Page 33 - Bugle Issue 16 Autumn 2020

5RIFLES
LCpl Lambe, B Coy,
preparing to manoeuvre his fireteam
Op CABRIT 5
In October 2019 B Company had the pleasure of taking on the operational responsibility for Op CABRIT as the Armoured Infantry Company in the QRH Battlegroup. This operation continued in the vein of the Coy’s success in BATUS and saw the progression and continued optimisation of the Battle- group’s use of Combat Teams. Combining infantry with cavalry and engineer callsigns, these teams enable the Battlegroup to effectively counter a wider array of threats. B Company has also had a lot of time to conduct our own training, often travel-
ling to Nursipalu for weeks of live trench clearances, pistol ranges and employing Explosive Methods of Entry supported by the engineers.
In mid-December 2019, members of B Company deployed to Lithuania to conduct OBUA training with the Lithuanian Army. Throughout the week the Lithuanian Army provided the Coy with Airsoft G36 rifles which offered a fantastic addition to our training, even though it resulted in being bruised all over! The week of training concluded with
a large force-on-force, British vs Lithuanian, thankfully with B Coy finishing the victor. The Baltic region is rich with culture, much of which we were able to experience during the colder months of the tour. Throughout January, members of B Coy visited The Wolf’s Lair in Poland (Hitler’s Eastern HQ throughout the War), the battlefields of Bzura (the ground over which the USSR and Germany’s invasion was felt most significantly), and Auschwitz. This was a good chance to escape uniform for a few days, whilst broadening our professional
understanding of Poland’s involvement in World War II. Those who attended benefited greatly from the experience, and the trip proved an example of the types of opportunity Op CABRIT can offer.
Once the winter snow had all but thawed, B Company refreshed their marksmanship with a Warrior live fire package based in Adazi ranges, Latvia. This range offered both the dismounts and crew plenty of time on the live ranges to sharpen their drills with grenades and claymores. B Company then came together at the end of the week to combine live fire at all levels and coordinate with our intimate support tanks. A lucky few had the opportunity to integrate the firing of NLAW missiles, but for all this was a great chance to reconfirm all the skills developed in BATUS.
Op CABRIT has a host of opportunities not usually available in the UK. Visits to the neigh- bouring Baltic States, the time and space for PT and adventurous training, the opportunity to exercise in an environment which is at times completely different to the UK and excellent live fire ranges make CABRIT a challenging and enjoyable tour for any Battlegroup.
Lt O Warren, OC 5 Pl
The Baltic region is rich with culture, much of which
we were able to experience during
the colder months of the tour
LFTT within woods and forests
adds a whole new layer of complexity
MILITARY
ASSISTANCE IN
RESPONSE TO
STORM DENNIS
One of the areas worst affected
by Storm Dennis in Feb 2020 was Hereford and in particular, a small village called Hampton Bishop which lies on the banks of the Rivers Frome and Lugg. The flooding there had blocked access routes by road to the Hampton House Residential home which cared for 32 elderly residents.
This meant the home could not
be accessed by care workers or emergency services. A combination of the magnitude of the flooding, and the stretched emergency service resources in the area meant that the next reasonable step was Military Assistance. As lead Company on UKSB at the time, FSp Coy answered the call and a 10-man team from Mortar Platoon were crashed out to support. Daily tasks included taking care staff and emergency services to a local care home, and occasionally evacuating elderly casualties that required immediate medical attention at a hospital. The task lasted for four days and the riflemen within the team conducted themselves with empathy and exemplary professionalism throughout.
Capt R Smart
Operations Officer
RIFLES The Bugle 33