Army

Mercians hone their skills to fight and survive in the harsh conditions of Estonia

Watch: Mercians take the fight to the trenches in Estonia

Infanteers from The Mercian Regiment have been getting to grips with the challenging climate of Estonia - and the equally challenging battlefield environment of trench warfare.

The soldiers from the armoured infantry regiment, along with their Warrior fighting vehicles, supported by Challenger 2 main battle tanks, have been taking part in Exercise Bold Eagle.

They are part of a UK-led Nato battlegroup which is in Estonia to solidify the alliance's commitment and readiness to defend its eastern flank.

The seven-day exercise has been testing the Estonian, French, Polish, UK and US forces’ readiness to navigate the complex, boggy landscape of the northern Baltics.

In addition to 1 Mercian, the British Army contingent included B Sqn Kings Royal Hussars, 33 Armoured Engineer Squadron, 5 Battery 19 RA (Archer) and 176 Battery 26 RA (MLRS).

Heavy armour, including the British Challenger 2s which weigh more than 60 tonnes, managed to operate in this landscape, honing the critical mobility skills that are essential to the defence of the Baltic nation.

The Challenger 2, while heavy, proved itself capable of traversing the snowy and sometimes boggy terrain (Picture: Nato)

Part of the exercise saw the Mercians attack an interlocked trench system, mirroring the ones seen in Ukraine.

The infanteers carefully worked their way through the trenches, using their SA80 L85A3 assault rifles and grenades, in simulated close quarters fighting against an opposing force made up of Estonian soldiers.

The trench system, similar to those found in Ukraine, gave the soldiers an excellent opportunity to practise their close quarters battle skills (Picture: Nato)

Lieutenant Sam Dulson, a platoon commander from 1 Mercian, explained: "So we're out here in Estonia as part of the Forward Land Forces Battlegroup, situated outside of Tapa Camp.

"We're out here on exercise on the training area alongside our Polish, Estonian, American and French colleagues as well.

"We're out here understanding the ground, understanding how the conditions are in these Baltic States, if anything was to happen.

"And not just understanding - surviving in these conditions.

"Obviously, it's a lot different to the UK. Getting out on the ground, working within the ever-changing environment - we could have four seasons in one day."

The Mercian Regiment is an armoured infantry unit, and its Warrior fighting vehicles let the infanteers travel at the same rate as the tanks (Picture: Nato) — The Mercian Regiment is an armoured infantry unit, and its Warrior fighting vehicles let the infanteers travel at the same rate as the tanks the soldiers fight alongside (Picture: Nato)

Lt Dulson said of the regiment's presence in the exercise "It's just reassuring the population that if something did happen, we are ready and the conditions are set for us to go.

"Just the size of the battlegroup and the size of the force that’s here, I think it just shows how committed the British forces and Nato are to the Baltic States."