Page 65 - MERCIAN Eagle 2021

Machine Gun Platoon
Lt Whimster
2021 has proven challenging for even the most talented clairvoyant. The frequency
of changes in the health, social and geopolitical landscapes has given ample opportunity for our soldiers to demonstrate their resilience and flexibility. The year began at 2 MERCIAN’s new home of Weeton Barracks, a welcome, if chilly, change
after 2.5 years in Cyprus. After enjoying Christmas 2020 at home with families,
the MG Platoon quickly refocussed on the upcoming deployment to Kenya on Exercise ASKARI STORM in 2021.
Ex AS offered an opportunity to test
a new FSpt Coy ORBAT, using Ground Mounted Reconnaissance (GMR) and
Fire Support Groups (FSGs). As such, our Machine Gunners spent time learning the capabilities and developing SOPs with their counterparts in the Anti-tank, Sniper and Reconnaissance platoons before putting the new ORBAT to the test during the exercise. The climate, Covid and a talented and free-thinking enemy tested the GMR and FSG up to, and at times beyond, their limits, allowing lessons to be learned and best practice to be taken forward.
On returning to the UK, the Platoon dove into Pre-Deployment Training for
Op TORAL, anticipating a 6-month deployment from September 2021. Soldiers were trained and qualified as drivers and commanders on the Foxhound and Ridgeback armoured vehicles, Horn mine / IED detecting equipment and Live
Fire Tactical Training. However, the NATO withdrawal from Afghanistan put a swift end to that plan.
The MG Pl focussed instead on recruiting and qualifying the next generation of Machine Gunners, conducting a 6-week MG Cadre in Weeton and Otterburn. This built up the new Machine Gunners, teaching them the skills to fire the GPMG in the
Sustained Fire Role. This culminated in a live firing package designed to test their ability to work in pairs, fire accurately on recorded targets and overcome stoppages under time pressure. 18 soldiers passed the Cadre and qualified as Machine Gunners, with rank slides presented to them by Comd 4X, Brigadier Mudd CBE.
THE MERCIAN EAGLE
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