Page 65 - Mercian Eagle 2017

Mortar Platoon
For most of 2017, the 2 MERCIAN Mortar Platoon has been separated by various trawls and tasks that have seen individuals deployed all over the world. Including Kenya, Uganda, Cyprus and best of all Brecon. The deployment to the Falkland Islands gave the platoon a much needed opportunity to train and more importantly ammunition. The platoon under Sgt
Hirst undertook a preparation cadre in Swynnerton prior to deployment and hit the ground running when they landed in the Falklands. Almost immediately they were called upon for the Mercian 10 celebrations as Dragon Coy hosted a capabilities day, offering the RAF and Navy personnel in
the Falklands to get up close to a working mortar line and see the impact the mortars have on the ground.
The next big milestone for the mortarmen was the live firing exercise, Cape Bayonet. During the day attacks, Dragon Coy
was launched under the cover of a huge weight of mortar fire and at night under the illumination of the white illum rounds. It was a great opportunity for the newly qualified MFCs who with the lead section of the attacks, called in fire from the Mortar line and destroyed positions before riflemen stepped near them.
Cpl Price and Cpl Stafford also got the opportunity to take command of section patrols to the most remote areas of the island. They deployed to isolated
settlements, some of which hadn’t seen visitors in some time. They conducted reconnaissance patrols as well as helping with various tasks on the settlements varying from cleaning sheep sheds to fixing barns. On the return
WO2 Leach who successfully completed the Mortar Platoon Commander/2IC’s Course in the summer. The platoon has also seen a large number of additions from across the battalion and some from ITC
from the Falklands,
the platoon has once
again deployed to
Swynnerton in order to
qualify the new recruits
to the platoon. They
are looking forward to
the upcoming exercise
Dynamic Front, which
takes place in Germany alongside the American Artillery.
2017 has also seen a big change of personnel with the return of Sgt Hirst and Sgt Hornsby and a new 2IC in the form of
Catterick. Congratulations
this year go out to Cpl Silvers and Stafford, who both completed the Mortar Standards course and Cpl Dunne who passed the Mortar Advanced course.
Also an excellent year for Sgt Pendlebury who earned a well-
deserved promotion and Pte Bingham who was awarded Best Novice Skier at the Infantry championships in Val-d’isere over Christmas.
‘The platoon has also seen a large number of additions from across the battalion’
THE MERCIAN EAGLE
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