9th-12th-Lancers - Year 2002 - Page 0006
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| Regiment | 9th/12th Lancers |
|---|---|
| Year | 2002 |
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REGIMENTAL JOURNAL OF THE 9TH/12TH ROYAL LANCERS (PRINCE OF WALES’S) Foreword by the Commanding Officer 2002 has been a very varied, challenging and enjoyable year for the Regiment. The focus for much of the year has been the BATUS OPFOR deployment, a task that has more than its fair share of demands and frustrations but which is also extremely satisfying from a professional point of view. We started 2002 with a demanding training programme in preparation for our deployment to Canada in April. We carried out concurrent firing periods for our 30mm, Guided Weapons and Support Troops for the first time, I believe, since 1985. The standard of 30mm gunnery that we achieved was particularly notable. Indeed, the Armoured Training and Advisory Team observing the firing period reported it as “the highest consistent level of 30mm gunnery that the team has recorded in 4 years and it represents a significant achievement”. Unfortunately, our GW results were somewhat less satisfactory and we need to focus hard on how we improve the effectiveness of this ageing system. In BATUS the challenges and excitements of the TES battlefield are very real and provided us with an exceptional training opportunity. Although much of what the OPFOR does is not in our primary role as a reconnaissance regiment, it is nevertheless excellent training. The OPFOR role provided the Regiment with realistic and demanding tactical, operational, administrative and leadership training at every level within a Combined Arms environment. Much of the ‘friction’ of war is present, pressure is applied at all levels of command, a live enemy concentrates minds wonderfully, and tactical mistakes are punished by losses but no-one gets killed. I have no doubt at all that each and every one of us has returned from BATUS better soldiers than we were when we started. Away from the Prairie, there were excellent opportunities for adventure training in the Rockies and on the Canadian Pacific coast. Individuals also took advantage of the chance to travel around North America. Overall, it was a very successful deployment, with the Regiment providing an effective OPFOR and maintaining our reputation as a very professional, co-operative and unfussy Regiment. At any one time, about one third of the Regiment remained in Hohne and life continued as best it could. Although very little team sports were played, many people were able to go adventure training in and around Germany and Captain Clifford organised a very successfiJl polo weekend in the summer. On our return from Canada in November, the pace of life increased significantly as did the impending threat of war against Iraq. A very great deal of work was done to prepare the Regiment for a potential deployment, with the plan changing at frequent intervals. Concurrently, B Squadron carried out their own training and preparations for their operational deployment to Bosnia in April 2003. At the time of writing, the remainder of the Regiment has suffered the severe disappointment of being taken off the ORBAT at a time when they were more than ready to go. The situation remains extremely uncertain, however, and at this stage anything seems possible.I am now within days of my final departure from Regimental Duty and I am delighted to be handing command over to Lieutenant Colonel Richard Charrington. My time in command has been exceptionally busy, extremely challenging and hugely enjoyable. It has been an enormous privilege to command the Regiment and I am immensely grateful to everyone for their support throughout the last two years. The Regiment has a very fine reputation within British Forces Germany and the Royal Armoured Corps, a reputation that is thoroughly well deserved and of which we should all be very proud, for it is achieved through hard work and great dedication at every level. 1 have no doubt that the Regiment will rise magnificently to whatever challenges 2003 brings, just as our predecessors have done throughout the years. |
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