The following article is taken from the latest issue of the Globe & Laurel magazine.
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by LCpl Morton-Morgan, X Coy
On 19 April, X Coy embarked HMS Albion to begin Operation Rondache as part of the Littoral Response Group (North) (LRG(N)). The deployment consisted of a series of multinational exercises across the Baltic region. Exercises took place in Sweden, Estonia, Latvia, Poland and Germany. The deployment lasted three months and marked the Coy’s major activity of the year so far.
The first part of the deployment was Ex Aurora, which was split into three phases. The first phase consisted of a Direct Action, to seize an airfield from defending enemy forces who were played by the Swedish Army.
X Coy employed five specialist teams for this task. Team 2 (Recce specialists) deployed ahead of the main body. Disguised in a civilian profile, they discreetly gathered intelligence for Coy Main to start building a target picture. Next, Team 5 (Fire Support specialists) inserted to begin establishing Fire Support Group (FSG) positions that would enable the main assault. Shortly after, the main body arrived. Following a beach landing from small raiding craft, the Coy inserted through a wood-line to the objective, swiftly attacking and successfully seizing the airfield.
The second phase consisted of a Military Assistance serial. Here the Coy trained and advised Swedish partners before they conducted their own attack. The third phase consisted of an Island Chain Defence in the Stockholm archipelago. X Coy employed a layered, mobile defence for this task that saw the Coy disrupt, delay and eventually defeat the Swedish attackers. This phase consisted of some of the highest intensity training for the Coy. The exercise culminated with the Coy defending an island designated as vital ground, against a battalion of Swedish Marines.
Following five days of down time in Stockholm, the Coy moved to Estonia for a LFTT package. This consisted of CQM, Heavy Weapons shoots, and Team and Coy trench clearances. During the Coy trench clearance, we had the opportunity to fire three Javelin missiles. It was exciting to see in person the effect Javelin has, and a special moment for the three FSG ranks that fired the rockets. The range package culminated with a Heavy Weapons stance. Here, the Coy and a group of RN sailors who had supported our exercise, engaged multiple targets using a Jackal mounted HMG, GMG, two GPMGs, and then three SF mounted HMGs as well as a further two GMGs.
The Coy then moved to Latvia, where it conducted beach break contact drills over several days. Finally, X Coy began Ex Baltops in Poland, alongside Golf Coy 2/6 USMC. The exercise consisted of a familiar scenario for the Coy – the seizure of an airfield. The deployment culminated with a little bit of R&R in Kiel, Germany, during the Kiel Week annual sailing regatta.
Overall, the deployment was a success and the Coy developed significantly as a result. As a look forward to the autumn term, X Coy has the luxury of six weeks on mountain training in Inverness consisting of mountain movement, team tactics, static ranges and finishing with a two-week Mountain TACEX.
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