Page 22 - 1RHA 2022

1st Regiment Royal Horse Artillery
Ramsay’s Troop (Regimental Air Cell) Flt Lt T R Denny RAF Regt
It can be safely said that this has been a busy year for the members of Ramsay’s Troop/1 RHA Air Cell. Its 13 Joint Termi- nal Attack Controllers (JTACs) and 6 Tactical Air Control Party
(TACP) Signallers have deployed on over 20 exercises as well as achieving 28 days of Close Air Support (CAS) Simulator training over the course of 2021/22. During these taskings they have so far racked up a, not inconsiderable, travel distance of over 104,000 km as a troop. Over this period, they have supported 20 Bde and have worked alongside, and developed ever deeper understand- ing with our partner Sqns from the RAF and AAC as well as our USAF and USMC friends from ‘over the pond.’
Following a deployment to South Korea on Ex FLASH STRIKE in September 21, members of Ramsay’s Troop set the tone for the year by simultaneously deploying to support 2 separate exer- cises. During October 21 Troop personnel were in both New Jer- sey and France as part of Ex SHERMAN STRIKE and Ex ROYAL BLACKHAWK respectively. in November 21 the Troop gained a new member when Flt Lt Denny (RAF Regiment) joined as their new Bde TACP OC. Concerned that he might find his new post at all boring the Troop immediately threw themselves into a week of CAS Simulator training at Larkhill before deploying onto Salis- bury Plain for a week on Ex CYPHER SHARPEN. This exercise put the emphasis on the junior members of the Troop and gave them the opportunity to put their instructional skills to the test, giving lessons in fieldcraft and basic soldiering skills to their com- rades and immediate chain of command.
After just enough to time dry their socks following their brief sojourn onto the Plain, three members of Ramsay’s Troop deployed in support of Ex TALLINN DAWN in Sennelager, Ger- many. Here they carried out several roles including deploying for- ward to support troops on the ground and carried out the roles of a TACP in the Ex’s HICON (Ex Bde HQ): where they also con- trolled aircraft utilising remote downlink while ensuring the safety of these assets in real time.
Following a well-deserved Christmas leave break, come Febru- ary 22 the members of Ramsay’s Troop were soon busy again when they deployed to Donna Nook Air Weapons Range in Lin- colnshire on Ex FLASH STRIKE. This saw the Troop’s JTACs con- trol the last ever dropping of 3kg practice bombs from a Hawk T1 before 100 (RAF) Sqn’s disbandment and the retirement of the
T1 from operational duties outside of the Red Arrows. It was truly a moving moment to see the darting black shapes of 100 Sqn’s jets conduct their last-ever attack runs and, ultimately, a final vic- tory role. During this historic sortie it was thanks to the JTACs of Ramsay’s Troop, and the last batch of practice munitions, that the veteran aviators of 100 Sqn were truly able to say that their Sqn went out with a bang, or two. At the same time as Ex FLASH STRIKE, 2 members of the air cell were also deployed alongside 1 ROYAL WELSH BG as Task Force Hannibal to support their pre- deployment training in preparation for their deployment to Esto- nia on Op CABRIT.
March saw the Troop provide support to one of our partner F 16 Viper USAF Sqns by providing JTACs at short notice to enable their pre-deployment training. While this was occurring, some of the Troop’s keen winter sportsmen managed to take advantage of the late snows on the continent rotating through Ex CHESTNUT BLIZZARD and Ex IRON SKI where they got the opportunity to cool down on the slopes with a little Alpine skiing.
In May, during a comparative ‘lull’ in the battle rhythm, only two members of Ramsay’s Troop deployed on separate taskings: one of our JTAC Es supported Ex HEDGEHOG while Gnr Emery, our newest TACP Signaller, took the opportunity to go on a pilgrim- age to a number of holy sites in France.
Come July, Ramsay’s Troop saw a change in personnel when it lost Capt Hannah Peck who was replaced by Capt Paul West. Following Capt West’s arrival the Troop deployed to Kinloss train- ing area (formally RAF Kinloss HAS site) and ran Ex TERMINAL STRIKE 22-2 with the support of the FGR4 Typhoons of No. II (Army Co-operation) Squadron based at RAF Lossiemouth. This exercise was run for the benefit of all UK JTACs who were, in this instance, joined by a contingent of our Estonian colleagues. Ex TERMINAL STRIKE 22-2 provided members of the Air Land Inte- gration (ALI) community with the valuable currency of live fighter jets and the opportunity to further develop their skills as forward air controllers with the inclusion of a CAS Simulator. The exercise was conducted independent from the rest of 1 RHA and received very positive feedback from the troops exercising on it and was highly praised by Cdr J7 Joint Air Land Organisation (JALO) fol- lowing his visit. The culmination of this iteration of Ex TERMINAL STRIKE saw the first ever deployment of the 2000lb laser guided
Air Tp Kinlochewe Ex Terminal Strike
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