Page 74 - Bugle Autumn 2014

Ex MAPLE RESOLVE
“The Brits don’t stop, so we won’t stop” - Officer Commanding N Company, 3 RCR
Exercise MAPLE RESOLVE was the largest Canadian Army exercise this
year. The exercise is a combined arms collective training event to validate both of the Canadian Army’s High Readiness task forces. This year, Representative Company were invited to form part of the 3rd Battalion Royal Canadian Regiment, a dismounted light infantry battalion,
and fight alongside 4000 Canadian light armoured infantry troops, 500 air force members and 400 American soldiers.
In order effectively to prepare for the changing realities of combat, exercising troops underwent numerous scenarios based in the destabilised, fictional nation of ‘West Isle’. After the collapse of the local government and under a United Nations resolution, R Company was directed to combat a highly competent enemy force, which had infiltrated West Isle’s dense scrubland and isolated villages. Whilst having anticipated
a slightly more contingency based scenario, the Riflemen adapted admirably to fight against a mixture of insurgent and conventional forces, throughout the two and a half week exercise. Initially tasked with a protection and reassurance mission, R Company conducted several key leader engagements, maintained intimate security by deploying vehicle check points and provided general over watch through the means of several standing patrols. Although the initial pace of the exercise was a little slower that they were used to, the Riflemen went about their business with the upmost professionalism.
Snipers overwatch the objective.
supporting company also pinned down by accurate indirect fire to the east, without hesitating the lead section had the confidence and tactical competence to move across the remaining ground with speed and a ruthless determination to secure the village. Throughout Ex MAPLE RESOLVE this tenacity held
by the Riflemen, together with a clear understanding of the commander’s intent, enabled continued mission success during times of increasing complexity and when communication issues made explicit direction impossible. Indeed Representative Company were quick to gain a reputation within 3 RCR as a swift, intuitive and obstinate force.
It is also interesting to note that during the exercise the Commanding Officer
for the enemy force observed that on a number of occasions his force was only stripped of victory if the opposing
force took a few more risks and hesitated a little less. Certainly I
would like to think that, regardless
of the frictions, R Company were always able to take the fight to the enemy.
R Company were again tasked with an airmobile move to secure another village, which was flanked by dense scrubland on both sides.
The enemy force
initially gained the upper hand with well hidden defensive positions. However, the rifle platoons reacted well to the opening engagements and, several flanking manoeuvres later, began to dominate the enemy and the village. The mission highlighted the importance of comprehensive ground analysis
during the estimate in order to identify vital ground and key terrain. Through
full understanding of the ground R Company were continually able to establish dominating positions and achieve tempo through the element of surprise, which instantly put pressure on the enemy and allowed a foothold to be established. It is also useful to note that when conducting the majority of training in the UK, the enemy’s most dangerous course of action is often a throwaway comment, with most exercises culminating in a swashbuckling final attack in which causalities are routinely regenerated on the spot. However, the best serials conducted in Canada were those that had the highest degree of reality, whereby the enemy had weapon
capabilities that matched, if not overmatched, our own,
allowing the enemy force to cause
maximum disruption.
Casualties
were not
regenerated after
the battle but
extracted from
the area until replacements
could be brought forward,
taking up to 24 hours. Often R
Company was forced to fight with reduced manpower and without key commanders and yet it was during these times that the Riflemen were tested the most, and consequently learned the most.
Our first major objective was a mission to seize and secure a village
of around 20 buildings by an airmobile insertion. Prior to deployment on Ex MAPLE RESOLVE, OC R Company had emphasised the
usefulness of being
exposed to various
frictions when
training. This mission
certainly presented
them. During the
short insertion from
the landing zone
to the form up point, R Company took 60% casualties through accurate indirect and sniper fire. Quite remarkably, nine Riflemen working to the OC’s intent continued on and secured the village, a battle group objective. If ever the mantra “Swift and Bold” were so appropriate to a training exercise this was it. With the
“The Brits don’t stop, so we won’t stop” - Officer Commanding N Company, 3 RCR
72 XXX THE RIFLES