Page 6 - Bugle Issue 18 Auntumn 2021

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B COY GROUP IN CANADA
Ex MAPLE RESOLVE
In late March, B Coy and elements of S
Coy deployed to Otterburn for Ex MOOSE MAYHEM; a week-long shake out in antic- ipation of Ex MAPLE RESOLVE in Canada. After having spent many months supporting the national COVID efforts across Wales, in Liverpool and in Manchester, the exercise came as a welcome opportunity to dust
off the tactical cobwebs to ensure we
gave a good account of ourselves with the Canadians.
In April, the strong B Coy Group deployed, however they could not escape the reach of COVID and had to isolate at the British Army Training Unit Suffield (BATUS). Eventually
the Coy Gp moved north to Wainwright to join the exercise. Ex MAPLE RESOLVE is a Canadian Army annual Brigade level exercise for armoured and mechanised Battlegroups. B Coy Gp, as a light role infantry Coy, were attached to 1 Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry (1PPCLI), a Mech Inf BG operating in LAV (light armoured vehicles).
The first action on the exercise began
with the deployment of our ISTAR elements, including recce, anti-tanks, snipers and machine guns led by Capt Jonny Young and Sjt Dan Worthington. They conducted a helicopter insertion behind enemy (2PPCLI) lines. They were joined 48hrs later by the remainder of the Coy who were tasked to conduct simultaneous actions on two bridges and a heavily fortified village. Each platoon was given an objective to take and hold. After successfully securing each objective and
dealing with a significant civilian presence in the village, the company held the objectives until the end of the offensive phase.
The exercise then moved onto a defensive stage that saw 6 Platoon embedded in a Canadian company. This involved fighting at close quarters with the enemy and at one point conducting a casualty evacuation using a Black Hawk. 1PPCLI, grateful for the support, even offered Cpl Tom Chisholm a promotion to become a Canadian Warrant Officer! Concurrently, the S Coy elements were inte-
grated with the wider 1 PPCLI BG providing them with an opportunity to demonstrate their flexibility and capabilities once again. Anti-tanks successfully demonstrated the damage that they can do against armour by destroying an impressive number of enemy LAVs in very short order. 4 and 5 Pl were
kept busy and were tasked to insert ahead of 1PPCLI’s main defensive position, conceal in dead ground, waiting for the mechanised and heavy armoured enemy to move past before striking their HQ and logistical elements.
Cpl Edward McIntyre awaiting a
Heli-lift on MAPLE RESOLVE
The Northern Lights as
6 RIFLES The Bugle
Each platoon was
given an objective to take and hold
captured by Cpl Andrew Kenny