Page 12 - Bugle Issue 18 Auntumn 2021

2 RIFLES
In Spring 21 I attended a cadre for a role within Mortars. It was a seven-week course, from learning the names of each part of
the mortar kit, up to live firing. You get taught on each of the specific roles, and the importance of packing kit correctly.
On the mortar line we work in three man detachments (dets). Each det has a number 1,2 and 3. No. 1s carry the baseplate, No. 2s carry the barrel and No. 3s carry the bipod. Each bloke will carry bombs and ancillaries from the No. 1’s bag. On top of that, we have our personal kit; water, rations, sleeping system, spare combats, extra ammunition etc. This is the minimal each man carries. Early on we were taught how to pack bergens for ‘heavy carries,’ like how to distribute the weight, where to place kit, where to store the ancills for quick access and how to keep it tight and upright. It all came together for the heavy carry; carrying our mortar bergens for 5 miles. Every man was carrying a minimum of 60kg. it showed us what it’s like to get the kit to a mortar line, carry out the correct drills and ‘bug out’ of position. I personally find it’s
12 RIFLES The Bugle
more being mentally fit than physically fit when it comes to doing the heavy carries.
Talking about doing the correct drills, don’t do what I did and expend all of our Illum on
a night shoot! But that’s why there’s a rogue det known as det 3 (as you could’ve gathered, I was det 3 at the time). Each det has its own trait;
Det 1: The back up for Det 2, basically a safety net if Det 2 crow it.
Det 2: The fastest blokes on the barrel, is the main Det to send bombs when it’s needed. Det 3: The Illum Det, usually the slower blokes on the kit, both physically and mentally...
After the cadre, we did a 2-week ISTAR exercise, learning the platoon/section SOPs and how Mortars help Rifle company attacks. We also leared to make a ‘hide,’ to cam and conceal mortars from the enemy (natural foliage is best). We scrubbed up on skills on the kit, nailing down timings for coming in and out of action and hitting timings for small and large ‘switches.’
Over the course, from the very start– we
went from not knowing much about the kit, to seven weeks later being fully qualified mortarmen who are one of battlegroup’s main assets, able to provide of the 80% battalion’s organic fire power. There’s a lot of responsibility to hold on the mortar line, but that’s why there’s a seven week arduous course to complete. If it was easy then everyone would do it.
Rfn Perry
BRINGING
THE RAIN
WITH THE MORTAR PLATOON
Every man was carrying a minimum of 60kg