9th-12th-Lancers - Year 1986 - Page 0067
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| Regiment | 9th/12th Lancers |
|---|---|
| Year | 1986 |
| Transcription |
‘Ex Gaullah Hussar l The chance of a Mid Winter break in the South of France comes to Subalt- em and Sergeant Majors very rarely, seldom is the break paid for by the Army and considered duty. The reas- on for the “excursion” was Exercise “Gaulish Hussar", a visit to a French legiment's Gunnery Camp. W02 Haylet and Lt Charrington both set off to Saarburg just South of Trien to be met by the 3rd Squadron, 6th Regiment de Dragoons just before their departure to Canjuers one hour's drive North of Nice. Lt Bertrand Hardy took us under his wing and after our intro- duction to some fine French cooking courtesy of his wife, we boarded the train for the trip South. Up to this point similarity to a British Lulworth style camp was great. It was as soon as we actually arrived at Can- ljuers that the differences became ap- parent. Most strikingly the French do :not take their tanks, in this case AMX 30's, to the ranges, but use those perm- anently based at the French Gunnery THE9TH/lZTH ROYAL LANCERS REGIMENTAL JOURNAL School Also because their conscript only serve for 1 year their training is very strictly laid down to achieve a common standardr Each gunner goes through 5 stages, in reality 4 as one of the stages has been cut due to expense. The first couple of stages are completed within the first two months, and the third stage, which we were to observe, takes place after 6 months. Unlike a Regimental camp there is no leaping around, shouting or swearing, the whole thing is almost typically laid back in true Gallic manner. No pre camp train- ing is undertaken, and the 3 days at Canjuers consist of 2V: days on simu- larors, AFV recognition and threat Videos and 1 day firing. The simulators are perhaps the most expensive part of the operation. Three ‘turrets' have been set up, each with a choice of video land- scapes, on to which the instructor can project any type of tank, APC or air- craft. Windspeed, temperature, firing intervals are all taken into account by the computer, which is controlled by an instructor who can select the view of the commander or gunner. All this is done by permanent staff at Canjuers. The final day of firing is almost an anti- clirnax. The crews have only 6 rounds to fire, they are all at pre»planned tar- gets and to ‘pass’ the 3rd stage have to hit a certain percentage of targets pre- sented. The first is at 1100m, then 2 targets at under lOOOm in under 30 secs, 1 target in under 10 secs, and finally 2 at 1500m. This is stande throughout the Army. The shooting was accurate if slow, and the fifth stage, where Troop fire control is practised, looked impressive. However, for the commanders, who are regulars. the cycle must be repetitive. Given the conscript nature of the Army, it is doubtful if they could achieve a better system using the time available. The use of simulators is maximised and this has to he a reasonably cheap option for such a large Army. It would be interesting to find out what the team who visited our Gunnery Camp in March thought of our more explosive style! matron Lacesren . consv xsrreamc For a prospectus conlalnlng lull detalls please contact the School Secretary, Morcott Hall School, Morcott, Nr Oakham, Rutland, Lalcs LE15 QDN Telephone 057287/223 Moncorr HALL ® SCHOOL for GIRLS AN INDEPENDENT DAV AND BOARDING SCHOOL FOR GIRLS and s — 1 6+ situated at the village of Movcott. near Upplngham The school ls an approved centre tor GCE Assucralod Board '0‘ level examlnatlons, me CSE examlnatlon ol the East Midlands Regional Examlning Board and the newG c s E. Examlnallons. Escorted traln. coach and school mlnl-bus names to and lrom London, St Pancras. Lulon and East Midlands Arrpons. Weekly boarding easily arranged. stauroan wereaaoaoucw Mr 5 deman tF'n/mpallam Mlss a Fitzgerald INaedmlstvesa ovasp School! 65 |
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