Page 27 - The Royal Lancers Chapka 2017
P. 27

 REGIMENTAL JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL LANCERS (QUEEN ELIZABETHS’ OWN) 25 C Squadron
 In contrast to the Regimental Cricket team, C Squadron has had a number of Tests this year.
The year opened straight into Exercise ARMOURED CAVAL- RY RESET where junior leaders were given a number of topics to teach the most junior members of the Squadron basic field- craft and reconnaissance skills. This set the tone for much of 2017, with a lot of our training focussed on getting the basics right at individual and section level.
A navigation and communications concentration followed. As well as running up and down the Peak District, the Squadron became proficient at skinning rabbits and debated the moral- ity of war. Moving onto ranges where Lance Corporal Dunn secured top gunner, the Squadron were prepping for a potential deployment to BATUS for Exercise PRAIRIE STORM 4. How- ever, as the year progressed and the aircraft carriers became more expensive, the BATUS deployment became less and less likely.
Nevertheless, the Squadron continued to train with the utmost professionalism. A month deployment to Salisbury Plain was perhaps the wettest in living memory and, following a week of dismounted troop training, ambushes, target reconnaissance and lots of contact drills, the Squadron were happy to find their mounted legs and return to the familiar rumble (and breakdowns) of CVR(T). Some may have preferred to remain on their feet, particularly when their Panther came to rest on its side. Fortu- nately, all passengers were wearing seatbelts and avoided injury.
A week in the simulators and not sleeping, eating or using phones followed, completing the month in Wiltshire. Respite from Salisbury Plain was in the form of some mountaineering in the Cairngorms. Four days walking in a beautiful setting with some challenging navigation was met with mixed reception, mainly due to the lack of reception in the ‘lodge’. 4G coverage is not as high on the list of priorities to the Scottish authorities as
Members of C Squadron complete the Cleveland Challenge, a half marathon NavEx on the Yorkshire Moors
Corporal Yorke washes his Giant...
 


























































































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