Page 31 - Bugle Autumn 2024

5 RIFLES
Forward Land Forces Estonia Battlegroup Buglers and QRH Pipers, representing UK for the King’s Birthday Party Celebrations
OP CABRIT14
Integration & Community Engagement
During Op CABRIT14 we have been privileged to work with the highly motivated and professional French 1st Coy of the Mountain Infantry Regiment. We have conducted Integration events across Estonia and the wider Baltic on outreach and community engagement activities.
For the 75th anniversary celebrations of NATO, the battlegroup deployed around the country with chefs cooking up a storm; Buglers and QRH pipers injecting additional style at the Ambassador of Helsinki’s residence; and stands showcasing our weapons and vehicles alongside our French and Estonian partners. We supported our Embassies in Tallinn and Helsinki for their King’s Birthday Parties, where our Buglers and Pipers again performed with aplomb, and were on parade in Narva for Estonian Victory Day, interacting with locals and showing-off NATO capabilities on the very border with Russia. Equally, the Battlegroup has competed in several sporting challenges ranging from running up the Tallinn
TV Tower to charity football games. A dozen members of the battlegroup will compete in the Tallinn full or half Iron Man.
The Estonian military is a key pillar in their society. The Battlegroup has been fortunate to represent the British Army as well as NATO, teaching in schools and camps throughout the
tour. Instruction to schools has ranged from lessons on medical, engineering, cooking, and administration skills, to the more unique; with the Training Officer judging an English Poetry competition! We look forward to continuing to support the Estonian community for the remainder of the tour.
Running a 3km Race in Tallinn in support of the Estonian Veteran’s Day
RIFLES The Bugle 31
Following a rapid redeployment from Germany and some precious family time, the Battlegroup HQ, B Company, Fire Support Company, and elements
of HQ Company deployed on Op CABRIT 14 in March. Joined by A Squadron
QRH, Chestnut Troop 1RHA, 4Fd Sqn 21 Engineer Regt and the 1st Company of the French Chasseurs Alpins Regiment, 5 RIFLES formed the Forward Land Forces (Estonia).
Tapa is familiar territory for many in the Battlegroup, with some on their third and fourth iterations. Expecting a balmy summer tour, many Riflemen were jolted by the initial sub-zero temperatures
and snowy conditions. However, there was no time for contemplation as we rapidly needed to take over the vehicle fleet, prepare for upcoming training and create strong bonds with our French and Estonian allies. On the 21 Mar, 5 RIFLES officially took over responsibility for the mission and raised the RIFLES flag over the Headquarters in Tapa Camp. Efforts were immediately focussed on testing the readiness states and recall procedures
as well as reviewing our part in Estonia’s national defence plan.
Just two and a half weeks later, the Battlegroup deployed to the Central Training Area for five days on Ex BOLD BUGLE. The ground was characteristically different from Sennelager, offering
an alternative challenge with heavily constrained ground, mostly winding roads flanked by thick forest and plenty of bogs. After familiarising themselves with the ground and having a day of Company training, large Combat Teams were formed grouping battlegroup assets together. Following an extensive Mission Readiness Training package, this was now second nature and well drilled. Fighting through dense woods, swamps, and trenches, they came up against stiff resistance from an OPFOR provided by dismounted Estonian conscripts and American Airborne platoons. The culmination of the exercise saw the entire battlegroup come together under the 1st Estonian Brigade, totalling over 2,500 soldiers deployed in the field, for a successful clearance of routes and a hard-fought battle over a sprawling trench system. A three-week recovery period followed to prepare for the next two major exercises – BOLD MONSOON and SPRING STORM.
Ex BOLD MONSOON was a 1st Estonian Brigade planning exercise conducted
in the border city of Narva. This was a unique opportunity for the battlegroup to enhance its liaison and interoperability with the Estonian units. With the subunits working as LOCONs and the
over 2,500 soldiers deployed in the field, for a successful clearance of routes and a hard-fought battle over a sprawling trench system
BGHQ as the primary training audience, plans were drawn up to conceptually exercise the national defence plan with flanking formations. Ex BOLD MONSOON was a great opportunity to walk terrain that might again one day be the key battleground in the defence of Estonia and bring together planning teams under the 1st Estonian Brigade.
In rapid succession to Ex BOLD MONSOON came 5 RIFLES biggest test to date and perhaps the culmination of our training journey, Ex SPRING STORM. Taking place on public land in Southern Estonia, the exercise consisted of over 15,000 troops from 15 different NATO nations. It formed part of Ex STEADFAST DEFENDER, the largest NATO deployment since the Cold War. The exercise pitted the Estonian 1st and 2nd Brigades force-on-force, providing both units with a free-
thinking and unconstrained opposing force. Deploying from Tapa Camp, the Battlegroup moved over 250 vehicles approximately 150km south to Viljandi County to join our Estonian partners.
Our enemy consisted of a combined force of Estonian, American, Canadian, Danish, Italian, Polish, and Spanish troops. This force included the FLF (Latvia) Battlegroup, putting us up against tanks ranging from T-72s to modern Leopard 2s, numerous Apache Gunships and Canadian LAVs. With the summer weather now set in, we battled dust and heat instead of snow and cold. The Battlegroup pushed northwards through Estonia, rolling through normally quiet farms and villages in five days of offensive and defensive missions. The locals, although undoubtedly surprised by the unusual sight of armour in the front garden, expressed their gratitude for our deployment in the form of warm smiles and the occasional gift of food and drinks for those lucky enough to receive them. This was a great test, very novel and expeditionary in nature, and thoroughly enjoyed by all Riflemen.
Following the conclusion of both exercises, the FLF(E) Battlegroup focussed on further honing its battlefield skills and remains ready to face any challenge as the British Army’s frontline Battlegroup.