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The Yeomanry – Annual Firing – Challenger 2 – Lulworth March 2007.
By Capt C M Hodgkinson.
C Sqn RMLY. Training Officer.
The Royal Mercian and Lancastrian Yeomanry combined this year's Annual Firing with the Royal Wessex Yeomanry; we are now the only 2 TA Regt’s roled on Challenger 2, CR2.
C (Cheshire Yeomanry) Sqn from Chester and D (Duke of Lancaster’s Own Yeomanry) Sqn from Wigan provided Commanders, Gunners and Loaders for the six Challenger 2 tanks used.
Prior to firing all crews had to complete several weekends of continuation training on the Precision Gunnery Training Equipment, PGTE, at Donnington and also pass Weapon Handling Tests, WHT’s and Threshold Tests. A big commitment in terms weekends away.
Firing itself took place from Wednesday 21st March until Sunday 25th March.
A variety of Live Fire Exercises, LFX’s, were shot over the five days, both from static and moving tanks. This included a night shoot on the Saturday using thermal. A variety of techniques were practised, including co-ax, main armament, Chemical Energy CE rounds, the High Explosive Squash Head, HESH, (the practice round known as SHPRAC), also the armour defeating round FIN, a Fin Stabilised Discarding Sabot, capable of destroying enemy armour out to 2 kilometres, (the practice round is known as Discarding Sabot Trainer, DST).
On Saturday we were joined by some of our recruits who came to experience the thrill of Main Battle Tanks firing live. They also took in a visit to the Tank Museum at Bovington and watched CR2 demonstrating it’s capabilities on the driver training area including the knife edge, a delicate act of balancing.
Both C and D Sqn’s are actively recruiting, as well as offering Challenger 2 careers as tank drivers, gunners, loader and commanders, we also have place for medics, mechanics, armourers, storemen and signallers. Operational tours are also available for those that wish, with deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan ongoing this year.
Lulworth - Mar 2007
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