Army

Gun Crews Tested With AS90 Live Fire Exercises

Exercise Mansergh Dagger has recently seen gunners from 26 Regiment Royal Artillery (26 Regt RA) carrying out live fire training on Sennelager Training Area in Germany.

The three-week exercise was designed to enable the Regiment to return its core role operating the AS90 after a decade employed on the 105mm Light Guns. The emphasis of the exercise was to test the gun crews and fire support teams for future operational needs. Tactics, operating procedures and manoeuvring of the armoured vehicles around the training area were thoroughly examined.

Captain Ben Butcher, Battery Captain 16 Bty, 26 Regt RA explained: “Exercises like this are invaluable as we return to our AS90 role as part of the Army 2020 structure. It gives the soldiers confidence in the equipment and their skill sets, experience of living in the field and working off the armoured vehicle. We also looked at incorporating into the exercise scenario many of the lessons learnt from our deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan.”

Although many of the soldiers on the exercise have had recent operational experience for most this was the first time that they had an opportunity to conduct live firing on the AS90 and practice the theory training they had undertaken over the last few months.

For Bombardier Sam Richards of 159 Bty, who has been in the Army 12 years, deploying twice to Afghanistan, the exercise was certainly delivering its aims. He said: “It has been an enjoyable experience, its challenging but we are learning a lot about the vehicle. I had only previously operated the light gun so working with the AS90 is completely different.