The Royal Tank Regiment Battlegroup has returned to Tidworth after a demanding and fulfilling nine-month tour of duty as part of the NATO Enhanced Foreword Presence in Estonia.

The core of the battlegroup were two sabre squadrons from the regiment supported by C Company 1 Royal Welsh, artillery from 3, 12, 19 and 26 Regiments Royal Artillery and 33 Armoured Engineer Squadron all under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Simon Worth of 1RTR.

During their tour, Russia invaded Ukraine on24th of February, Estonia’s Independence Day which gave the tour added importance.

“The invasion gave us a real clear context of our to be there,” said Colonel Simon. “. I could not have been more proud of what the battlegroup did, they were inspiring and these young soldiers were more than worthy successors to the older generation of soldiers.”

The battlegroup was in Poland on a workup exercise for seven weeks before the tour, so the soldiers were away for almost a year. “The burden on the families was the most difficult of all,” he added. “I want to do something to show our gratitude to the families, so we are planning a welcome home parade in September which I plan to include an armoured drive past, something that has not been done for many years.”

Mercians train Ukranian recruits

AT military ranges in Kent, CGS General Saunders watched Ukrainian troops being trained by instructors from 1 MERCIAN in how to fight through buildings.

CGS congratulated the instructors saying “, The commitment and hard work of the instructors, and the speed with which they have put the training together, is hugely impressive.”

Other skills the Ukrainians are being taught include weapon handling, battlefield first aid, fieldcraft, patrol tactics and the Law of Armed Conflict.

New Apache arrives at Middle Wallop

A NEW Apache AH-64 attack helicopter has arrived at the Army Aviation Centre, Middle Wallop where they will run conversion courses for pilots and crew.

This newly operational E model has a top speed of 186 mph, a new software overhaul to allow for greater target acquisition and is expecting new ‘Romeo’ variant Hellfire missiles.

“It’s all about the software and the changes on the inside,” said Major Olly Snell, Officer Commanding 653 Squadron.

“We can pick out things such as number plates because we’ve got this picture-in-picture, which means we can continue to look at the bigger picture but also have a small, stepped-in field of view on a certain item if we need to.”