Wessex Storm 2020: Part 1

Arriving at Roulstone Camp with a belly full of Maccy’s breakfast ready to step out in the rain drenched circus that is the opening days of Wessex Storm, its about 3 degrees with 40mph winds and the RQ has already gone feral savage, pretty standard really.
We’ve been attached to the OpFor Battle Group to offer a free thinking mobile force, which looks great on paper but down on the ground I’m not 2 hours in and my feet are already wet…

This TestEx is a mass movement for the British Army, almost 2.5k troops on the ground and the collaboration of atleast 5 Battalions from Infantry to Engineers and Medics on scene. Its been a decade since they’ve operated two full battle groups against one another, I’m seeing Warriors, Jackals, Coyote’s, Huskies, Mastifs and TCV’s everywhere, FML I am not looking forward to the que for scoff!

3 hot and a cot later and we’re straight out on the ground for the CO’s 72hr roll out, Op Archer, a chance for the Poachers to stretch their legs before the real fight begins… and we’re into an OP, fantastic… but its not raining so that’s one thing atleast.

Already spotting some of our kit on the ground which is a good sign. Also this ex gives some test time for our new rifle sling and some sneaky tests for our upcoming trousers and lightweight waterproof jacket we’ve not told you about yet.

Carnage ensures for a couple of days with exchanged mortar fire between us, TI’s on permenant scan, then a shock wake up call via our RPG for a team of jackals thinking they could take a break infront of our OP and 12hrs later we’re into the main attack, they did the hard work and went the longer route in!

Hollys is getting nailed by mortars with the BG moving in and my TES vest is on permenant send, so we at Daisies, we are extracting as we’re next! Straight into dead ground and we stumble on another pack of 4 Jackal crews having a cheeky brew, tut tut lads can you say RPG?!

We got out in one piece much to their distaste but all in all a good roll out, didn’t get wet really and it could have been colder, so pretty good for anything on Sailsbury plain!