E-PURGEs a a a a a a few few minor mistakes and a a a a a few few ‘quiet’ grippings the Donovian forces were destroyed and and 1
Sandhurst Rifles emerged with only a a a a a few minor casualties In conclusion Ex SECOND ATTACK
was a a a a a a great experience for the OCdts The exercise provided a a a a a a a a clear exam- ple of how to to correctly conduct a a a a a a a a platoon attack by combing skills learnt learnt on on on on Ex FIRST ATTACK
with lessons learnt learnt throughout the week It gave those OCdts lucky enough to be in in in a a a a a a a command command position a a a a a a a useful insight into how how section commanders and and and and above are utilised on on the the battlefield and and and for us us how how useful radios can be but that the the Mk1 voice box is always very reliable and sometimes needed for for a a a a a a a a a switch fire Finally on on return to RMAS for for tea and medals the consensus was that we all completely understood how to to to correctly conduct platoon attacks and therefore our mission was a a a a a success tions due west of our our harbour
area We patrolled to the line
of departure where 1
sec-
tion lead from the front in in an an extended line
and came under contact They then dem-
onstrated their (somewhat)
immaculate drills and returned
fire suppressing the the enemy The Platoon Commander then demonstrated how to to to conduct a a a a a a a professional platoon attack with the Colour Serjeant illus-
trating how to keep control
of the the wider battle picture 2 section then launched on on a a a a a right flanking manoeuvre subsequently destroying the the enemy Meanwhile 3 section were in in in reserve providing the Colour Serjeant with all round protection Surprisingly almost by by design 2 section section were were engaged by by an an in-depth position and and 3 section section were were pulled forward to assist and and as as as as such it it was was quickly dealt with Then a a a a a a a a a a a noise that was was was rather rather new to our fresh OCdt ears a a a a a a a a a a GPMG was was on the the the the ridgeline A rather rather cheeky flank through the the the wood line
line
and a a a a a a a a a a a few tactical bounds mixed in in with a a a a a a a a a a a grenade and and the position was cleared The Platoon Commander emphasised that that momentum does not necessarily equal speed and and that that the the the the condor moment is is essential in in making the the the the right decisions Furthermore the the the the Colour The Platoon Commander emphasised that momentum does not necessarily equal speed and that the condor moment is essential in in making the right decisions 16 SANDHURST