Page 12 - MERCIAN Eagle 2020

Company Overview:
Pl Comd: Lt Lewis Davies
Pl Sgt: Sgt Michael Dorney Wr Sgt: Sgt Tristan Gardner
10
2 Platoon
It has certainly been an unorthodox and testing year, as is fashionable to say in 2020, for the Grenadiers and 2 Platoon. Starting off with exercises training at Section and Platoon level, the Iron Fist of COVID struck hard. Besides Zoom battle lessons and Strava fitness sessions, most training came grinding to a halt. It was great to
see some outstanding efforts throughout lockdown, such as Pte Stirrup being one
of those taking on the ‘David Goggins’ Challenge’ (4 miles, every 4 hours for 48 hours) or LCpl Gurung smashing out 100km of running in 24hrs as part of the Grenadier 10,000, to name but a few examples. As lockdown eased and we returned to work, it was great to shake out as a platoon
again and get some good, honest training in. Starting with low-level training on the back area, working up to the complexities of Corsham Mines, the Grenadiers quickly settled back into the high standards that had been set pre-lockdown.
In late September the Grenadiers deployed to Caerwent Training Area in South Wales. A training area renowned
for its complex terrain, with a myriad of buildings, wood lines and embankments, it was the perfect place to put the Grenadiers to the test. The aim of the exercise was to practice and test everything that had been learnt and rehearsed over the previous 12 months. This would help to establish what could be improved in future and inform the planning of training.
The exercise started with understanding the enemy picture, where it soon became apparent that the enemy were ferocious in battle and would use a range of techniques, both conventional and unconventional, to gain the upper hand in the fight. We soon learnt that the enemy we would be fighting were the distinguished SF unit known simply as ‘The Reptiles’; fortunately, 2Pl were armed with Pte Moore wielding the GPMG for the week, so we were covered for any eventuality.
To start the week off, the Grenadiers needed a place to stay and after a highly
covert and successful recce patrol by
3 Platoon, a nearby ‘forward operating base’ (FOB) was identified. Fast forward a few hours and Grenadier Company had assaulted, cleared and built up the FOB, ready to begin the cycle of operations over the week. Throughout the week, the platoons rotated through attacks, complex terrain and framework patrolling. Serials ranged from night raids with
hasty ambushes, woodblock and trench
3 Platoon suppressing the enemy, Caerwent 2020
clearance, all the way through to raids
with respirators on, all designed to put the Grenadiers under pressure and beyond
the typical ‘assault, suppress, reserve’. Between all this, The Reptiles relentlessly harassed the FOB, however this was to no avail with the sentries, platoon commanders included, batting away each attempt to gain a foothold.
The week culminated with a night company-level cordon and search operation, following a planning cycle and orders around the awesome model pit. However, the Company deployed on a longer night than was expected. After one strike op, three aborted HLS’ and a hasty attack, all with multiple casualties being brought along, the Grenadiers returned to the FOB where the exercise was complete and a well-earned rest was in order. There were a lot of positives to take away at
the end of the week, not least being the excellent standard the Company had maintained since returning from Estonia, despite a national lockdown getting in the way.
THE MERCIAN EAGLE
Pte Williams manning ‘The General’, Caerwent 2020
LCpl Cresswell overlooking the model, Caerwent 2020