Page 99 - The Bugle Issue 12 Autumn 2016

Ri emen from 1Pl, A Coy take a break during the Warrior Gunnery phase
3rd UK Division Mounted Gunnery Competition
In October 2015 the cream of the Army’s Mounted Close Combat crews assembled at Lulworth Ranges to shoot it out for the honour of becoming the best Challenger 2, Warrior, CVRT and Jackal crews in the Army. As The Ri es Armoured Infantry Battalion, 5 RIFLES entered 2 teams into the Warrior Compe- tition and one team from the Recce Platoon into the CVRT shoot.
With the other demands of the training year it was dif cult to generate a pool of talent from which to pick. The Recce team was based primarily on availability: commanded by C/Sjt Cashmore with Cpl Wrangham as gunner and Cpl Bates driving. There was more choice in the Warrior teams with D Company having recently nished their own range package with some strong results. An initial sift resulted in two good teams led by JNCOs: LCpl Bainimoli and LCpl Burridge both recently off their Warrior Regimental Instructor Gunnery courses, were supported by Rfn Biggs, Martin, Boyle and Allen respectively.
The 3 teams came together under the management of W02 Lindgren and coached by Sjt Walker, just
returned from two years at the Armoured Gunnery School in Lulworth. After some initial training in the turret trainer in camp, the team were lucky enough to be able to get out on the Sennelager ranges for two weeks and take advantage of the Gunnery Cadre that was on going at the time.
The competition ran for three weeks through October, at the end of which the 5 RIFLES B Team under LCpl Burridge was awarded 1st place in the Warrior shoot, with the A Team coming a respectable 4th. In fact the A team could have won the compe- tition with the judges commenting that they had witnessed the best ever gunner they had seen, unfortunately without their glasses on the team engaged a judgemental target which they weren’t supposed to shoot costing them a podium nish. In the Close Recce Pl in CVRT weren’t so unlucky, with C/Sjt Cashmore’s team coming 3rd, but notably were the highest placed Armoured Infantry team.
The competition was a great result for the Battalion and those that took part, and demonstrated what can be achieved when ‘thinking ri eman’ are given the resources and space to train.
Exercise Senne Bugle
5 RIFLES endured the determined German winter to successfully complete EX SENNE BUGLE, the Battalion’s three week Collective Training 1 (CT1) package. With temperatures plunging to minus 18 degrees, the Ri emen grafted through the frozen wastes of northern Germany with frozen vehicles, sights, sleeping bags and boots, and everything else under the weak winter sun. Despite the conditions, the objective of the exercise, to deliver 5 RIFLES to the correct start state for the upcoming EX PRAIRIE STORM 1 (PS1), was achieved. EX PS1 will help to prepare the Battalion for their rotation to Very High Readiness at the start of next year, which could see 5 RIFLES deployed at short notice across the globe. Given the conditions experienced on EX SENNE BUGLE, it would be fair to say the Ri emen would be happy deploying anywhere as long as it’s relatively warm with no snow.
The exercise’s main effort was focused on mounted Warrior gunnery, ensuring that all crews were quali ed, current and competent. For many of the crews, this was their rst opportunity to work together over an extended range package. As such a noticeable degree of improved speed, accuracy and cohesion was achieved throughout the three weeks. The exercise also enabled the Ri emen to develop their core infantry skills in a varied Live Firing Tactical Training (LFTT) dismounted range package, with serials including CQB shoots, integrated platoon attacks and even the odd sword target for good measure. Warrior manoeuvre exercises were conducted at platoon, company and at battlegroup level. As one would expect with prolonged use of the Warrior in extreme conditions, long hours of before, during and after use maintenance was a necessary
evil, but was instrumental in building on the crews’ experience and expertise in keeping their vehicles operational.
Overall, Ex SENNE BUGLE proved a success, allowing 5 RIFLES to meet their key objectives and deliver the battalion to the correct start state for EX PS 1 in late spring. The quality of the progression of skill and experience across the Battalion bodes well for EX PS 1, which will see 5 RIFLES tested against a live and mobile enemy force in what will hopefully be some warmer weather.
Lt Nick Loxton OC 1 Platoon
IT WOULD BE FAIR TO SAY THE RIFLEMEN WOULD BE HAPPY DEPLOYING ANYWHERE AS LONG AS IT’S RELATIVELY WARM
WITH NO SNOW
THE RIFLES
FIFTH BATTALION 97