Ex Leitrim

[DeV]

So how did it go?

[Bravo20]

I thought it was good. Like all exercises mistakes were made, but isn't that the purpose of training, to practice, make mistakes and learn from them?

Numbers were down this year but the general objectives were achieved.

As regards myself I had a different role than normal, I found it both interesting and challanging.

[Barry]

Numbers were down this year but the general objectives were achieved.

Not that surprising, considering it was in the middle of the exam season.

[Vamp369]

I thought it was lacking in patrols. We spent about from about 1600hrs to 0630hrs without a patrol, just sitting around doing nothing really. There was one patrol from the company but only one and it was small.

[DeV]

Was it supposed to be a full battalion this year?

[luchi]

Was it supposed to be a full battalion this year?

Thats what the man says.

I have to say 62 move out was like you see in the war movies Inf slogging along the road as the supply trucks try to move up.

If we had more ROPS TCVs things would have been a little smoother at our end but that couldn't be helped.

The speach at the end was interesting. Who here knew the ex was in doubt as late as last monday?

[The Prisoner]

I would hassard a guess that it was to do with the ROPS.

[The Prisoner]

A question for the troops using the ROPS for the first time. What did you think of it? comfort, ease of entry/exit, etc.

Feedback would interesting.

[RelaxTheBody]

ROPS is good for what it is. It is obviously for the increased security of soldiers travelling in the vehicle however in a tactical role it has some flaws. The fact that gear cannot be carried in the same vehicle as the troops means that another vehicle needs to be available to carry gear. This will turn out to be a major gripe i think?
I noticed that the last 2 seats at the rear (at the tail board) had the rifle holder right in sight of the public, does nobody think this might be a safety issue?
Serious decrease in the levels of banter one can have also as you cant see all your buddies but that is neither here nor there i suppose!

[Truck Driver]

As regards myself I had a different role than normal, I found it both interesting and challanging.

Hope you' re not referring to the fact that you came up for "seconds" yesterday lunchtime ???

Not that surprising, considering it was in the middle of the exam season.

... and how did YE get on at your location ?

ROPS is good for what it is.
It is obviously for the increased security of soldiers travelling in the vehicle....

Yep - yet people still had to be told more than once... I had to get a
Coy Sgt to holler at a young fella at the base camp pickup yesterday
morning to put his helmet back on (we were about to move off
from the location)

Also, members of RDF BTC (E) baled into the back of a TCV fitted with ROPS
having not completed any training and having no helmets on, only to be
told to get out just as quick by one of our NCOs

Am pretty sure that we captured the biggest end of the
audience for ROPS training on location,
but there will always be a few who will fall through the cracks

Serious decrease in the levels of banter one can have also as you cant see all your buddies but that is neither here nor there i suppose!

Guess ye' ll have to shout a little louder then..... no more "secrets" in the back of the truck, then....

From where I was looking, the troops on the ground seemed fairly
switched on, and the support side of things seemed to run pretty
smoothly too - a complete lack of howling and shouting at
the Support locations... long may it continue

The good weather would have helped aswell....

[luchi]

in a tactical role it has some flaws. The fact that gear cannot be carried in the same vehicle as the troops means that another vehicle needs to be available to carry gear. This will turn out to be a major gripe i think?

I don't see the gripe from a tac point of view.
You are going into battle not on a picnic.
You need weps amo and water.
If you win the fire fight so we can come up and re-supply you.
If you don't you will be dead, a prisioner or will come running back to the truck.

Serious decrease in the levels of banter one can have also as you cant see all your buddies but that is neither here nor there i suppose!

When you all get used to it that will change.

[trellheim]

I cannot see the need for head restraints, its a tcv not an amusement ride.

cemo should be allowed to be stored in front of you

the seats should face each other not back to back

note that the last point there might also solve the 2nd.

there is an increased need for transport

on the 6x6 I've no idea why your CEMO can't go up the gap at the end. it's a perfect size for it.

[paul]

I cannot see the need for head restraints, its a tcv not an amusement ride.

To avoid whiplash, or more extreme, a broken neck.

[trellheim]

like I said it's a TCV not an amusement ride. What are the whiplash stats off troops in TCVs ?

[Goldie fish]

Whiplash is only an effect of a restrained passenger in an impact. Because troops have been travelling unrestrained in the back of trucks since 1914, the injuries suffered in an accident would have been impact related.