Page 26 - 4RA Regimental Journal 2019-2020

Ex ASKARI STORM 1/21 was to be an ambitious undertaking by the Army to not only validate 2 MERCIAN Battle-
group for an upcoming deployment, but to also prove that a large-scale deployment abroad could be undertaken regardless of the COVID pandemic. 88 (Arracan) Bat- tery was a part of this exercise, which was to prove to be an exercise like no other.
In the wintry conditions of January 2021 most of the country was in the grips of another major lockdown; 88 (Arracan) Battery’s Tac Group however found itself deployed to the Catterick training area to conduct a Command and Staff Trainer (CAST) exercise with 2 MERCIAN Bat- tlegroup. Perhaps an omen of things yet to come, the Joint Fires Cell (JFC) could only laugh as the CAST exercise suddenly ground to a halt when heavy snowfall col- lapsed the Battlegroup planning tent, with all wondering how such a bitterly cold undertaking would prepare the unit for validation in the extreme heat of the Ken- yan savannah.
A few days later the JFC joined the rest of the Battery for its mandatory pre-flight COVID tests. Tragically, significant num- bers of the Battery either tested positive or were contact traced to positive results and consequently approximately one third of the Battery’s personnel had to be left off the flights to Kenya at the very last minute. It was with huge sadness that the remain- ing personnel boarded their flights, gut- ted to see the Battery split apart in such a manner. On arrival in Nyati Barracks, located in the equatorial township of Nanyuki, the Battery found itself quaran- tined in household blocks for a number of days. Unfortunately COVID broke out amongst the thousands of person-
nel who had deployed from 4th Infantry Brigade and, in an effort to mitigate the spread, all were expelled from their accom- modation and the Battery set
up a new temporary home around the gun park on cot-
Tac Group atop one of the many huge hills in the training area
4th Regiment Royal Artillery
Ex ASKARI STORM 1/21
beds. After an extended isolation period and after some very invasive COVID tests, the Battery finally got itself out the door on the road to Archer’s Post Training Area for the start of the exercise.
Deployment to this training area proved to be no less eventful than the rest of the exercise. Within a few kilometres of Nyati Barracks a couple of gun towing vehicles had already broken down, and then rare monsoonal rains which caused flash- flooding prevented the second half of the Battery from linking up with the first half at its harbour location. Eventually, after the local portaloo contractor had been located,
the Battery had finally established a firm base for itself in the field just 24 hours’ late and was ready to commence its live firing programme. This proved to be a challeng- ing but enjoyable week of firing, with high- lights including live AMA procedures for the gunline and a challenging company attack for the FSTs. Frictions continued to abound, with most range days inter- rupted by incursions of giraffe and flocks of goats and camels, but thanks to the stoicism of all personnel the week was a success. Unfortunately, COVID started to manifest itself again amongst the Battery, and consequently the second phase of the exercise known as ‘CENTURION’ was
spent with many person- nel either facing treatment back in Nyati Barracks or isolation in the field.
On the completion of the live firing programme the gunline – minus a mul-
24