Page 64 - The Bugle Autumn 2016 Issue 12

Rfn Village provides protection with his LMG for the his team to get some well earned rest
HARDEST OF ALL, AND AT THE TAIL END OF THE PATROL, WAS A TWO MILE BEST EFFORT WITH ALL OUR KIT
Ex SHAMROCK MAYNE
Ex SHAMROCK MAYNE is a 60km long, multi- stage patrol competition involving regular and reserve members of 38 (Irish) Brigade. 2 RIFLES entered three teams, two from the ri e companies and one from recce platoon.
The C Company patrol was a composite of different platoons, formed at very short notice. It wasn’t until one week before that the nal members of the patrol were con rmed and we could focus on preparation for what was going to be an arduous challenge. We arrived at Magil- ligan Camp to clear weather but the strong winds coming from the north dropped the temperature considerably. It would be unseasonable for it not to rain over the coming days but all were hoping the traditional Irish weather abated for the time being.
Having received our orders, completed the mandatory kit and communications check our eight man patrol was loaded into the back of a TCV and ferried to the drop off point. The mission was a Close Target Recce of an enemy location deep in the Cam Forest high above the North Irish coast. The forest presented a challenge for both navigation and route planning. Keeping off the marked tracks meant wading through undergrowth that hadn’t been cleared for years, with thirty to forty kilos on our backs progress was slow. Once were had stopped short and proceeded onto the recce the skills of Cpl Farrar and LCpl Jones became very evident. Their drawings and detailed analysis of the ground allowed us to complete a very detailed report.
As night fell on the rst day we still had the vast majority of the stands to complete, luckily the distance was slowly being eaten into, a huge boost as the legs and shoulders became weary. Over the coming hours we progressed through a mass casualty scenario,
a teaching local forces stand, section attack lane and a live re falling plate shoot amongst others. Hardest of all, and at the tail end of the patrol, was a two mile best effort with all our kit. With sore feet the team came together and managed the quickest time of the whole competition, beating the recce platoon patrol by over 20 seconds.
The C Company team completed the patrol in little over 36 hours and after the various results from each of the stands were tallied up we were awarded a gold medal with the highest overall score. The competition was a great chance to test the core skills of light infantry soldiers against other units. As ever, there are areas for improvement so we can truly excel at our core role. Let’s hope this success is carried onto future exercises, with Ex CAMBRIAN PATROL the end goal for 2016.
Lt J Lee, OC 10 Platoon
Writing orders for the patrol ahead