- 1 RNZIR's Gunnery Camp
16 June 2009
By 1 RNZIR Commanding Officer, LTCOL Grant Motley
The US Army coined the phrase “Further, Faster, Harder” to encapsulate what 21st century light armoured vehicles (LAVs) allowed their Infantry Brigades to achieve.
The US Army now has more than 2200 LAV with possibly another 600 still to come. The Canadian Land Force has fielded over 600. Both fleets have and are deployed throughout the world including Eritrea, Iraq and more recently, Afghanistan.
The introduction into service of NZLAV in 2003 has challenged and changed how 1 RNZIR does business. Mirroring the phrase, “Further, Faster, Harder” 1 RNZIR (re-rolled in 2005 as a Cavalry battalion with integrated light armour and infantry) provides the NZDF with a land combat force with exceptional range, tactical responsiveness and the capability to deliver a precise, combined arms effect.
Perhaps the best illustration of our cavalry’s range, responsiveness and precision was the ability of NZLAV equipped troops (included our DS Engineer) to deploy from Waiouru to Napier in four hours – transitioning from live-field firing to a complex multi-agency task in close support of the NZ Police.
1 RNZIR’s new operational role is to locate, close with and defeat the enemy; secure and defend key terrain and vital assets; and develop and sustain stability and influence within an area of operations. This amended role stresses that contemporary operations require us to concurrently orientate ourselves upon the enemy, protecting our own vulnerabilities and the wider human environment in which we work, the proverbial “3-block war”.
1 RNZIR’s vision is to produce highly- trained, well-equipped and expertly-led soldiers and cavalry forces that are capable of distributed operations with enhanced responsiveness, range and precision across the full spectrum of operations, or, as the Americans say, “Further, Faster, Harder”. 1 RNZIR continues to develop the potential of NZ Cavalry and deliver 21st century, combined-arms capable forces.
A Deployable Task Group HQ
Command Post
As part of Battalion Gunnery Camp, 1RNZIR began re-building a command post (CP) capability option for a deployed New Zealand Task Group headquarters and/or National Command Element.
Personnel from Battalion Headquarters, Signals Platoon and from the Linton Administration Centre (LAC) deployed to Waiouru to conduct familiarisation training in CP procedures, CP routine and the latest NZDF information technology. The exercise involved the prototype inflatable CP tent and saw voice and data communications established with the Cavalry Platoon patrols. Battalion staff, with the assistance of the attached administrators from LAC employed in the ‘Operations Clerk’ role, planned and battle-tracked platoon battle handling exercises using a local area network provided by Signals Platoon. This included the distribution of images and written orders to the patrols.
During the exercise, CP staff also conducted All Arms Training; Annual Weapons Qualifications, shooting development on a number of weapons systems and a BET starting at Access Road 17, going up Feature Waitangi ‘the wrong way’ and finishing at Taylor Range with scored reaction and instinctive shooting.
1 RNZIR has now taken the first steps towards re-establishing a National Command Element / Battalion command post capability in support of a deployed land task group.
Alpha Company
Training in all Seasons, and all Terrains
Alpha Company 1 RNZIR was re-generated in late 2008 and is now well on the way to becoming a full strength cavalry company able to operate across the full spectrum of operations; our end state for 2009.
The key components to achieving this are enhancing command and control at sub-unit level and the development of six-vehicle cavalry platoons to provide for distributed operations; in particular the need for enhanced firepower, mobility and communications.
As modern conflict draws us to fight more and more in urban areas this must be reflected in our approach to training. In May we deployed to Waiouru for a two-week Battalion Gunnery Camp. After completing key enablers, such as Note 21 requirements and open country war fighting, our training subsequently switched focus to urban operations at section and platoon level. This culminated with a number of live field firing battle handling exercises.
To adapt field-craft skills to an urban environment required starting at the basics: adapting to new fire positions, three dimensional fire and movement and room assault drills were rehearsed and practised until they become second-nature. This saw initial training at the Linton urban training facility (UTF) and, subsequently, in Waiouru at the Simulation Centre and the UTF in order to hone these skills.
However, nothing can replicate live firing. With a lot of help from 2 Field Squadron, we were able to construct a series of multi-room buildings at Long Valley for sections to gain access to, assault and subsequently clear. Each section was presented a scenario which required the Section Commander to clear a small hamlet, concentrating on individual soldier skills, exercising command and quick decision making for assault teams as they entered and cleared each building or room.
With the section activity complete, each platoon then deployed out toward Westlawn Hut and successfully completed Battalion Gunnery Camp 2009 with the conduct of six-vehicle cavalry platoon level live field firing. This concept proved to be very successful and we’re looking forward to developing our cavalry capability as the year progresses.
Whiskey Company
Live Field Firing:
Whiskey Company deployed to Waiouru in May as part of 1 RNZIR’s Gunnery Camp. We went with the aim of confirming the basics and building up to combined Cavalry Platoon attacks.
We deployed on 9 May and moved into Jameson Shed – our forward operating base for the next two weeks. From there it was straight into the build up, which meant having to split the NZLAVs and dismounts into their respective elements to get the basics done: infantry qualifying on all to note 21 on C9s, M203s, M72A6 and 84mm before going on to dismounted live firing up to Pl level. At the same time the NZLAVs concentrated on their zeroing, STAB runs and FMXs. This training was essential to ensuring the building blocks of the Cavalry Platoons could operate safely and professionally when combined.
After both had completed their build up we married up. As we had 25 new soldiers we took it slowly, allowing the troops to get used to the mechanics of armour and infantry working together. Then it was straight into live firing on the tarn track which we used as a shake out to reacquaint ourselves with combined arms Cavalry Tactics Techniques and Procedures (TTPs). The final attack was conducted north of Westlawn to the three Kings – a live firing six vehicle Cavalry Pl attack onto two objectives, and the weather was not in support. It was impressive seeing the range responsiveness and precision that the two elements could achieve when working together.
The new establishment of six NZLAV per platoon also received a huge thumbs up from all involved. The ability for the platoon to provide its own fire support while concurrently closing with an objective with a full platoon of dismounts is a major enhancement and allows the Cavalry Platoon to conduct distributed operations.
Combat Support Platoon
Combat Support Platoon 1RNZIR deployed to Waiouru as part of the 1RNZIR Gunnery Camp. The training was conducted in three distinct phases building from Note 21 through dry and blank tactics, techniques and procedures (TTP) rehearsals, culminating in six days of live field firing activities.
After qualifying personnel on the full range of section and platoon weapons, section commanders were given the opportunity to ‘wheel and deal’ their respective sections in the conduct of TTP rehearsals. This was the first opportunity section commanders had to get out and control their sections in a field environment this year due to the extended period of band training 1RNZIR has undertaken. The final phase of the training involved a full wide range of Live field firing (LFF) small group TTPs by day and night. This included firing MAG 58s from the LOV and Recon, Anti Armour and Sniper break contact drills, both dismounted and on vehicles. One of the many highlights of the training was the live firing of 1RNZIR’s first Javelin missile which easily destroyed an old van or ‘BTR 60’ at a range of 1800m. Overall the LFF was an overwhelming success and the soldiers thoroughly enjoyed both the opportunity to live fire the skills they develop and practise continuously in camp.
Combat Support Platoon currently comprises two anti armour (Javelin) sections, two reconnaissance patrols and two sniper teams. This will grow to three of each element over the next year. The platoon provides an intimate anti armour, reconnaissance and sniping capability to the Battalion’s cavalry companies.
The Technical Support Sub Unit
May was a busy month for the small number of workshop tradesmen posted to the TSSU (Technical Support sub unit) of Combat Support Services Company 1RNZIR, deployed on 1 RNZIR’s Battalion Gunnery Camp. Given the shortage of tradesmen in the unit, all personnel were required to put in some long hours for several weeks leading up to the exercise in order to ready the 21 LAVs and numerous B vehicles for 1 RNZIR’s first major training activity of the year.
D-Day for the majority was 4 May; this involved half a dozen or so groups of vehicles moving north to Helwan Camp, Waiouru, with the TSSU bringing up the rear. The move saw TSSU staff afforded an early opportunity to exercise the repair and recovery plan, coping with a Unimog breakdown en route.
After arriving in the Waiouru area the TSSU was split up, with three tradesmen, led by Cpl Trent Vartha, moving to Russell MTR Range. The LAV-R and crew, commanded by Sgt Heath Palatchie, moved to Westlawn Hut to provide range support to the LAVs conducting live firing activities in these areas. The third group from the TSSU - TSSU IC SSgt Lew “Skelly” Skelton, mechanic LCPL Daniel Smith, and our resident auto-parts store person LCPL Katy Townsend - were left to hold the fort in the forward operating base at Helwan. This plan was sustainable due to the BHE training method for the exercise which subsequently did not require 24 hour support.
Along with this day-to-day support, several other activities were conducted including a field BET, grenade throw, a mounted MAG58 shoot, several recoveries and before the trip home, safety inspections of all battalion vehicles.
Overall a good exercise was had by all, with many lessons learned.