Multinational integration exercise Bold Dragon saw 1st Battalion The Royal Welsh (1RWELSH) Battlegroup get to grips with the harsh environment of the Tapa Central Training Area in Estonia to establish their role as lead for NATO’s enhanced Forward Presence (eFP).
The British Army reported that the pre-planned 10-day exercise of both company and Battlegroup level training had one mission – to capture or destroy enemy ground forces and repel any attacks.
B Company, 1 RWELSH provided the British infantry and armour capabilities whilst the enemy were played by the Estonian Defence Forces; in their first collective training since arriving in the Baltic State.
The deep snow drifts and dense woodland provided a tough environment for dismounted infantry patrols and mounted warrior crews.
Lance Corporal Calum Boorah is one of the more experienced warrior drivers, he said:
“This has been a good experience. It has been challenging due to the cold, snow and there is also a lot of water. When we are driving around or on foot patrol, we need to make sure we don’t get bogged in or get stuck in the roots. We are doing a good job of train hard to fight hard!”
The latest Battlegroup is made up made up of a British Infantry Regiment, Artillery, Armour and Engineer sub-units. It also has a supporting element from the Royal Danish Army’s Viking Company, Jutland Dragoon Regiment.
The company consists of three mechanised infantry platoons with Piranha V armoured personnel carriers, a wheeled vehicle well suited for diverse terrains and tactical mobility.
A French contingent from 7th Battalion Chasseurs Alpins (Alpine Hunters) will booster the Alliance’s international commitments to the region with specialised troops who can operate in difficult terrain, and along with the Danes will become an integral part of the eFP Battlegroup.
