Page 133 - Bugle Autumn 2014

Mortar Platoon integrated live firing with 3 RIFLES
We have been fortunate to be paired with 3 RIFLES in Edinburgh and as such we have taken a number of opportunities to train with our Regular counterparts.
Taking the lead in this initiative have been the Mortar Platoon of D (Rifles) Coy. The Platoon has conducted two live shoots with 3 RIFLES over the last training year one at Kirkubright in November and a further on at Otterburn in February.
Mor Pl preparing to live fire with Mor Pl 3 RIFLES at Otterburn
Plan for the mortar line to run with.
C/Sjt King, formerly the SPSI and now ‘re-invented’ as a Alpha
MFC, saw himself take over the reins of one of the mortar line safety posts and performed with his usual
The Kirkubright shoot saw the Platoon deploy to Scotland for the weekend and conduct a joint part 1 shoot. The Platoon integrated well with their Regular counterparts due largely to the liaison visits paid by Sjt Katonvualiku of Mortar Platoon 3 RIFLES prior to the training.
professionalism. This was despite the fact that Capt Towers had bagged the slot on the OP that was offered by C/Sjt Gibbons, (a roof over your head is always welcome in Otterburn in February).
Once the day shoot had been concluded the two Platoons where fed and watered and
returned to the mortar line to conduct the night phase. This was done in conjunction with a platoon ambush shoot on the adjacent small arms range and had the effect of giving the Riflemen of the
Coy an insight into how effective 81mm Illum really is.
All in all this has been a very positive experience for the members of the Mortar Platoon and we like to think that
both 3 RIFLES and ourselves have been at the forefront of Regular/Reserve integration.
Capt RT Towers
OC Mortar Platoon
a roof over your head is always welcome in Otterburn in February
The Shoot commenced on the Saturday
morning and was concluded by the Sunday with the detached members travelling back down to Washington for wash up and dispersal.
The February Shoot saw members of the Platoon deploy
to Otterburn for a day/night shoot with reservists filling in a number of the executive posts as well as filling slots on the detachments. The day shoot fulfilled all the usual expectations and was run smoothly by C/Sjt Gibbons.
Cpl’s Yorke and Arnott manned the OP with guidance from the 3 RIFLES MFCs’ and after a few false starts managed to accomplish a number of fire missions and formulate a Fire
FR2020 Recruiting stand- Mor Pl demonstration at the Sunderland Air Show
THE RIFLES
D COMPANY 131