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3 COMPANY OFF TO DIZZY HEIGHTS!
Number Three Company recently deployed on
Exercise to Spain and even managed a 'quick' trip up Mont Blanc. Below
is an article written exclusively for ShinyCapstar.
Article Written By
Lt RF Sugden - 11 Platoon - 3 Company
The latter half of 2006 turned out to be rather
eventful, which was contrary to initial estimates of the Battalion schedule.
Having got over the initial disappointment of not deploying on the over seas
training exercise, our intrepid Company Commander, Major James Thurston,
organised a smaller but what turned out to be no less challenging exercise
hosted by the Spanish Mountain Brigade in the Pyrenees, at the end of
November.
The Spanish troops that we were going to be working with spend four years in
training to become mountain leaders, the best of which then form their Recce
platoon. Their final exercise is to scale Mont Blanc, alpine and Nordic ski
to a pre-designated location and then conduct some sort of military assault
having carried all of the required kit to achieve this the whole way. In
preparation for this (in between the Queens Guards) the company started
building up its proficiency in weapon handling, marksmanship, field skills,
and physical endurance. This training culminated in a week on the ranges at
Lydd and Hythe Ranges where every man was brought up to the required
standard on all of the section weapons as well as the GPMG.
'They had to casevac 2 men off of the
mountain, carrying them approximately 12 km on improvised stretchers'
With all of the ticks in the right boxes we began one of the most arduous
tasks the British Forces could throw at us…the MCCP at RAF Lyneham. For
those readers who have never heard of this phenomenon it is where the RAF
attempt to melt your brain with boredom before jetting you off to your
destination of choice in a 30-40 year old aircraft from Brize Norton! Unlike
many other units, the company survived this ordeal with no major casualties,
only Sgt Hangar showed visible signs of wear displaying a facial twitch
which denoted his barely contained rage at being in close proximity to
personnel of another service. In their defence, the RAF did leave on time
and delivered us safely to Bilbao Airport in the North of Spain without
making us put on body armour and helmet which was a pleasant treat.
Once in Spain the level of excitement went up a notch, and with good reason.
The forecast of events for our 13 day exercise was both varied and
interesting. It began with a 5 day acclimatisation package which included in
depth familiarisation with basic knots, rope skills and climbing safety as
well as familiarisation on the Spanish weapon systems and demonstrations of
Spanish tactics and doctrine in the urban environment which we reciprocated.
These initial five days built confidence in the new skills as well as
allowing the men to venture into the town of Pamplona (of Bull Running
fame).
Mont Blanc - In all it’s splendour!
After kit issue and administration the company deployed on its major
exercise which was going to test each man to the limit of endurance. The
company had attached one of the Spanish platoons and one of our own was
attached to a Spanish company. We were to be dropped off at separate remote
villages in the foothills of the Pyrenees and had to navigate up to 50 km to
a pre-designated rendezvous in order to launch an attack. Not a difficult
brief, but the terrain that the company covered was probably the most
arduous it has ever attempted. This combined with the weather we experienced
made for what Sgt Wilson termed “interesting times”. Along this tactical
forced march there were five separate ascents, all off the beaten track, of
over 650 metres carrying webbing, Bergen, weapon and radios.
The mixture of terrain and weather caused the company (including our Spanish
attachments) to take 14 casualties. The casualties ranged from cold injuries
to exhaustion, but the most severe came from walking in the dark along very
severe terrain.
Someone at the top of Mont Blanc, not a Coldstreamer, just a geezer
taken from the internet,
added to the article for effect!
Lance Sergeant Gurdham lost his footing and damaged the ligaments in his
ankle. Furthermore, the call came over the net that he had lost his two
front teeth which made those of who didn’t know that he has two false teeth
wince until we were told otherwise. Luckily, he just looked silly for a few
days. After consolidating and whisking away the first casualties we
continued at good speed until we reached the ridgeline the wind picked up.
It was blowing steadily at about 80-100 km/hr and was gusting up to 130
km/hr. With full kit and horizontal rain coming in it was only a matter of
time before the more diminutive men in the company started to involuntarily
take flight. The call was made by the Company Commander to find shelter from
the storm after the term ‘men down’ was used to describe the entire company
on the ground sliding toward what was a fairly severe drop off of the side
of the ridge. A cold and wet few hours were spent in some bracken before
moving off at first light. The rest period in hindsight, although we didn’t
have any choice, was the first nail in the coffin for the men. The first
cases of cold injury surfaced soon after and with no dry warm kit to change
into more people were casevact.
After another full days walking the enemy location was reconnoitred and
orders given. The attack went very well and was enjoyable despite lacking
realism due to the Spanish not allowing any sort of ammunition in the
Pyrenees, and therefore having to shout ‘Fuego’ (fire) when in a contact.
Suffice to say, the enemy took a pasting. Number 9 Platoon under Mr Wells
and Sgt Hangar also had an ‘interesting time’. They had to casevac 2 men off
of the mountain, carrying them approximately 12 km on improvised stretchers.
However, they also completed their assault on the enemy and by all accounts
won a spectacular victory.
The men were then moved to what was known as the ‘Eagles Nest’ which is the
base of operations where the Mountain Brigade learn and practice their rope
and climbing skills. This final part of the exercise was non-tactical and
took some serious nerve as well as a sense of humour to get through as the
gorges that were being crossed on the improvised rope bridges were
exceedingly high.
Overall, this was a phenomenal exercise incorporating all of the facets that
an army advert would show: military skills and drills, endurance, adventure
training, travel, and nights out with close friends.
Since Christmas leave the company has been busy with more ceremonial duties,
but with only three weeks of forecourt duty left the men are being prepared
for the coming months in which they will be getting battle ready for the
Battalions imminent operational tour to Afghanistan. Hopefully it will be in
that environment that the lessons learnt and the experience gained from
exercises like in Spain will pay dividends.
Lt RF Sugden
11 Platoon
3 Company
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