NATO Handover: Part Of Pioneering British Led Battlegroup Return From Estonia

A section of the first British led Battlegroup have returned to Gutersloh in Germany after their pioneering deployment in Estonia.

As part of the handover of NATO Battlegroups across the Baltic States and Poland, nearly 100 gunners from 16th Battery left the Baltics.

The Battery, which belongs to 2 6 Regiment Royal Artillery, were there as part of the Enhanced Forward Presence.

Their mission, to reassure locals that are nervous about their proximity to the Russian border.

Though Major Chris Billups, Battery Commander, said that they hadn't been focusing their attentions solely on the Russian threat. 

"We were aware of the capability, we knew where the capability sat, but what we weren’t focused on is the potential for it coming over the border.

"It was something we were trained and ready for if it happened, it wasn’t something we spent our entire time focused on. We were maintaining readiness."

However, being part of the first British-led Battlegroup has not been easy for 16th Battery, they have had to train harder in eight months than they would usually do over two years.

16th Battery have had to adapt their skills to the new environment. Training instead in a country that is 70% marsh land, has dense forest, thick snow and nearly 24-hour sunlight in the summer.

Captain Myles Oldfield, Fire Support Team said:

“About ten of their instructors came in and taught us Estonian specific survival techniques, taking us out into the Estonian wild with very little food.”

The gunners say that the Estonians have been very receptive to the troop’s presence in the country.

Even as 16th Battery return to their home in Germany, they remain in a state of readiness, in case they are needed to return to Estonia.