IN PICTURES: Ex Mercury Dagger Puts Airborne Signallers Through Their Paces

Cover: participants resupply ammunition during a section attack serial on the exercise. (Picture: Corporal Ben Beale/British Army)

Soldiers of 216 (Parachute) Signal Squadron have competed against each other on Exercise Mercury Dagger.

Based on the British Army’s Cambrian Patrol, which is considered the world’s toughest patrolling challenge, the airborne signallers’ section competition tested their basic soldiering skills, from first aid to fire and manoeuvre.

Pictures: Corporal Ben Beale/British Army

The troops parachuted in and occupied overnight harbour areas before a day-long patrol around Sennybridge, south Wales, encountering incidents along the way, including simulated casualties, vehicle checkpoints and mine clearance.

216 (Para) Sig Sqn is trained and equipped to deploy by parachute, helicopter or airlanding to provide specialist communications support to 16 Air Assault Brigade, the British Army’s airborne rapid reaction force.

Below: a member from 216 (Para) Signal Squadron shouts commands during a section attack serial. (Picture: Corporal Ben Beale/British Army)