9th-12th-Lancers - Year 2001 - Page 0057
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| Regiment | 9th/12th Lancers |
|---|---|
| Year | 2001 |
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REGIMENTAL JOURNAL OF THE 9TH/12TH ROYAL LANCERS (PRINCE OF WALES’S) 57 All over Germany, trains and convoys converged on Emden in July and August to load the fleet of ships which would move the vehicles to the Middle East. Thoroughly jabbed and suitably pale the Regiment arrived at Hannover airport over a week in early September. The pre advance party arrived in theatre at the reception centre, married up with their few vehicles, and were promptly evicted 24 hours later with instructions to move to Concentration Area RAT. A detailed search of six square kilo- metres of barren featureless sand and rock eventually yielded a three foot metal picket with 9/12L written on it in crayon. This was clearly home for the next three weeks! None of the prom- ised infrastructure was apparent so, like characters from The Lost World of the Kalahari, they lived off and out of the desert. Some excellent bushmen foraging into a Logistic Unit’s Comfort Zone produced tents, rations, water and other luxuries. Whether the logisticians gave up these luxuries willingly or knowingly is beyond the scope of this article. The advance party were very grateful for the hard work of the pre advance. The Main Body and vehicles arrived. Personnel were in a bet- ter state than the vehicles, which looked as if those “specialists” loading and unloading at the ports had used them for speed tri- als or stock car racing. The vehicles had been damaged and opened with crowbars. Our own training began in earnest and although resources and track mileage were limiting factors, all crews proved adept at adapting to unfamiliar terrain and circumstances. 9/12L, QRL, Gurkha and Highlander learned very quickly how to live in the desert and make the very best ofa poor lot. The training was not without hiccups, motion sickness, heat casualties and a diet of sand for both man and vehicle. We became adept at casualty evacuation by helicopter and were praised by the RAF for the skills shown by all ranks. To say that the OPFOR were finally let loose against 4 Armoured Brigade would be nothing less than a lie. OPFOR was firmly tethered with blunt claws, few teeth, clipped wings AH a/one aga/n Sgt Hannabuss and LCp/ Meehan and directed for Tier 1 training to produce no surprises for the exercising troops. Despite this, the OPFOR achieved a signifi- cant effect on the Brigade and Exercises DESERT RHINO and WARRIOR provided an unrivalled opportunity to hone key low level skills for all those involved. There were inevitably frustra- tions and challenges which required resolution: the logistic chain required constant attention and great credit should go Headquarters Squadron, the LADs and the medics for ensuring that broken soldiers and vehicles were repaired as quickly as possible. The foraging skills and patience of all were severely tested. Outside the OPFOR and B Squadron, stores were clear- ly for storing, losing and being generally unavailable for issue because someone else might want them. The lack of logistic push combined with gallant attempts at user pull created a mighty vacuum out ofwhich nothing emerged. Obtaining any- thing from outside was like getting blood from a stone. We lost the QRL Squadron early due to the availability of resources. It was a great shame to lose Major Nixon-Eckersall and SSM O’Kane who had worked extremely hard along with all other members of D Squadron to keep their vehicles available and had achieved excellent results due to a robust equipment care policy and diligent forward planning. OPFOR also lost their composite platoon from The Highlanders who will be remem- bered for their utterlypositive and helpful attitude in the face of adversity. No task was too much for them and they gave the lst Battalion The Irish Guards an excellent run around.. After Tier 2 training, the exercise moved from the area north east of Thumrait and Salalah to the north of the country, inland from Masirah Island. A huge redeployment of men and machines ensued. B Squadron took their Operational Standown at this point and enjoyed the best that the local facilities could offer. This included the first of the CSE Shows at Camp South where STEPS and Geri Halliwell performed to an enormous crowd of delighted soldiery. The now much depleted OPFOR moved to join 3 Commando Brigade in the north for the next and final phases of the exercise. There was a refreshing atti- The officers on EX SA/F SAREEA 2 ' |
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