British Royal Tank regiment annual crew tests and troop assesment.

The Royal Tank Regiment (RTR) have recently been conducting their Annual Crew Tests and their Annual Troop Assessment Training on Castlemartin Ranges in South West Wales.

Over the duration of the training the 17 tanks in Badger Squadron RTR  will Fire approximately  3,500 120mm rounds out of the Main Gun  (Picture source: UK MoD )

Based in Tidworth, The Royal Tank Regiment are equipped with the Challenger 2 Main Battle Tank and supported by the Scimitar armoured reconnaissance vehicles.

The FV107 Scimitar is an armoured reconnaissance vehicle (sometimes classed as a light tank) used by the British Army. It was manufactured by Alvis in Coventry. It is very similar to the FV101 Scorpion, but mounts a high velocity 30 mm L21 RARDEN cannon instead of a 76 mm gun. It was issued to Royal Armoured Corps armoured regiments in the reconnaissance role. Each regiment originally had a close reconnaissance squadron of five troops, each containing eight FV107 Scimitars.

The Annual Troop Assessment sees the troops of 4 Tanks begin firing first from static positions before they progress to the more demanding challenge of identifying and engaging distant targets while on the move. Troop Leader Lieutenant Kyle Moore from Badger Squadron said: “The best thing about being in the tank regiment is the crew management, having that close relationship with the 3 other guys in your tank and dealing with a high-pressure environment.”

Over the duration of the training the 17 tanks in Badger Squadron RTR, who are pictured, will Fire approximately 50,000 7.62mm rounds out of the Coaxial Machine Gun and 3,500 120mm rounds out of the Main Armament

Trooper Taylor from Recce Troop said: “In 2 weeks you pick up a lot of skills and maintenance that you don’t usually get to do back on camp.” With their skills and drills now thoroughly assessed the tank crews are now ready and able to deploy on operations abroad and conduct live firing on exercises in the UK.