Page 39 - The Royal Lancers Chapka 2018

REGIMENTAL JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL LANCERS (QUEEN ELIZABETHS’ OWN) 37 C Squadron
Cunning, Capable, Cohesive and; 21st Century. These four ‘C’s’ codify C Squadron’s enduring fabric and have under- pinned its approach to a full year training at Readiness.
Detached from the bulk of the Regiment deployed on Operation TOSCA, C Squadron has had an unusually demanding yet equal- ly rewarding 2018, at Readiness for NATO and the Very High Readiness Joint Task Force (Land) and later as part of the UK Standby Battalion in support of Operation TEMPERER. With retention, cohesion and recce excellence as regimental principles, the squadron reset with a new command team in place for 2018. It was afforded the unique opportunity to work directly to 12 Ar- moured Infantry Brigade (12 AI Bde); leading, training, and test- ing the nascent Brigade Reconnaissance Group (BRG) concepts. This meant some five months away from families throughout the year, operating with relative independence, including on a large deployment exercise to BATUS, conceptual exercises with 12 AI Bde in Germany, and low-level recce training such as Cambrian Patrol and a sniper cadre in the UK. It has also included a healthy dose of sport, adventurous training and social events including a very telling fancy-dress party in the Summer!
The training year kicked off in earnest with a relentless train- ing programme required to meet the BATUS start states. This included two weeks of gunnery training in Catterick in late Feb- ruary before a week-long mounted range package split between 7.62 variants firing at Warcop in Cumbria and 30mm on Scimi- tar being fired at Lulworth in Dorset. Lieutenant Marriott led the team in Warcop, whilst Captain Jibb and Corporal Nagorski oversaw the sabre troop ranges in Lulworth. If the logistics di- lemma for Staff Sergeant Wooff wasn’t enough, the real enemy came in the form of weather. ‘The Beast from the East’ hit the UK and had crews operating at -10C until it forced closure of the range complexes both North and South. But cunning prevailed,
The Second in Command gets into a bit of difficulty on the Prairie
with Corporal Smith, Trooper Biles and a few others filling gaps in the programme with low-level medical training to distract the chain of command and the medics whilst out in the tundra the focus was on an igloo Observation Post building competition that probably ticks the box for extreme Arctic warfare training! Despite its challenges, mounted ranges were much enjoyed and concluded with some very impressive scores with the best gun- ner being awarded to Trooper Wallace-McCauley for 30mm and Corporal Matulewicz for 7.62mm variant.
With no time to spare, the Squadron was soon off to Lydd Rang- es in Kent to conduct a two-week dismounted range package: imagined, designed, organised and led by Sergeant King. The squadron went from firing just the basic annual weapons test to conducting section and troop reconnaissance drills at night using its night vision equipment’s under ‘black’ or infra-red illumination. This was a physically and mentally demanding package that enabled and pushed training at all levels; be it run- ning over the shingle with weight, firing within section recce- drills or coordinating troop fires from a defended position. This would set the basis for pushing the dismounted range envelope on BATUS.
With the remainder of the Regiment on pre-tour leave, the Squadron was straight back to Catterick to lead the Regimental effort in de-activating the vehicle fleet before heading on Easter leave. Despite the pace of preparations, Lance Corporal Lowe still found the time to organise and lead a team of six to sup- port a weekend training camp with the Nottingham Army Cadet Force, a Squadron affiliation, with a view to invest in the next generation. The final part of our preparation for BATUS after leave was use of the Unit-Based Virtual Trainer; a 21st Century, low-cost, computer-based simulator system that enabled the
A C Squadron member demonstrates his urban warfare skills by taking cover behind a tent