Integration…Artillery style

OC 2 FAR issued an OPORD ‘tasking’ 62 RAR to supply pers to his regiment for the Corps Artillery Shoot last week. Going under operational control on Monday, all pers were mixed into the various artillery groupings and went mobile to Glen Imaal. With just 2 days training to iron out any issues, the Combined Regiment conducted artillery live firing practices to include Registration, target Recording, multi Battery Fire plans, and Multi Battery Co-Ord Illum co-ordinated by the FDC. Additionally a battery and FOO from 4 FAR came under the control of the 2 FAR FDC for the duration of the shoot. The importance of the exercise is that with just 2 and a half days integrated training, the unit conducted a well planned and accurate artillery shoot. Lessons were learned for sure and training deficiencies identified, but the most important result was how easily both regiments integrated when they had a common goal.

One additional feature was the inclusion of a member of 62 Reserve Cav in an Artillery FOO role. Amongst other achievements he gave a line correction on the Registration shoot to achieve a target round, thus guaranteeing accurate fire there after! 62 RAR held some of the key appointments (Both FOO’s, the GPO, CPO and BK on the gun line, range officer, 3 AGDC’s and both section officers, and we also had a member in the FDC).

Limited Recruitment

62 RAR has been allowed recruit 10 additional personnell as part of a limited recruitment into the Army Reserve. Applicants were chosen based on their time and progress in the recruitment system prior to the suspension of recruitment. Lets hope that further recruitment is allowed in the near future. All qualifying applicants have been notified and we have filled this quota. Outstanding applicants will be notified if and when positions come available.

ATC 2009 – short report

All Bty’s were on 36 hr ex. One of the batteries came in off the ground at 2400 hrs due to ‘inclement’ weather, and are now known as the ‘wet battery’. Not saying which battery it was, but they were using mortar boards to plug holes in their tents.  Other highlights were visits by COS and GOC, and return visit by GOC to view the shoot. All OP’s deployed across the front of Cemetry Hill with FDC to the rear. Last 25 Pdr round was fired by 2 Bty. This, technically is the last 25 Pdr round fired by a Reserve Regiment. Fentons was visited.

The business end: 

• HQ bty conducted regimental survey, deployed a fully operational FDC, and co-ordinated a multi battery Fire Plan (no 2 and no 3 Bty’s).
• 1 Bty – formal 25 Pdr deployment followed by quick actions in the area of the Island.
• 2 Bty – Formal 25 Pdr deployment in Stranaheely field, 2 IN shoots, 1 Laser Point mission, 1 * 3 target quick fire plan with an impromptu, 1 IN in support of Cav Fire Power demo (new 30mm MOWAG cannon), participation in FDC controlled 2 Tgt Fire Plan, Impromptu target engaged by Bty FOO.
• 3 Bty, 120mm RUAG Mortar formal deployment behind Camara, with series of IN shoots, point det and airburst, participation in FDC controlled fire plan.

Last 25 Pdr Shoot

2 Regiment provided the setting for the last 25pdr shoot. Having fired the weapons in the morning as part of their live firing exercise, they vacated the gun position to allow new crews man the guns. Gun position was forward of Keoghs house. A 6 gun battery was formed with a crew from each of the 3 Permanent and 3 Reserve regiments. 62 RAR gun crew was commanded by BS Paddy O’Shea. The target for an 8 round expend ammo final fire for effect was the Octagonal field on a bearing of approx 1600, elevation of approx. 260 with a 200m sheaf pattern. Last round was ceremoniously fired by a gun crew comprising D Arty, OC Arty School, and RSM Arty School. Food for the troops on the ground was as per tradition – Chicken Curry!

Thanks to John and Ger Gibson for the photos.

Also check out  http://www.riv.co.nz/rnza/tales/last25.htm for an interesting ‘Last 25 Pounder Round’ story from the Kiwi Gunners.

Other links of interest:

http://www.westmeathexaminer.ie/news/mullingar/articles/2009/08/04/390013-final-shots-fired-in-the-glen-/

http://www.herald.ie/national-news/going-out-with-a-bang-1848124.html

http://www.wicklowpeople.ie/news/final-shoot-out-1853212.html

http://dynamic.rte.ie/av/230-2587961-320-180.smil

http://www.independent.ie/opinion/columnists/kevin-myers/creatures-of-the-night-that–explode-in-murderous-rage-1849916.html

 

25 pdr last round – Effect

25pdr last round – shot

62 RAR Gun Crew – Last 25 Pdr shoot

62 RAR Gun Crew – Last 25 Pdr shoot – Shot

Big Ol

Cancel at my Command

Chief Of Staff – Tree Planting

Director of Artillery – Comdt Gibson (62 RAR) – Comdt Campion (2 FAR)

Director of Artillery speech

Digger and Stewy

Expend Ammo

Heli 105 approach

heli over camara

heli over stranaheley

John D and the Guinger

Peter O Brien (Kevin Myers in the photo?)

Comdt Sean Reilly (62 RAR)

The guys from Mullingar

you’ll never be a captain sir

Comdt. Ger Coll

Sadly, Comdt. Ger Coll Rtd., Battery Commander of 5 Battery 6 Regiment, has passed away. Funeral arrangements will be passed to serving personnell when available. May he rest in peace. Our sympathies to his family.

FIBUA Exercise

Photo Album of our recent ‘Fighting In Built Up Areas’ exercise available at http://62regiment.net/Dunree%2009.html

Minister O’Dea Announces Re-commencement of limited recruitment to the Army Reserve

Posted on 20/05/09 by Willie O’Dea Minister O’Dea Announces Re-commencement of limited recruitment to the Army Reserve (Cúltaca an Airm) and Naval Service Reserve (Cúltaca an tSeirbhís Chabhlaigh).

The Minister for Defence, Mr Willie O’Dea, T.D. has announced that the Reserve Defence Forces (Na hÓglaigh Cúltaca) may resume a limited and monitored recruitment to replace existing members of the Army Reserve or Naval Service Reserve who resign or leave during the course of 2009. Recruitment to the Reserve had been suspended in the context of the reduced funding available and the moratorium on public service numbers”.

Minister Willie O’Dea said: “Since the announcement of a suspension of Reserve Defence Force (RDF) recruitment, I have, along with my officials, been working to ensure that we consolidate the gains made over recent years in developing the RDF. It is important that we continue to provide appropriate opportunities for paid training to all members of the Reserve, to the greatest extent possible within current budgetary provisions.

“Following a review and examination of RDF numbers and budgets for 2009, I am satisfied that there is sufficient provision to allow for paid training for existing members of the Reserve this year. Accordingly, I am today announcing that recruitment to fill vacancies due to existing Reserve members resigning, or being discharged in the normal manner, may proceed with immediate effect.”

“This announcement should come as welcome news to many of those who have already applied to join the RDF and were awaiting attestation. Many of them will be inducted gradually into the RDF as vacancies arise in the various Brigades over the coming weeks and months.”

“I want to pay tribute to all the members of the Reserve who give freely of their time to serve their country. Their commitment and dedication is appreciated.”

“The numbers recruited will depend on the numbers leaving. This limited recruitment will be monitored and kept under review in the light of the uptake of paid training within the RDF and the future budgetary provision.”

Suspension of recruitment

Due to the overall moratorium on recruitment and promotion in the civil service, recruitment into the Army Reserve has been suspended. Like other units around the country we have our fair share of people caught in the recruitment process that now will not be able to join in the forseeable future. All of these people attended induction training and many had completed medicals or were at an advanced stage of the recruitment process. We can only thank them for their interest, and hope that we can resume with their applications in the near future.

Name that Gunner…

Unit History

If anyone has any stories or anecdotes  from 6th or 7th Regiments, we’d like to collect them before the get lost! A sort of oral history. These are all stories we’ve heard many times from someone ‘who was there’…but never got them on record. If you can take the time to write them out and email to info:62regiment.ie…please do. We’ll collect them and you never know…we might even publish them (with names changed to protect the guilty!).