9th-12th-Lancers - Year 2002 - Page 0046
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| Regiment | 9th/12th Lancers |
|---|---|
| Year | 2002 |
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44 REGIMENTAL JOURNAL OF THE 9TH/12TH ROYAL LANCERS (PRINCE OF WALES’S) BATUS OPFOR March - September 2002 he British Army Training Unit Suffield or BATUS, located in Alberta Canada, is the British Army’s principle training area for armoured, armoured infantry and mechanised battle groups in a combined arms environment. It boasts an area of 2500 square kilometres of short grass prairie enabling live firing and dry training exercises up to BG level andbeyond. These are referred to as EX Medicine Man, named after the Blackfoot Indians who used to populate the region. The ground is princi- pally open plain but is broken up by sizeable coulee systems and random dominating peaks. BATUS has a small permanent team of staff officers and enablers, supported during the training sea- son by temporary range safety staff and observer/ controllers. The prize jewel in the BATUS crown however is the opposing force or OPFOR. The BATUS OPFOR is based on an armoured or formation reconnaissance regiment who are tasked as part of the LAND operational tour plot to provide a credible force for the duration of the training season. For 2002 the task fell to 9/12L. Viewed by sceptics as an extended training sup- port task, the Regiment fell upon the assignment with positive vigour, determined to draw every ounce of training opportunity out of the task. This article seeks to set the scene of the deploy- ment in broad terms and allow the reader to the enjoy the blow by blow details of individual battles in the Squadron notes. For 2002, BATUS was under remit to deliver training to the two High Readiness Brigades, in order that they might meet their required collective performance levels. 7 Armoured Brigade conducted their training as individual battle groups, whilst 19 Mechanised Brigade deployed to Canada as a complete forma- tion in September and October. At BATUS, each battle group conducts two weeks live firing before taking on the OPFOR in a Tactical Engagement Simulation, or TES, environment for a further two weeks. As the Regiment currently resides in the bosom of 7 Armoured Brigade in Hohne, the friendly rivalry between the Regt and the Scots Dragoon Guards, The Black Watch and lst Bn Royal Regiment of Fusilliers was intense as the Battle Groups came through BATUS in sequence. Following on, the sheer collective size of2 RTR, the Kings Own Scottish Borderers and the Kings Regiment as 19 Mechanised Brigade inspired the OPFOR to rise to the challenge and renew it’s hunger for victory. . v _ - The CO and EME share a /0Ke The 00/0 The BATUS OPFOR fleet is based on petrol CVR(T)s, visually modified to represent generic enemy vehicles. OPFOR and BLUEFORCE battle groups are fitted with direct fire simula- tion equipment so as to engage each other in realistic battle where fighting vehicles and infantrymen can ‘kill’ or be ‘killed’ using laser technology. The OPFOR Battalion is organised into |
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