Page 52 - MERCIAN Eagle 2020

C (Kohima) Company
Major Gareth Dixon, Officer Commanding
2020 has been an immensely busy year for C Company. We have seen members of the coy deploy on four very different operations in UK and abroad, namely: Op TORAL, Op TOSCA, Op RESCRIPT and Op CABRIT. Op TORAL and Op TOSCA saw four of
our personnel mobilising to join 4 SCOTS and 7 RIFLES respectively for 6-month deployments in Afghanistan and with UN in Cyprus. On Op RESCRIPT, the urgency of the call was very different, with 20 members of the company volunteering to deploy in support MoD’s response to the pandemic. Following hot on the heels of this was our continued support to Op CABRIT which
saw five of our soldiers deploying with 5 RIFLES in late September.
We have seen numerous personnel coming and going throughout the year, most notably our Assault Pioneer PSI, Sgt Chadbourne, who returns to 2 MERCIAN on promotion to CSgt. In his place we have been fortunate to gain Sgt Grayson who joins us from The Yorkshire Regiment as our new PSI, 2Lts Khan (on transfer) and Mackney (on commissioning) have joined our ranks and CSgt Lloyd has joined us
on leaving the Regular Army adding his considerable experience to our company.
Ex IRON SWORD
2Lt Khan
Ex IRON SWORD saw the culmination of the Battalion’s Urban Operations training package putting the last
few months into practise. Arriving
in Caerwent Training Area in South Wales, at a time when Wales had just completed a period of lockdown and England was just entering one, created some challenges for the Chain of Command. Thankfully the exercise was permitted to proceed and the exercising troops occupied one of the Forward Operating Bases from which the weekend training activity would be conducted.
The first day allowed troops time
to shake out properly and refine their SOPs before working through a series of section level urban scenarios. This gave junior commanders a chance
to take ownership over their sections and refine the details in preparation for what was to come. Having received a set of company orders,
it was now the turn of the Platoon Commanders to develop their plans, ahead of a company attack onto a rural village. With a ‘passable’ set of platoon orders delivered no doubt saved by a detailed CSS paragraph from the Platoon Sergeant, the troops got some well-earned rest before night rehearsals.
In the early hours, well before the birds awoke, the company formed
up and moved stealthily through the darkness, guided by the recce party who had been sent out even earlier! As first light broke, the dawn chorus was shattered by the signature sound of a simulated mortar fire and the angry bark of the GPMG – the signal to move. 4 Platoon had the lead
and, after a fierce firefight, 5 Platoon followed up behind, echeloning through to capture their objectives. It was then that disaster struck for
4 Platoon.
“Sunray Down” came over the
net. The Platoon Commander had become a casualty. Testament to their ability, the Section Commanders responded quickly, reorganising their troops to assault the final position. The final push came with troops from both platoons assaulting the last objective with ferocious determination and speed.
Securing the village signalled
the end of a hard-fought attack.
The initiative shown at every level demonstrated the quality of training and the understanding of the mission by commanders at all levels.
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EXERCISE VIKING SLAYER
2Lt Mackney
COVID-19 did not stop the return to military field training for 4th Battalion, The Mercian Regiment. Ex VIKING SLAYER took place in Sennybridge Training Area and was our first training weekend after the demobilisation
of the Battalion from Op RESCRIPT and following a period of dispersed virtual training. It featured a robust FIWAF training package, with a visit from Commander Field Army (CFA), his first to an Army Reserve unit added for good measure, followed
by a weeklong Transitional Live Firing and Tactical Training (TLFTT) range package.
Upon waking in a cold wet woodblock at 0500hrs, the troops mustered themselves and quickly got into routine. Sections were dispatched to recce an enemy woodblock and skills that had not been tested in recent months were quickly recalled.
Upon hearing a helicopter overhead, troops prepared for the arrival of CFA.
He spoke directly to Pte Cox who had
to step up to the position of section commander and gave him a CFA’s coin to congratulate him on this. He also fielded a
range of difficult questions especially one from LCpl Grant who questioned the role of the Reservist and how his civilian job contributes to the Army.
After CFA’s departure, the platoon received orders for a dawn assault on a woodblock then jumped in their sleeping bags with the threat of stag on everyone’s minds.
Rising at 0300hrs, the troops readied themselves. ‘Shnurgling’ through streams and woodblocks to avoid sky-lining, the assault began at 0600hrs and although receiving heavy casualties, culminated in 4 Pl securing the woodblock and achieving their objective. This, however, was not the end of the exercise and a TTLFTT package continued throughout the week. Starting with an ACMT, the Battalion participated
in Section in Defence and Moving Target Ranges which the troops rarely have access to and thoroughly enjoyed. Competitions also took place for weapon systems such as GPMG and Sharpshooter Rifle, showing the troops’ competitive streak.
THE MERCIAN EAGLE
CFA meets ARs in Pl Harbour