Overseas Operations
OP NEWCOMBE ROTO 2 Scribe: Capt Walker OC LAD, 2nd Battalion The Royal Anglian Regiment
Overview
T
he Op NEWCOMBE ROTO 2 adventure started in Apr 21, in a frosty Bodney camp about to commence Mission Rehearsal Exercise (MRX), the REME team from no less than seven different units assembled to start what would prove to be the most challenging yet fulfilling 8 months of our careers. MRX went to plan and focused everyone’s minds on the sorts of technical problems we were likely to encounter. A brief two-week holiday in isolation followed and then our ROTO 2 deployment to Mali, a period of handover and acclimatisation was next before the hard work begun. Op NEWCOMBE has seen REME soldiers support the Theatre Group (TG) during six demanding operational deployments. Throughout, the team have operated under austere and challenging conditions, facing temperatures of up to 45 Degrees Celsius, torrential down pours during the wet season and countless wind storms (haboobs). Nothing has been outside the capacity of those deployed and as you’d expect; the REME soldiers have delivered at every turn.
Stranded RIDGEBACK during Op MAKARA 1
Op NEWCOMBE ROTO 2 Op ELWIN 4 & 5: The handover and follow-on familiarisation patrols were opportunities for the TG to shake out and practice essential SOPs and drills that would be required throughout future operations. The TG operated within the Operational area named SWORD, which provided a mixture of all the terrains the TG will face over the coming months. From an ES perspective, both Op’s went to plan, there were limited equipment issues although the Recovery Mechanics were put through their paces on several occasions. The Op did allow Fitter Sections to continue to acclimatise to the environment when deployed, and make improvements to the packing lists and ergonomics of their fitter trucks.
TG Leaguer during one of the torrential downpours during the wet season
REME Fitter Truck in TG Leaguer during Op MAKARA 1 10 craftsmaneditor@reme-rhq.org.uk
