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Equipment: Op NEWCOMBE
Already widely known, Operation NEWCOMBE is the United Kingdom’s contribution to the United Nation’s Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission in Mali, or MINUSMA for short. In December 2020, a 250-strong United Kingdom peacekeeping force was deployed to support the Peace and Reconciliation process by creating a secure environment for state authority to flourish and humanitarian assistance to reach those most in need. It has now been agreed that there will be 6 rotations of Op NEWCOMBE.
This is far from a simple series of deployments, for 2 main reasons. Firstly, the human terrain is incredibly complex. Violent extremist organisations have benefited from weakened political reach, crossing porous borders and projecting their influence to threaten European security. Secondly and arguably more importantly from a REME perspective, is the arduous physical terrain. Mali is situated in the Western African Sahel, covering a vast area of 2,000 by 1,500 kms. The Long Range Reconnaissance Group (LRRG) is required to operate across challenging terrain and at significant reach from their logistical hub in Gao, in North East Mali. The extreme heat, copious amounts of dust and cross-country routes, combined with a lot of the vehicles not being designed for use off road, has led to a significant number of equipment failures and capability gaps identified. In order to support the deployment and reduce the number of equipment failures, members of the Vehicle Support Team (VST) in DE&S have swiftly set to work to fulfil the complex and urgent requirements of
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New independent suspension system on a Cougar vehicle the operation. VST is the centre for in-service support to our vehicle fleet,
Modified Ridgback
managing all aspects of support for our 36,000 vehicles, ranging from Challenger 2 to Quad Bikes! VST is tasked with ensuring all these platforms are safe and suitable to use on whatever mission or task the Army undertakes. Due to the variety in these missions, a crucial part of VST’s job is to incorporate modifications to the vehicle platforms, ensuring they can be operated successfully in the new environment.
Cougar Mobility Upgrades
The Mastiff and Ridgback platforms were never designed to operate in the conditions required in Mali. Their beam axles and leaf springs significantly limit the amount of time the tyres can stay in contact with the ground when off road, greatly reducing the ability of the platform. To address this the vehicle was modified to have fully independent suspension. This included driver-controlled height adjustable hydro struts, a central tyre inflation system (CTIS) and larger run flat tyres. The newly upgraded vehicles can now keep up with the Jackal, allowing EOD and ambulances to stay alongside the vehicles they are supporting; significantly increasing vital support to our front-line soldiers. In addition, the Mastiff has been reported to be the only platform capable of recovering to the MAN SVR once bogged in; a testament to the improved mobility.
WO2 (AQMS) Adamson is the SME for the Cougar platforms. He acts as the conduit between the Field Army, DE&S and industry. He has worked extremely hard on the delivery of these modification, due to his desire to provide the best service he can to our soldiers. He said, “My tenure as the MRW SME has seen me use my Artificer course training to its fullest. Using old skills in project management and building on them with further education. The MRW XC project was a real challenge, adapting the standard platforms with state of the art technology is the highlight of my career. It is a privilege to put the “S” into DE&S”.
A sample of the new recovery equipment
Hand over parade for the final Cougar platforms at MIRA
The locations for the brackets allowing side over side recovery One of the newly possible recovery layouts, enabled by the new extension ropes and snatch blocks
Design drawing showing a Jackal with the addition of a mast
Lightweight Recovery Vehicle
We currently have no Lightweight recovery vehicle, which leaves the MAN SVR to recover all lightweight platforms. Significantly heavier and less manoeuvrable, the SVR is unable to reach the remote areas which the Jackals within the LRRG are operating.
An Urgent Capability Requirement has been created and VST are currently engaging with industry to procure a small number of Lightweight recovery vehicles to use specifically in Mali. An immediate solution has been devised to allow greater Jackal and Coyote self-recovery. It was developed between DE&S, CSS Trials and Development Unit and the vehicles design authority and tested in just two months. This ‘Recovery in a bag’ includes soft shackles, Dynema winch rope extensions, snatch blocks, vehicle mounted brackets and more. Together it allows a Recovery Mechanic to recover a bogged-in vehicle with the Jackal’s existing winch by increasing its mechanical advantage, 30T of winching power from a single Coyote (providing enough anchorage can be found), while reducing the stress placed on the casualty. Most impressively, a Recovery Mechanic can also use the equipment provided to allow a Jackal to safely right a rolled vehicle.
Communications
All service personnel will know the inherent difficulties of using Combat Net Radio over long distances. SLINGSHOT is a modification which acts as an addition to the BOWMAN system, making it far more effective. It transfers the analogue signals to a digital, which are then sent by satellite to anywhere in the world. This effectively removes terrain and distance constraints normally characteristic of Very High Frequency Combat Net Radio.
However, the Jackal has little excess space and the platform’s existing radio racking had insufficient space to add the new SLINGSHOT system to it. This meant that VST had to work with BATCIS (the management team for BOWMAN) to ensure all the required modifications to the vehicle could be made safely whilst still allowing the users to fight and communicate. The solution was not easy to find as the communication demands and vehicle safety requirements initially seemed at odds. Eventually, collaboration paid off and a solution was found, which has already proved successful.
The bare steel holed box in the pictures is the prototype for the final equipment. This allows all of the SLINGSHOT equipment to be safely housed without impacting on the drivers or commanders blast seats or working areas.
Side over side recovery
On Op NEWCOMBE, Jackal is being used as a recce vehicle, yet it has no in-built sighting systems. To overcome this a sighting system was procured, the JIM Compact. An excellent sighting system, it can identify targets 15km away, however it works on a line of sight principle. In order to provide adequate line of sight it was decided that it needed to be fitted to the top of a 6m mast. This required power and high pressure air to be taken from the vehicle’s on-board systems. VST looked at how this could be done, whilst maintaining the safety of the vehicle control and braking systems.
Conclusion
There have been a wide range of capability gaps and issues identified on Op NEWCOMBE, which this article only briefly touches on. Despite these challenges, exacerbated by COVID-19, DE&S and industry have worked hard to deliver for the user. Brigadier Anna-Lee Reilly, Head VST stated “I am incredibly proud of what the Vehicle Support Team has achieved for Op NEWCOMBE. The soldier is at the heart of everything we do and the team has gone above and beyond, working extended hours during a particularly challenging period. The capability we have delivered has provided a step-change to the LRRG, allowing them to safely operate under conditions, distances, and for extended periods of time – an outstanding achievement by all concerned!”
The support has been incredibly well received by the Customer, allowing the user to exercise a vastly improved capability. On their first Operation, Op MEERKAT, the LRRG deployed for a 28-day period, testing the range of the modifications to their full extent.
VST and the wider Land Equipment Operating Centre (LEOC) continue to support Op NEWCOMBE by placing the operation onto a robust and sustainable footing. As the first rotation comes to a close, further capability-enhancing modifications and support packages are nearing delivery, including persistent Intelligence Surveillance and Target Acquisition System integration and ongoing work with the Lightweight Recovery Vehicle.
Cougar vehicles
The 2020 REME Annual Report
Thank you to the REME units and other organisations who contributed to the 2020 REME Annual Report. There is a huge range of articles, from right across the Corps and its supporting functions, containing lots of detailed information about who we are and what we did last year. Whilst not all units were able to be included, we hope you will find it a useful reference.
