British Royal Artillery displayed its firepower with AS90 Artillery System in exercise 32502164

Posted On
Defence & Security News - United Kingdom
 
British Royal Artillery displayed its firepower with AS90 Artillery System in exercise
Soldiers from 26 Regiment Royal Artillery, otherwise known as the “West Midlands’ Gunners”, have rolled on to the frozen landscape of the Northumberland hills for an impressive display of their firepower. The soldiers were practising their drills and skills firing Artillery System 90 (AS90).
     
British Royal Artillery displayed its firepower with AS90 Artillery System in exercise 640 001AS90 self-propelled 155mm artillery system
     
Around 350 soldiers from the Regiment have been taking part in Exercise Mansergh Sabre at the Army’s Otterburn Training area, the second largest firing range in the country after Salisbury Plain.

Battling extreme weather including wind and freezing temperatures, the soldiers were practising their drills and skills firing Artillery System 90 (AS90) the Army’s self-propelled 155mm artillery and largest artillery system – which has a range of 24.5 kilometeres and is capable of delivering high explosive shells to enemy positions, or smoke and “illume” to conceal or reveal as necessary in battlefield situations.

For only the second time since the Regiment restructured in February last year, firing alongside the guns were the precision guided missile launchers of 132 Battery (The Bengal Rocket Troop).
     
British Royal Artillery displayed its firepower with AS90 Artillery System in exercise 640 002Ammunition lined up ready to be transported to the guns.
     

Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Karl Harris RA, said his troops had risen to the challenges of the exercise which saw his men and women test not only their artillery skills but also take part in a patrol challenge involving a 25km march over 18 hours across the training area carrying 40kg weight.

He added: “Exercise Mansergh Sabre has continued the gradual and persistent development of the West Midlands’ Gunners; it has been a journey that started in the Spring of 2015 and we have gone from strength to strength.

“The focus has been towards 2017 when the Regiment needs to be ready for potential operations as part of NATO’s high readiness forces.

“This exercise has been a great success, developing the confidence, teamwork and technical skills of all, from our most junior soldier on her first exercise, to our most experienced personnel of over 25 years’ service.

“As a result, we are going to be ready in January to take on whatever challenges the world poses NATO and our nation.”

Lt Col Harris said the exercise combined honing his troops’ core skills of delivering and synchronising artillery and air-delivered fires, with an arduous patrol challenge designed to develop the basic soldiering skills and mental toughness of every soldier and officer within the Regiment.