Page 22 - The Royal Lancers Chapka 2017
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 20 REGIMENTAL JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL LANCERS (QUEEN ELIZABETHS’ OWN) Anti-tank Troop Training in the Regiment
  After a year of shoulder-wrenching investment in Javelin, the capability is competing again, though dropping some-way short of Olympian.
Following a decade of campaigning against a non-existent ar- mour threat, guided weapons’ experts have been the sump of under-manning and the Regiment has hemorrhaged compe- tence and currency; a handful of trained instructors remained in the three sabre squadrons at the beginning of 2017. With anti- tank teaching owned by the Infantry Specialist Weapons School (SWS), compounded by RAC special to arms doctrine for the use of Javelin that hadn’t been updated since CVR(T) Striker and Swingfire guided weapons (despite the capability difference) retired, there was some work to do as we continue to re-orientate to training for War (with a capital W).
A Squadron seized the initiative for re-developing the Regi- ment’s anti-armour capability. From tactical first-principles, through conceptual development and experimentation we began the journey of refining our operating procedures. A Regimental Javelin concentration in February 2017 delivered the SWS-man- dated distributed training. Importantly, it also provided a field training exercise which nested the capability within the recon- naissance and security activities of an ‘Armoured Cavalry’ regi- ment. Gone were the infantry-centric deliberate (and defensive) anti-tank matrices designed to defeat massed armour. Instead, focus switched to enabling manoevure by prosecuting high-val- ue or high-pay-off targets: enemy tactical air defence systems; a main battle tank on key terrain, or a chance encounter with a significant enemy communications node.
An opportunity to test our offensive anti-tank tactics, tech- niques and procedures (albeit within a significantly different tactical context) came from an unexpected direction; Exercise PRAIRIE STORM 2/17 with the 1 YORKS Battlegroup. With three weeks-notice, A Squadron’s CVR(T)- based Anti-Tank Troop deployed to reinforce 1YORKS’ Warrior-based Anti-Tank
Corporal McKenzie imparts some wisdom
‘Tank-action’
Platoon. It was from this equipment miss-match that emerged the practice of grouping our anti-tank troop with 1 YORKS’ Recce Platoon. This platoon was – through the use of aggres- sive anti-armour ambushes – able to both ‘blind’ enemy recce and enable reconnaissance (in force) and manoeuvre. Vigilantly guarding against hubris from training, born out of the close bat- tle in the ‘simple’ training of the Prairie, the Troop soaked up the opportunity to refine their basic and anti-tank focused field-craft as avariciously as the Canadian summer sun.
Sharing good practice around the Regiment, in the relentless pursuit of anti-tank excellence was in our sights with the Regi- mental Javelin Concentration in December 2017. The week culminated in an anti-tank ambush demonstration attended by staff and commanders from across the squadrons and RHQ. Much remains to be done: operating instructions need updat- ing; continuation training during the turbulence of 2018 must happen; 2019’s training year needs designing; an anti-tank troop for D Squadron needs growing; and, how N-LAW might be in- tegrated needs more work. Looking still further, the anti-tank capability for AJAX-equipped Armoured Cavalry regiments is of keen interest as the chance to operate under armour (re)enters our tactics, techniques and procedures. Lastly, the big question remains how might we close the gap with our ubiquitous com- petitors, who currently ‘punch’ out to 5km with the 9M119 Re- fleks (AT-11), if we are to be in with a sporting chance? There remains, as ever, much to do.
HSDM
 
























































































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