Page 55 - The Bugle 2018

Exercise LIGHTNING ACE
In November 2017, Salisbury Plain was taken over by Scots Guardsmen. They were there to test new Bowman radio systems on Ex LIGHTNING ACE 2 with a company of the German Army mounted in Boxer vehicles to assist them. However, a small team from 3 RIFLES, outnumbered and outgunned, were sent from Scotland to act as OPFOR to show 1 SCOTS GUARDS (1SG) that the exercise was not going to be just sending some messages and data over Bowman!
C Company formed the bulk of the 3 RIFLES element but was supported by a small HQ element, various Fire Support assets and a Company(-) from A Company 1 MERCIAN mounted in Warrior Armoured Vehicles which would magically become T80 tanks for the duration of the exercise. In total, 3 RIFLES sent 180 personnel, numerous Land Rovers and a full Company’s fleet of Mastiff vehicles.
The Exercise began with company level Battle Exercises each with a platoon of 3 RIFLES enemy. Each platoon was to assist in a 48 hour ‘stand’ to give the 1SG companies time to tune their skills, this was focused on FIWAF (7 Pl), deliberate operations (8Pl) and OBUA (9Pl). From the off the platoons caused difficulties for the Scots Guardsmen and tested them almost to breaking point. These first few days set down the way forward, 3 RIFLES were not going to be an OPFOR that would sit still and simply be attacked.
Mission Zero for 1SG was to be an assault onto Imber Village. C Company had 24 hours to set up defences and put together a defence plan. Things went well early on with our patrols capturing two snipers and the sniper platoon Sjt with Coyote vehicle and quad bikes. This proved extremely useful when we gained access to their radio nets as well. The plan was set to funnel 1SG straight into our killing areas which were covered by our heavier weapons. Taking risk at our rear the plan worked and 1SG took the bait; they were trapped. TES showed that 29 Scots Guards personnel were ‘killed’ in under a minute during the initial break-in. Further flanking counter attacks into their FUP also caused mayhem for the blue force. CO and RSM
FTU both commended the Company for what they believed to be the best defence of Imber Village they had ever seen.
Further missions followed in a similar way with C Company defending the whole of Copehill Down village which delayed the Scots Guards so much that we were eventually told to withdraw. It was just in time as the German Boxer Company were starting to come into their own and with their very capable Boxer vehicles they were having a real effect on our flanks.
Finally, C Company were tasked to assault Imber Village where 1SG had been dug in for 48 hours and had time to prepare a suitable plan. The only way C Company could overcome this advantage was to think outside of the box. 1 SG having been armoured and now mechanised infantry had been relying on their vehicles throughout the exercise, this was noted and a plan to take advantage of this was put in place. C Company decided to Zulu Muster the vehicles early and tab in on foot undetected to get around their main defensive position. Sadly the German Company had other ideas and their speed and agility cross country wiped out a whole platoon on the insertion. However, a platoon did finally make it into the village and caused issues for the Scots Guards. Soon enough ENDEX was called and it was time to head back to Rollestone Camp and re-join the British Army.
Overall, an excellent exercise where 3 RIFLES managed a run out as a mechanised unit and were able to show their grit and determination against a larger force. It has set the benchmark for future exercises and has left 3 RIFLES with a strong reputation on the plain where we will return in Aug 18 for our own Ex BOLD ENDEAVOUR / WESSEX STORM.
Maj Si Greenman OC C Coy
3 RIFLES
THEY WERE TRAPPED. TES SHOWED THAT 29 SCOTS GUARDS PERSONNEL WERE ‘KILLED’
IN UNDER A MINUTE DURING THE INITIAL BREAK-IN
To the victors the spoils... Riflemen celebrate with a captured 1 Scots Guards’ Coyote vehicle on Ex LIGHTNING ACE