Combat & Survival 09

Website: www.combatandsurvival.com

Vicky Lindsay, Magazine Director

P16 Urban Survival PUBLIC TRANSPORT
Jason Polley explains some of the risks and discusses how
to counter them
P22 Alliance Forces SABER STRIKE
Bob Morrison reports from Poland on NATO’s Integrated
Ground Forces live-fire exercise
P28 British Forces
ARMOURED BATTLEGROUP
Bob Morrison photographs a 3 [UK] Division Combined
Arms Manoeuvre Demonstration
P36 Alliance Forces TRIDENT JUNCTURE
Bob Morrison reports from Iberia on the UK contribution to
NATO’s massive exercise
P42 New UK Forces Kit VIRTUS
Bob Morrison takes a look at the new Load Carriage &
Integrated Personal Protection system
P46 Marching Ammo 24-HR ORP
Bob Morrison updates on the current issue UK ration packs,
including Halal menus
P51 Foreign Forces PLA PARADE
Gordon Arthur reports from Beijing as the People’s Liberation
Army displays its latest armour
Editorial Department
Bob Morrison, Editor
Carl Schulze, Senior Correspondent
Gordon Arthur, Far East Correspondent
Jason Polley, Survival Specialist
Mike Gormley, Gear Tester
Robert Shaw, Security Consultant
Ian Young, Scale Models
Jitka Cajova, Editor’s Assistant
Ashley Lockwood, Designer
Advertising Department
Moira Spencer, Sales Director
Amy Williamson, Sales Executive
Mia Lawrence, Accounts Manager
Fran Smith, Admin & Subscriptions Manager
Marketing Department
Ciaran Jarosz, Head of Marketing
Daryl Crowther, Marketing Manager
Ryan Carr, Marketing Assistant
P21 Published by Hit Media Ltd
Printed & Distributed by
Warners Group Publications PLC
The Maltings, West Street, Bourne PE10 9PH
Subscriptions and Back Issue Orders to:
COMBAT & SURVIVAL Magazine
which is published by:-
Hit Media Ltd, 1st Floor Turnbridge Mills,
Quay Street, Huddersfield, HD1 6QT
Tel: (01484) 437319
ISSN: 0955-9841
To Subscribe or order a digital edition visit
P22 www.combatandsurvival.com
Advertising: moira.spencer@hitmedialtd.com
Editorial: editor@combatandsurvival.com
©Copyright here and abroad of all material is held by the
publishers. No reproduction is permitted whatsoever without
prior consent in writing.
IMPORTANT: All individual combat and personal survival
activities involve risk of injury to oneself and others and great
care must be taken carrying out any such activities. Expert
guidance should be sought and equipment checked for
reliability before any activities described here in are carried
out. The publishers cannot accept any responsibility for any
injury, death, loss or damage which may result.
P28
ARTICLES AND PHOTOGRAPHS
will be welcomed and considered for publication. Submission
of such shall be considered a warranty that they are original
and do not infringe on the copyright of others. Unsuitable
material can only be returned if you include a S.A.E. Loss or
damage is not the responsibility of COMBAT & SURVIVAL.
DISCLAIMER: The publishers make no representations,
endorsements, guarantees or warranties concerning the
products and/or services advertised within this magazine. We
expressly disclaim any and all liability relating to or arising
from the sale, manufacture, distribution, use or misuse of
such.

P36
P58 Kit & Camo NORWEGIAN M/98
Bob Morrison focuses on an elite Telemark
P58
Battalion Viking mechanised infantryman

P63 Outdoor Gear

TRIED & TESTED
Mike Gormley trials Merino clothing,
watches, Leatherman Signal, travel duffel
and boots
P51
P70 Scale Models
ISRAELI ARMOUR [Part.2]
Ian Young lists more of the many
excellent 1/35th kits of IDF heavy
armour now available

Page 05 : Comms January 16 Cover Image:

Page 34 & 72 : Reviews © Carl Schulze
Page 68 : Security © Hit Media Ltd 2015

Combat & Survival 03


Since around the start of the
second half of November (I’m
penning this on the last day of
the month) defence & security
has been high on the news
agendas, first with the terrorist
outrages in Paris on the evening
of the 13th and the follow-on
events in France and Belgium,
then with the publication of the
UK Strategic Defence & Security
Review 2015, and finally with
Prime Minister David Cameron
and his Ministers turning up the
heat on MPs to try to ensure
Parliamentary Approval for
taking Op SHADER over the
border from Iraq into Syria.
F
irst of all, our thoughts are with those
injured in the Paris atrocities and
with the families and friends of those
slaughtered or maimed by the terror-
ists. Paris, just like New York, London and
Madrid, will not be quite the same again
but the city and its inhabitants will bounce
back like their American, British and
Spanish friends. Brainwashed fundamen-
talists can never win against those with
the freedom to think for themselves.
On the face of it, UK Armed Forces did
not do too badly out of SD&SR 2015
but it will not be until we have seen the
fine print put into reality that we will be
certain. Future British Army troop levels
are pinned at 82,000 for the Regulars and
boosted up from 30,000 to 35,000 for
the Reserves, though having seen how
difficult it has been to achieve sufficient
Reservists to meet the 2010 Review target
it will be interesting to see if the increased
total is actually feasible.
Last month in this column I voiced my fears
that the Royal Marines might lose their
amphibious capability and, as predicted,
HMS Ocean is indeed going to be
decommissioned. As Ocean will be taken
out of service in 2018 but the first of the
new carriers, HMS Queen Elizabeth, is not
due into service until 2020 (if on time) it is
pretty obvious that there will be a capability
gap. The latest Review indicates that both
LPDs, HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark will
remain in service for the moment, but
as the latter is due to come in for a refit
when the former goes back to sea (and as
neither ship has a hangar deck) the ability
to put Commandos ashore by Merlin and
Chinook helicopters is going to be severely
curtailed for a couple of years until the first
carrier goes operational.
On the Army side, two new Strike Brigades
equipped with Ajax (formerly Scout SV)
are being introduced ... but not until 2025
and as the three current Armoured Infantry
brigades are being reduced to two and
the total number of infantry brigades will
drop to six, this appears to be little more
than sleight of hand. On the positive
side, both 16 Air Assault Brigade and 3
Commando Brigade do not appear to
have been touched and Special Forces are
being enhanced (though how they will find
sufficient extra numbers from a reduced
pool without dropping standards is open to
question).
Turning now to Op SHADER and the battle
against Islamic Fundamentalists in the
Left: Royal Marines and Portuguese
Fuzileiros come ashore from HMS Bulwark’
landing craft on Portugal’s Tróia Peninsula on
5th November [USMC: MSgt. Chad McMeen]
Levant, it is difficult to envision how
air power alone can be successful
so one fears it will only be a matter
of time before boots and tracks have
to be put on the ground. One might
have thought that the débâcles of
Iraq and Afghanistan following military
intervention without plans in place to
ensure transition to a stable democracy
might have been a lesson learned by
Western politicians ... but as a week
is a long time in politics and as many
politicians, military commanders
and bureaucrats seem to have short
memories, I fear we could be slipping
down another very slippery slope. Throw
former KGB colonel Uncle Vlad into the
mix, along with his support for Bashar
and his inclination to target anyone
fighting against the Syrian President
plus his granted authority to fly in Syrian
airspace, hence the reason for the
armed and primed Soviet jet being shot
down by Turkey on its south-east border,
and World War III looks perilously close.
Choose carefully David, as the Russian
Goliath could be a fearsome adversary.
Finally, since we briefly met up with
them on the Portuguese shoreline
during TRIDENT JUNCTURE at the
start of November the Royal Marines
on COUGAR ‘15 have been busy
working with the US Marines in the
Mediterranean. My trip down to Spain
and Portugal went well and our first
coverage of what has been billed as
NATO’s biggest exercise since 2002
starts this month. On the following
pages you will also find a fair bit of
coverage of live-fire armoured exercises
as both Britain and her NATO partners
refocus on preparing for Contingency
Operations. - BM
Royal Marines and US Marines from HMS Bulwark
house-clearing during Exercise BLUE RAPTOR in Corsica
on 20th November [Crown Copyright: L(Phot) Des Wade]
Combat & Survival 05
 On 2nd October some
500 French and British
paratroopers dropped
into STANTA - here, a
French Para readies
himself for combat after
jumping in

Combat & Survival 09


Formed by elements of
11e Brigade Parachutiste
of the French Army and
16 Air Assault Brigade
of the British Army, the
Interim Combined Joint
Expeditionary Force (I-CJEF)
can be rapidly deployed
anywhere in the world to
conduct operations across
the full spectrum of military
missions, ranging from
war-fighting to stabilisation
tasks. In late September
and early October 2015 the
I-CJEF honed its skills at
locations in eastern England
during Exercise EAGLES
AMARANTE. C&S joined the
troops on Stanford Training
Area for several days to
bring this exclusive briefing
on both the exercise and the
I-CJEF/CJEF.
2nd October 2015, Eastern England:
One after another the French C-160
10 Combat & Survival
1
Main Image: After a
Helicopter Landing
Site had been
secured on STANTA
elements of 2PARA
were flown in by
French and British
transport helicopters
such as this Chinook
HC Mk2
1: In addition to
some Véhicule
Aéromobile
Logistique and
Véhicule Blindé Transall and British C-130J Hercules being dropped into STANTA in several
Léger the French transport aircraft pass over the waves.
battlegroup also Battalion Drop Zone on the Stanford
Training Area (STANTA) in Norfolk For Exercise EAGLES AMARANTE, the
deployed a fleet and drop their human load. Seconds training area serves as part of Atropia,
of Petit Véhicule later, the sky is filled with rows of a country destabilised by internal
Protégé French Ensemble de Parachutage du conflict. Simultaneously, troops of the
Combattant (EPC) and British Low I-CJEF are conducting a heliborne
Images © Level Parachutes (LLP). On this day assault elsewhere on the training
Carl Schulze a total of some 250 French and 250 area in order to seize key objectives
British paratroopers of the I-CJEF are from hostile militia forces. Troops
 2
4 Transall and British
are inserted by British Chinook
HC Mk2 and Puma HC1 transport
helicopters as well as French Puma
SA 330 transport helicopters. Cover
for the transport helicopters is
provided by British Apache AH Mk1
attack helicopters.
With the combined airborne and
heliborne assaults, the I-CJEF
containing elements of 11e Brigade
Parachutiste and 16 Air Assault
Brigade have gained a firm foothold
in Atropia which, over the next
couple of days, will allow them
to build up combat power and to
execute stabilisation operations in
order to re-establish the status quo in 3
the fictional nation.
IMPROVING
INTEROPERABILITY
EAGLES AMARANTE ‘15 was
conducted between 27th September
and 7th October 2015 and involved
some 1,450 British and 360 French
troops with some 300 vehicles, ten
helicopters and one French C-160
C-130J Hercules
transport aircraft
each. The main
aim of the exercise
was to improve
interoperability
between
the French
11e Brigade
Parachutiste and
Britain’s 16 Air
Assault Brigade
and to train the
forces in their role
as the lead element of I-CJEF/CJEF.
The first days of the exercise saw
French and British troops converging
at Wattisham Airfield. It was at this 2: 2 PARA provide cover for comrades conducting a vehicle search at a
Forward Mounting Base that HQ checkpoint - after deploying into destabilised Atropia the I-CJEF troops
elements from both nations started re-established regional security
to conduct their operation planning
circles. On 29th September, the
paratroopers of the two nations 3: A Mortier de 120mm Rayé Tracté Modèle F1 of 35e Régiment
mounted their first operation; a d’Artillerie Parachutiste is lifted forward to a new position by a French
helicopter raid on Rock Barracks Puma SA 330 transport helicopter
in Woodbridge. This was followed
by an aviation strike on 1st October 4: Prior to a parachute drop an RAF Parachute Jump Instructor conducts
involving Apache AH Mk1 attack
checks on the equipment of French paratroopers who will jump with the
helicopters of 4 Regiment Army Air
Corps and Gazelle utility helicopters
British Low Level Parachute
Combat & Survival 11
 5 6
of the 5e Régiment d’Hélicoptères de
Combat (5RHC) of the Aviation Légére
de l’Armée de Terre (ALAT).
Following the October 2nd airborne and
heliborne assaults and a successive
force build-up, the deployed troops
then began to conduct stabilisation
operations, facing a hybrid threat
including hostile militias, insurgents,
criminal elements and conventional
forces. The 6th and 7th October formed
the final part of the tactical phase of the
exercise which was conducted as live
fire manoeuvres.
FRENCH AND
BRITISH FORCES
While linked into a Command Post
Exercise conducted by the 3rd
Armoured Division at the same time on
Salisbury Plain Training Area (SPTA),
Exercise EAGLES AMARANTE was a
brigade-level exercise conducted by 16
12 Combat & Survival
Air Assault Brigade and involving French
troops of the 11e Brigade Parachutiste,
the Aviation Légére de l’Armée de Terre
(ALAT) and the Armée de l’Air. During
the exercise, the HQ of the I-CJEF was
provided by the HQ of 16 Air Assault
Brigade, augmented by staff 11e
Brigade Parachutiste.
The main combat power of I-CJEF was
provided by two battlegroups; a French
one formed around the 1er Régiment
de Chasseurs Parachutistes (1er RCP)
and a British one formed around the 2nd
Battalion, The Parachute Regiment. A
Combined Joint Support Group (CJSG)
consisting of French and British assets
provided logistic support for the combat
forces.
Troops and elements of the following
units of the British Army took part in the
exercise: HQ 16 Air Assault Brigade;
216 Parachute Signal Squadron; 2nd
Main Image: The Battalion, The Parachute Regiment;
French battlegroup 2nd Battalion, Royal Gurkha Rifles;
16 Medical Regiment; G Battery, 7th
taking part in Exercise
Parachute Regiment Royal Horse
EAGLES AMARANTE Artillery; 13 Air Assault Support
was centred around Regiment, Royal Logistics Corps;
the 1er Régiment 4 Regiment Army Air Corps; 23
de Chasseurs Parachute Engineer Regiment; 156
Parachutistes Provost Company, Royal Military
Police; 16 Military Intelligence
5: Several Jackal Company; the Pathfinder Platoon;
1 High Mobility and RAF Parachute Jump
Weapons Platforms Instructors of No 1 Parachute
Training School and the Joint
of Support Company
Helicopter Command (JHC).
of 2nd Battalion, The
Parachute Regiment
In the case of the 11e Brigade
were among the 300 Parachutiste the following units
vehicles taking part took part with elements in the
exercise: Etat-major de la 11e
6: The French and Brigade Parachutiste; 11e
British battlegroups Compagnie de Commandement
taking part in EAGLES et de Transmissions Parachutiste
AMARANTE were (11CCTP); 1er Régiment de
commanded by a Chasseurs Parachutistes (1RCP);
joint brigade size 1e Régiment de Hussards
Parachutistes (1RHP); 35e
Interim - Combined
Régiment d’Artillerie Parachutiste
Joint Expeditionary (35RAP); 17e Régiment du Génie
Force HQ
7 8
EAGLES AMARANTE
saw the participation
of two British
Puma HC1 and four
French Puma SA 330
transport helicopters
- here, one of the
British Pumas has
just dropped off UK
paratroopers
Parachutiste (17RGP); 1e Régiment
du Train Parachutiste (1RTP); and
the Centre Médical Interarmées de
la Base de Défense de Toulouse
(Service de Santé des Armées)
(CMA BDD TLS SSA). Rotary aviation
support was provided by 5e Régiment
d’Hélicoptères de Combat (5RHC) of
the Aviation Légére de l’Armée de Terre
(ALAT).
COMBINED JOINT
EXPEDITIONARY FORCE
On 2nd November 2010 the Lancaster
House Treaties were signed by France
and the United Kingdom at 10 Downing
Street. These treaties are meant to
improve the cooperation of both
countries with regards to defence and
security matters, mainly focussing on
bringing about greater interoperability
and coherence in military doctrine
as well as in the fields of training and
equipment. The treaties also include
the development of a Combined Joint
Expeditionary Force (CJEF) able to
deal with all kinds of military missions,
including crisis response. The concept
is due to be fully operational by 2016.
In February 2011, the Chief of the
Defence Staff of the UK and the Chef
d’Etat-Major des Armées (CEMA) of
France agreed on a Joint Procedural
Document implementing the Joint
Letter of Intent and a set of Common
Objectives. Among others, these
objectives included establishing the
CJEF, joint non-combatant evacuation
operations planning, conducting
bilateral exercises and the alignment of
concepts and doctrines. In June 2011,
9 up to the highest intensity. Being a
the UK’s CDS and France’s CEMA
approved the Military Level of Ambition,
setting out the size, nature and working
mechanisms of the UK/French CJEF.
In February 2012, the Concept of
Employment was approved that will
be used as a framework for work on
subordinate components as well as the
guidelines for training and activity in
support of the CJEF.
7: A Véhicule Blindé 10
Léger armoured scout
car of the Compagnie
d’Èclairage et d’Appui of
1RCP rushes forward to
a new position during a
reconnaissance patrol
on STANTA
8: French Paras
were equipped with
the Fantassin à
Équipements et Liaisons
The CJEF will be an early entry force
INtégrés (FÉLIN) capable of facing multiple threats
infantry equipment,
including the FAMAS Combined UK/France Joint Force, it
FELIN assault rifle fitted will be available for bilateral, NATO,
with SWORD T&D sight
EU, UN or other operations. The
CJEF will feature a deployable HQ
9: A Para of the that will be composed of UK and
French 11e Brigade French staff, all experienced in high
Parachutiste descends readiness formation operations.
to the Battalion Drop The Force HQ will be capable of
Zone under the recently expansion to include staff from
introduced Ensemble other nations, for example, in case
de Parachutage du it deploys as part of a multinational
Combattant operation.
10: After being lifted The Expeditionary Force will be
into position by a able to conduct offensive and
defensive operations on land, in
transport helicopter
the air and at sea wherever UK and
French soldiers of
French national security interests
the 35e Régiment are aligned. The force will include:
d’Artillerie Parachutiste a scalable land component of at
prepare a 120mm towed least one UK battlegroup and one
mortar for a fire mission French battlegroup; a maritime
component of up to Task Group size
based on one or more capital ships;
Combat & Survival 13
 11

The SPIE kit is

basically a rope with
attached D-rings
which can be used
for the quick insertion
and extraction of
troops in areas where
helicopters cannot land

12 11: Using a 13
Special Patrol
Insertion/
Extraction (SPIE)
kit a patrol from
the Groupement
des Commandos
Parachutistes of
the 1er Régiment
de Chasseurs
Parachutistes is
extracted by Puma

12: Gurkhas board

an expeditionary air wing; and a logistic
component capable of supporting the
totality of the CJEF deployment.
The Land component will be an early
entry combined UK and French force
capable of conducting non-enduring,
complex intervention operations, facing
multiple threats up to high intensity. This
component will be a combined force
and not a fully integrated force. It will
be formed from existing national high
readiness forces elements.
The UK and France will collaborate to
share logistic support for the CJEF.
Logistic operations will typically be
commanded by a Combined Joint
Support Group (CJSG) headquarters
subordinate to the CJTF headquarters.
a Puma SA 330
of the French
5e Régiment
d’Hélicoptères
Once deployed to an operational de Combat
theatre, the CJEF will be able to sustain (5RHC) prior to a
itself for three months. heliborne assault
to become the land component
INTERIM COMBINED JOINT 13: B (Gallipoli) of the I-CJEF, as in the UK was 16
EXPEDITIONARY FORCE Company, 2nd Air Assault Brigade. In 2013 the
The full operational capability of the Battalion, The I-CJEF was certified and EAGLES
CJTF is to be achieved through a
five year exercise framework which
Royal Gurkha AMARANTE ‘15 saw those forces
commenced in 2011. Up to 2016,
Rifles formed forming the land component of the
when CJEF will reach full operational part of the I-CJEF further honing their skills
capability, the I-CJEF will perform 2PARA Battle in the field of interoperability and
Group during taking a further step on the road
its tasks as an ad hoc formation.
to CJTF. This exercise was not just
On request, it will be able to deploy, exercise EAGLES
another interoperability exercise, it
command and execute an evacuation AMARANTE was a potent demonstration of the
operation.
operational readiness of French
and British high-readiness forces
With airborne forces naturally being high
and their ability to operate in a joint
readiness assets in France, the 11e
combined framework.
Brigade Parachutiste was dedicated

14 Combat & Survival

 Urban areas offer several types
1 of public transport to enable
their large populations to move
around. This makes them ideal
targets for terrorists, and can
lead to numerous casualties
with just one incident. Similarly,
an accident or criminal act could
also result in dozens of fatalities.
Heighten your awareness and
even if the situation is beyond
your complete control, apply
counter measures to give
yourself the edge.

16 Combat & Survival

EXAMPLES
Cities everywhere are growing and
public transport systems cram an ever-
increasing number of people into small
compartments. The number of national
and international flights rises annually as
cheap travel becomes more accessible.
This is making incidents, accidentally or
otherwise, more common. Here are a
few that made the headlines:-
London – 7th July 2007 saw Britain’s
first suicide attack; three bombs were
set off on buses and Underground trains
causing 52 deaths and injuring around
another 700.
Tokyo – 20th March 2003, in five co-
ordinated attacks, terrorists used sarin
gas on the subway trains; the attack
killed 12 people, seriously injured 50 Main Image: Although into the Twin Towers and the Pentagon and
more, and left over a thousand with most companies are a fourth plane crashed in Pennsylvania
impaired vision. very safety-conscious after passengers turned on the hijackers;
Lockerbie – 21st December 1988, a these days, ferries and the incident caused the deaths of nearly
bomb exploded on Pan Am flight 103 passenger ships still 3,000 and injured another 6,000+.
over the Scottish town killing all the crew, Korea – The MV Sewol ferry capsized
capsize in the 21st
all the passengers and a dozen more in April 2014 resulting in more than 300
people on the ground, some 271 people
Century deaths; the cause was a combination
in all. of factors, mostly over-loading and bad
Madrid – 11th March 2004, a series
1: Flying is one of seamanship.
of bombs were detonated on the train the safest means of
network killing 191 and wounding travel but internal AIR TRAVEL
around 1800; in terms of the number flights often have less Most accidents occur during take-off
of casualties, it is still Europe’s worst security so be extra or landing, so book direct flights where
terrorist attack. careful possible; the fewer take-offs and landings
New York – 11th September 2001 was, the better. Smaller domestic airports often
of course, when four passenger aircraft Images © or via have lower security, allowing dangerous
were hijacked by Al Qaeda and crashed Jason Polley luggage and people to board.
Combat & Survival 17
2 3
4
Wear non-synthetic clothes in case
of fire, and strong shoes/boots rather
than flip flops or sandals. Carrying
a knife-less survival kit, as well as a
Maglite and rescue whistle. Arrive
early enough to request a window
seat to the rear, near an emergency
exit if you can - statistically this is the
safer place to be.
Once in-flight, the following may
help:-
• read the safety leaflet, watch
the accompanying video, note the
emergency exits and check the map
to see your route. If you crash land at
sea or on an island knowing where
you are, even roughly, could help with
later navigation.
• Stay strapped into your seat as a
sudden loss of power, or an explosion
does not come with warnings; being
secure is usually safer than being
thrown about.
• If the oxygen masks are dropped
down, you have only seconds to put
one on before you will black out, so
don’t delay.
• If the plane is hijacked, people
Railway stations
are targets
for criminals
and terrorists
because of the sheer
number of tired
and disorientated
travellers
18 Combat & Survival
in the aisle seats are more likely to be
hauled out as targets. Don’t make eye
contact with the hijackers and fade to
virtual invisibility.
SEA TRAVEL
Passenger vessels and ferries capsize
even in this modern age of state of the
art navigation and safety measures.
Human error, bad seamanship and
overloading for greater profits, are
common causes of accidents. Pirates
2: All cities frequently attack ships off the east coast
need several of Africa, as well the in the South China
means of moving Seas. Passengers are robbed, killed or
taken hostage.
the enormous
populations around, Help yourself by:-
and all expose the • Doing your research of the route/ship
passengers to risks operator. Does the operator have a bad
safety record; are there pirates in the
3: Airport security area?
is tight, but you • Get to know the ship’s layout
still need to be (especially in the dark) and where the
vigilant life-rafts are. See where the life-jackets
are stowed and try putting one on a
Rush hour city trains make lethal
targets for acts of terrorism
4: Fifty or more few times – familiarity will help in an
can be squeezed emergency. Never inflate a life-jacket
until actually in the water.
into a bus making
• Carry a ‘grab bag’ of useful survival
escape difficult items, including some food and water.
• Drowning and hypothermia from
5: Always read the cold water are the usual causes of
the aircraft death. So before you abandon ship,
safety leaflet, wrap up. You will also stay warmer
it will make a if you huddle together with other
difference in an survivors.
emergency
TRAIN TRAVEL
In developing countries you will stand
out, attract attention, and possibly be
5
targeted by
criminals. In
developed
countries,
rush hour
trains offer
an appealing
target to
terrorists,
particularly
those serving the capital city
where harm and publicity are assured.
Note the following to enhance your
safety:-
• Book a compartment if possible and
securely lock the door.
• Sleep in shifts with a friend, or stay
awake if alone. Sleep on your actual
bags if possible.
• Pickpockets and terrorists prefer
to operate during rush hour. Violent
crimes and luggage thefts occur more
frequently on the overnight runs. Plan
your journey accordingly.
• Do not accept food or drink from
anyone, as the drugging of travellers is
not uncommon.
• Terrorists may plant bombs in
several compartments. Look out for
similar (perhaps abandoned) bags,
and an anxious traveller trying to
delicately stow a bag, then promptly
walking away.
ATTITUDE
Accident investigators find out why
the dead died, and who or what was
to blame. Psychologists, on the other
hand, find out why the living lived. We
learn that among the dead were those
that sat doing nothing, waiting for
instructions. We also learn that many
survivors were extroverts and pro-
active in escaping the scene. Survivors
got themselves out of the wreckage/
situation by forcing their way to safety.
The shock and horror of a crash/
bombing can paralyse mentally and
physically. This paralysis may result
in doing nothing and ultimately being
engulfed in water, fire or noxious
gases. It is vital you acknowledge this
paralysis and snap yourself out of it
as quickly as possible. Training and
experience always helps, but the right
attitude is a life-saver.

The Sleeka
is available
in A-TACS
camo
Down in the Southern Hemisphere,
where we have many readers across
Southern Africa and Australasia plus
a few others in equally ‘upside-down’
locations from the Falklands to Fiji,
the sun is well over your side of the
Equator and mid-summer is almost with
you. Up here in the North of the planet,
the days are growing increasingly
longer as the mid-winter solstice
approaches and most of the mercury
in the thermometer has retreated into
the globe at the bottom. The long dark
nights and chilly short days tell us it’s
definitely Sleeka time again - and it will
be for months.
I
have worn Sleeka jackets for many years, and
indeed not only does one (reversible MultiCam
version) hang on the back of my front door for
instant access, but another (A-TACS version)
is permanently stowed in the boot of my car ...
unless, of course, I am wearing it like I did when
20 Combat & Survival
Jacket
compresses
easily into
its own
stuff sack
covering the start of Ex. SOUTHWEST WADER on
an unexpectedly chilly autumnal morning. Used by
UK Forces personnel, both as a private purchase
and later as an issue item, in pretty much every
conflict zone since the Falklands Campaign in
1982, the Original Sleeka is often nicknamed the
‘softie’... simply because it is.
Between the Paratex Light outer and inner shells,
which make this jacket both lightweight, and
windproof as well as water repellent, the durable
Softie Premier insulation gives a temperature
rating of -5°C for Comfort and -10°C for Extreme.
This British-made jacket also has breathable
Original Sleeka in black
Hem can be
drawn in
for added
snugness
and moisture wicking properties to help keep the
wearer warm and dry in the worst conditions. An
elasticated drawcord hem and neck can be pulled
in to trap body heat and the cuffs are elasticated
too. Available colours are Black, Olive Green,
MultiCam or A-TACS.
If you don’t already possess an Original Snugpak
Sleeka jacket, or you fancy a new one because your
current ‘softie’ has been beasted, this could be your
chance. Just go to the combatandsurvival.
com website while this issue is on the newsstands
and click on the Competition banner at the top. See
website for T&C.
Model : Victoria - Images © Bob Morrison
 1
This June over 20 NATO Main Image: Polish
allies and partner nations T-72 main
. battle tanks
conducted a series of from Gizycko-based
training manoeuvres in 15th Mechanised
Europe under the ALLIED
Brigade were supported
SHIELD umbrella, including:
NOBLE JUMP, the first
by US Abrams (left)
training deployment of Allied
and Danish Leopard
high-readiness units under
(right) tanks [US Army:
the new Very High Readiness Spc. Marcus Floyd]
Joint Task Force framework;
SABER STRIKE, a significant 1: This US M7 Bradley
land exercise in the Baltic Fire Support Vehicle
States; TRIDENT JOUST, a (B-FiST) coordinated
NRF command and control Joint Fires - note 2
exercise in Romania; and impact area on left
BALTOPS, the major Baltic horizon and Danish
Sea naval exercise. In total, Leopard MBT at
approximately 15,000 troops extreme right middle
simultaneously participated, ground
using military training
areas in countries including 2: US gunners from
Sweden, Poland, Lithuania 4th Battalion, 319th
and Latvia. C&S attended all Airborne Field Artillery
three main exercise phases Regiment, 173rd
held in Poland.
Airborne Brigade fired

I
n this fifth, and final, article on the
M119 105mm Towed
ALLIED SHIELD series we are fo-
Howitzers from one
cussing on the last live-fire phase
flank [US Army: Spc.
which was held on the Drawsko Marcus Floyd]

22 Combat & Survival

 From the other flank US gunners from
C Battery, 1st Battalion, 41st Field
Artillery Regiment fired M109A6 Paladin
155mm self-propelled howitzers
[US Army: Spc. Marcus Floyd]

Pomorskie training area in north-west Overhead US

Poland, more than 300 kilometres north AH-64 Apache
´
and four hours drive from Swietoszów,
helicopters from
^
where we covered NOBLE JUMP the
previous day, and about 180 kilometres
2nd Battalion,
and three hours drive south-west of 159th Attack
Ustka, where we covered BALTOPS Reconnaissance
two days before. These distances give Battalion, 12th
some idea of the amount of ground Combat Aviation
covered by this wide-ranging NATO and Brigade picked
Partner Nation multinational exercise off advancing
series in Poland, but it must also be enemy armour
borne in mind that BALTOPS additionally
included an amphibious landing phase
on the other side of the Baltic in Sweden
and that SABER STRIKE had simulta-
neous Command Post and Situational
Training and Live Fire Exercises (CPX,
STX and LFX) running across Lithuania
and Latvia as well.

3: Artillery impact From the American perspective, SABER

area seen through STRIKE 15 (SbS15) was a component
of their ongoing Operation ATLANTIC
my longest lens - the
RESOLVE, which was established in
4 red block right of direct response to Russia’s actions in
centre is just to the Ukraine and the war in the Donbass
right of the smoke in region and intended to demonstrate
photo 1. solidarity with NATO and the Eastern
European nations in the Alliance. US-led,
4: Danish Leopards SbS15 was designated as a Multilateral,
start engaging Annual, Regional, Distributed CPX, FTX
armour targets and LFX event involving the US Army,
- camouflaged US Navy, US Marine Corps and US Air
Force with 13 nations participating and
armoured personnel
over 6,000 military personnel involved.
carrier is a German
Marder (Marten) IFV
The SbS15 series consisted of five linked
exercises namely: the second phase
Images © of BALTOPS, a US NAVEUR exercise
Bob Morrison in the Baltic Sea with a multinational
unless noted amphibious landing at Ustka where

Combat & Survival 23


participating US Marines joined SABER
STRIKE once ashore; a multinational
battalion-level STX and LFX at Drawsko
Pomorskie designed to increase
interoperability; YELLOW KNIGHT in
Lithuania, which was a brigade-level
CPX designed to train commanders on
multinational cooperation in a mobile
defence scenario; IRON WOLF, which
was a multinational battalion-level FTX
(Field Training Exercise) at a second
location in Lithuania; and a multinational
battalion-level FTX in Latvia designed
to prepare the Baltic Battalion for NATO
Response Force (NRF) certification. UK
24 Combat & Survival
Pop-up infantry targets plus
armour hulks were engaged by
both German vehicles on the right
and Polish vehicles on the left
Forces only participated in the Latvia
FTX, under Latvian HICON (Higher
Control), with a 230-strong contingent
formed around a company from Second
Battalion of the Royal Gurkha Rifles
operating as light role infantry under
Estonian command alongside tanks
and mechanised infantry battalions
from Latvia and Finland, Lithuania and
Norway and the US Army.
At Drawsko Pomorskie the three
battalions exercising under Polish
HICON included: a Polish mechanised
infantry battalion from 15th Mechanised
With the enemy attack
blocked the Danish Leopards
supported by German
Marders went on the
offensive on the right flank
5
One of the three B-52 Stratofortress
bombers from 5th Bomb Wing based in North
Dakota which deployed to RAF Fairford to
support SABER STRIKE and BALTOPS
6
5: Danish Leopard Brigade, with a US company
2A5DK main battle from 2nd Battalion of the 7th
Infantry Regiment (2-7 IN) under
tank captured on
its command; a Danish armoured
camera just after a battalion from 1st Brigade, with
120mm round has an Apache squadron from the US
left the barrel aimed 12th Combat Aviation Brigade
at a tank target under its command; and a German
mechanised infantry battalion, with
6: Polish a company of US Marines under
mechanised infantry its command. In addition US Army
in trenches to the M119 105mm towed howitzer and
left, supported by M109A6 Paladin 155mm self-
propelled howitzer batteries, from
BWP -1 Infantry
173rd Airborne Brigade and 41st
Fighting Vehicles, Field Artillery Regiment respectively,
engaged close provided joint fires in support of
range targets - only the multinational brigade and US
one BWP is visible Air Force Global Strike Command
from this angle provided B-52 Stratofortress strategic
 A wave of Danish Leopards rises out of
dead ground to hammer home the advantage

7 9

7: On the left flank bombers, temporarily deployed

the Polish infantry from North Dakota to RAF Fairford
dismounts take to their in England, to run simulated heavy
8
vehicles and speed bombing missions in support of the
forward to consolidate mechanised infantry battalions during
their live-fire missions. Other US
captured ground
Forces participating included trainers
from the Joint Multinational Readiness
8: Likewise on the right Center at Hohenfels, 5th Signal
flank, German infantry Command, 21st Theater Sustainment
in both wheeled and Command, 18th Engineer Brigade,
tracked armour move 173rd Airborne Brigade and 234th
forward from previously Engineer Detachment.
concealed positions
The accompanying photos primarily
9: One final shot for show the multinational live-fire
our vehicle enthusiasts defence and counter-attack mounted
- right side of the M7 in front of a group of Distinguished
B-FiST as it heads off to Visitors, including senior politicians,
follow the main Alliance military top brass and foreign
armoured advance observers on 19th June.

Combat & Survival 25

 Long lens shot of the extreme left of the battlefield panorama, under W1, as one of the Scimitars withdraws - the orange markers
from left to right on this side of the treeline represent a defensive minefield belt which the LABG will breach next month

28 Combat & Survival

Last March the C&S team Main Image: 1
spent a fair bit of time Battlefield
across Southern England
Panorama: W1, W2
covering the various
phases of Ex. TRACTABLE,
& W3 each denote
watching 3 [UK] Division’s Infantry Warriors;
Lead Armoured Task Force I A is above the
assembling and then primary Impact
deploying on manoeuvres Area for artillery; H
by road, rail and sea denotes the close
before reassembling range armoured
its spearhead Lead vehicle hulk target;
Armoured Battle Group, and OP denotes the
provided by 12th Armoured
Observation Post
Infantry Brigade, for a
demonstration attack
Vehicle controlling
on Salisbury Plain to the artillery and aviation
west of Imber village. Roll attacks
forward to October and
the LABG had deployed to 1: Recce Scimitar
north-east Poland on the from DREADNAUGHT
2
multinational Exercise Squadron nimbly
DRAGON, which Carl will withdrawing from
report on next month, but superior forces with
back in the UK others were
its turret and 30mm
still training hard.
RARDEN cannon
traversed

B
ack on Salisbury Plain, other
3 [UK] Division components
assigned to the British Army’s 2: Artillery strike
REACTION FORCE mounted going in on the
a Combined Arms Manoeuvre approaching armour
Demonstration [CAMD] on another on the left of the
of the SPTA (Salisbury Plain Train- Impact Area - two
ing Area) live-fire ranges around visible tank hulk
15 kilometres to the east of Imber targets on a distant
and just to the north of Larkhill. This ridge are ringed
time, however, the battlegroup was
in red
was formed around a tank squad-

Combat & Survival 29

 Firing on the move a 1 RTR
Challenger 2 moves forward
to defend a FIRST FUSILIERS
Warrior which is also firing its
main and secondary armament
ron from the Royal Tank Regiment with
infantry support from 1st Battalion the
Royal Regiment of Fusiliers; both being
part of 1st Armoured Infantry Brigade
which is the other currently UK-based
brigade under 3 DIV (20th Armoured
Infantry Brigade is presently based in
Germany but will return to the Salisbury
30 Combat & Survival
A second 1 RTR Challenger
firing on the move - this one
is painted in the Salisbury
Plain demo battlegroup’s OpFor
colour-scheme
Plain area in 2017 under the ARMY 2020
restructuring).
Since the drawdown in Afghanistan’s
Helmand Province the British Army
has been focussing on training for
Contingency Operations; a crucial area
effectively put on the back burner from
Javelin LFATGWS missile caught in
the air just after rocket motor ignition
3
3: Westland AH1 the middle of the last decade as
Apache attack efforts focussed first on countering
helicopter engaging insurgency in southern Iraq
mid-distance targets following the 2003 invasion and
with its M230 30mm then on battling the Taliban in
southern Afghanistan when the
chain gun firing at
intervention in Helmand Province
the crew’s 3 o’clock went pear-shaped. Indeed as one
infantry battalion commanding
4: 81mm mortar officer formally stated at a CAMD
strikes fired from back in 2013: “It is important for
the W Company us to understand about Land
BULLDOG APCs Combat Power as we come back
exploding on the from Afghanistan and return to
impact area in the Contingency, because we haven’t
middle distance really touched a lot of this properly
for the past six to eight years.”
Emplaced FIRST FUSILIERS Warrior
engaging targets with its 30mm
RARDEN main armament and 7.62mm
coaxial machinegun
The aim of the CAMD on Salisbury
Plain this October was to
demonstrate to Defence Academy
students, from home and abroad,
plus officers attending courses
at Warminster and Larkhill, the
capabilities of a Lead Armoured
Battle Group when operating
as part of a Vanguard Infantry
Brigade within a REACTION
FORCE context. The demo, which
was arranged into defensive and
attacking phases, was constructed
in a manner which would clearly
show how combined arms assets
and capabilities can be integrated
and synchronised to deliver
Joint Effects in the Land Warfare
domain at an armoured infantry
battlegroup level using artillery,
main battle tanks and infantry
fighting vehicles supported by
attack helicopters and fast jets
flying in the ground support role.
The demo commenced with two
CVR(T) Scimitar recce vehicles
7 is to provide a recce screen ahead of
5
5: NLAW missile Two more 1 RTR
operator firing at an Challenger 2 tanks firing
armoured vehicle on the move, this time out
hulk target from a on the left flank
well-concealed trench
off to one side of his
Warrior
6: The effect of the
NLAW strike on
the armour hulk -
underneath H on the
battlefield panorama
image
7: The dismounted
Fusiliers engaged pop-
up targets representing
advancing enemy
troops - red tracer
rounds can be detected from DREADNAUGHT Squadron of the 1st Royal Regiment of Fusiliers
on the original image the Royal Tank Regiment pulling back, with their four FV510 Warrior Infantry
with 30mm turrets traversed, after Section Vehicles, only three of which
Images © spotting an enemy armoured probe could be photographed in the same
Bob Morrison to the north-west of the battlegroup’s frame, were dug in; the troops being
location. DREADNAUGHT is in slit trenches and the Warriors
the regiment’s command and being hull down in tank scrapes.
reconnaissance squadron and its task While the 30mm cannons on the
Warriors engaged the approaching
the battlegroup. The BG commander enemy armoured personnel carriers,
then immediately called on a battery of four Challenger 2 main battle tanks
four AS90 155mm self-propelled guns from BADGER Squadron of 1 RTR
from 1st Regiment Royal Horse Artillery moved forward from the flanks and
(positioned several kilometres away) engaged the enemy heavy armour
to drop a barrage on the approaching with 120mm rounds and overhead
armour and a Fire Support Team from an RAF Tornado simulated a
the regiment’s E Battery in an FV514 PAVEWAY laser-guided bomb strike
Warrior Observation Post Vehicle coordinated by the FST.
directly to our front coordinated joint
fires. AH1 Apache attack helicopters
provided eyes in the sky and
Just in front of the OPV a mechanised engaged targets of opportunity as
infantry platoon from Y Company of three 81mm mortar teams from W
Combat & Survival 31
 A Fusilier races back to his
Warrior - on his left arm he
wears the low visibility
version of 1st Armoured
Brigade’s red outlined green
triangle badge with the
8 number 1 in the centre

Company of the FIRST FUSILIERS, 8: I’m no plane

operating from FV432 Mk.3 spotter, but I
BULLDOG armoured personnel reckon this aircraft
carriers, engaged dismounted simulating a
enemy infantry with High Explosive PAVEWAY strike 10
bombs and anti-armour teams
is an RAF Tornado
from Y Company took out surviving
armoured vehicles with JAVELIN
rather than the billed
and NLAW missiles from the left and
Typhoon
right of the trench line respectively
as the rest of the platoon engaged 9: Warrior backs out
remaining infantry (represented by of its tank scrape
pop-up targets) with 7.62mm GPMG - where it was
and 5.56mm LMG plus SA80A2 firing hull down - to
assault rifles as they approached counter-attack and
within range. press home the
advantage
Then, with the enemy advance
stalled, the battlegroup commander 10: The OpFor ‘Men
decided to press home the In Blue’ armed
advantage by mounting a sudden with AK assault
combined arms counter-attack. rifles take to the
trenches as the Lead
Next month: The armoured Armoured Battle
battlegroup attacks, as seen from Group goes on the
the enemy’s perspective. offensive

32 Combat & Survival

 Individual bübi
components –
drinking cap is an
optional extra

E
As you may have noticed, ssentially the bübi bottle is a water
to save duplication we container made from microbial-free
have a rough demarcation and BPA-free silicone which is not
line for Product Reviews only dishwater safe but can also be
with Mike doing the put in the freezer or microwave (with-
pretty bright colours and out its carabiner-style D-ring) and can
even be used to boil water for sterili-
yours truly doing camo
sation, or to make a brew, so long as
and military shades.
you hold it above the heat source and
When the UK distributors
do not lower it into an open flame.
of the bübi bottle first To save space when empty it can be
contacted me they sent rolled up and pretty much no matter
images of their product in how you abuse it the bottle will retain
bright dayglo colours and its original shape; that alligator test
without a second thought on youtube, where they really do let
I pigeon-holed these an Everglades croc bite into a bübi,
containers as being more emphasises how indestructible the
in Mike’s department than bottle is.
mine. Then SpiritBarn
sent me an olive drab When on assignment I carry my 1: When in Spain Rolled up and
review sample and an cameras and ancillaries in a recently I carried my restrained by its
in-depth assessment of customised SOURCE daysack and bübi clipped to the carabiner with
usually transport a netbook or laptop D-ring of my daysack standard top
its properties and I was
in the perfectly sized and padded shoulder strap
hooked ... even before I fitted
saw the alligator test on 2
2: Empty bübi rolled
youtube!
to save space and
1 threaded through the
carabiner – I used the
drinking cap when on
the move
3: It really is possible
to boil water in the which I hung on its carabiner from
bübi but keep the bottle one of my shoulder strap D-rings. The
water bladder compartment, meaning clear of the naked standard bübi cap is plain, but there is
I need to carry a water bottle in a side flame [©SpiritBarn] also an optional drinking cap with bite
pouch. For TRIDENT JUNCTURE valve and I used this to allow me to
in Spain and Portugal (my outdoor Images © sip on the move. Very handy.
photos on this page were taken at Bob Morrison
CENAD Chinchilla) I used my bübi, unless noted To buy online go to spiritbarn.co.uk

34 Combat & Survival

 Exercise TRIDENT
JUNCTURE ‘15 was both
the NATO Alliance’s most
important exercise of
the year and a flagship Main Image: Italian
activity for its Connected
military personnel
Forces Initiative. Said to
parade with flags of
have been the largest
exercise conducted by the
participating nations
Alliance since STRONG
at the Opening
RESOLVE in 2002, though Ceremony at Trapani
having covered that one Air Base on 19th
the C&S team feel in some October [Italian Air
ways TJ15 was more Force: WO Bucci
wide-ranging, the latest Valter]
manoeuvres consisted
of two distinct parts: a Right: US and Royal
Command Post Exercise Marines from HMS

(CPX) for Strategic and
Operational level staff
training, evaluation and
certification (from 3rd to
16th October) and a Live
Exercise (LIVEX) for tactical
level troop engagements
(from 21st October to 6th
November).
B
Bulwark ashore for illed as being run in the spirit
a demonstration of ‘train-as-you-fight’, the CPX
landing in Sardinia element of TJ15 represented
a venue for trainees to deal
on 22nd October -
with the SOROTAN scenario, which
note US Marine is provides a setting that enables an
armed with SA80A2 out-of-area Crises Response Opera-
[Crown Copyright: tion training programme as well as
L(Phot) JJ Massey] showcasing NATO’s flexibility in
the face of advanced threats and
addressing many NATO train-
ing priorities simultaneously. For
those who have not encountered
the SOROTAN scenario, it aims to
set a wide range of conventional
and unconventional threats within
a whole-of-government context in
order to challenge NATO at the tacti-
cal, operational and strategic levels
of warfare.

36 Combat & Survival


2 Desert [NATO: Miks Uzans]
The NATO forces deployed on
TJ15 were tasked to protect and
defend the weak fictional state of
Lakuta against a highly-adaptive
regional adversary, the fictional
state of Kamon. The lines of
effort to protect Lakuta included:
high-intensity, joint warfighting;
countering hybrid warfare threats
and other new tactics of war;
Theatre Ballistic Missile Defence;
Cyber Defence Operations;
Chemical, Biological and
Radiological Defence expertise
and advice; addressing violence
against the civilian population;
addressing the protection of
children and prevention of gender-
based violence; addressing
Royal Navy Merlin and Royal
Marines Viking Mk.2 in
Sardinia - we last saw both
on Ex. SOUTHWEST WADER in
our December issue [Crown
Copyright: L(Phot) JJ Massey]
Royal Marines Commandos on the
ground at Sotomayor near Almeria -
the Sierra Alhamilla foothills behind
mark the edge of the Tabernas
1: HMS Ocean leads A foot patrol from A Company 1 R IRISH accompanies
a multinational fleet Italian CIMIC personnel into a refugee village near
of 18 warships during Higueruela on the Chinchilla Training Area
Officer of the Watch
Manoeuvres in the
Mediterranean in
preparation for the
Theatre Entry phase
[Crown Copyright:
L(Phot) JJ Massey]
2: US Marine Corps
Ospreys delivered a
combined USMC and
RM raid onto Sotomayor
Training Area in South-
east Spain on 30th
October [NATO: Miks
Uzans]
Combat & Survival 37

humanitarian crises; wielding soft
power and public diplomacy; and
countering a deceptive and controlled
media environment and its effects.
Additionally, the SOROTAN scenario
facilitated the applications of the
Connected Forces Initiative and the
Comprehensive Approach to Crisis
Management by bringing together
a diverse set of military and civilian
organisations in order to plan and
conduct all stages of a multinational
Crisis Response Operation with the
aim of reaching a common effect on
the ground.
Although it could be presumed
that TJ15 was aimed at training
38 Combat & Survival
Five Foxhounds from one of the B Company
1 R IRISH platoons prepare to move to a new
location at Chinchilla - we will focus more on
these vehicles in a future issue
commanders, headquarters, units
and troops to be ready to deal with
any further westward expansion by
by Russia, in reality the setting and
the scope of the SOROTAN scenario,
although it deals with a very unstable
region (dubbed Cerasia) which is 3: A Danish mechanised battalion with CV9035DK Infantry Fighting Vehicles
under mounting political, military and M113 Armoured Personnel Carriers served under 4 [UK] Brigade in Spain
and civil pressure, has water or the
lack of it as the actual catalyst for the
4: A British Multinational Brigade officer explains the Combined Joint
notional conflict. With desertification,
dry aquifers, riparian disputes and an
Offensive Operations and future plans to Swedish, Russian, German and
ever-diminishing resource, Kamon, Swiss visitors on 3rd November [NATO photo]
the aggressor country in the region,
invades southwards in order to 5: A British convoy shielded by a Danish Leopard and (hard to spot)
seize a key dam in Lakuta and force dismounted infantry during Combined Joint Offensive Operations training at
unwilling parties into water rights Chinchilla on 3rd November [NATO photo]
negotiations. As the resource-driven

6 7
A combined company of US Marines,
Fuzileiros and Royal Marines coming
ashore from HMS Bulwark on the
Troia Peninsula on 5th November
A brace of US Army Apache
helicopters supporting a
Special Operations Forces raid
on Casas Altas at San Gregorio
Training Area on 4th November
6: Three of the seven conflict takes hold of Cerasia, the
C-15 Globemasters holistic relationship between military
that delivered 500 US and international partners gains
paramount importance, highlighting
Airborne paratroopers trust and improved cooperation. In
direct from the other addition to this whole-of-government
side of the Atlantic into focus, the scenario includes a
the exercise in Spain hostile information environment that
is capable of turning the tide in the
7: Royal Marine conflict, making strong Strategic
(right) and Portuguese Communications one of the top
Fuzileiros storm ashore exercise training objectives.
from HMS Bulwark’s
LCVPs on the rehearsal The LIVEX phase of TJ15 took place
across a wide range of amphibious
for the main Troia and land warfare training areas
landing [MDN: Carlos from southern Sardinia in the east
Dias] to Portugal’s Atlantic coast in the
west and from Sierra del Retin
Images © and Almeria on Spain’s southern
Bob Morrison coasts to Chinchilla and Zaragoza,
unless noted with naval forces operating from
Combat & Survival 39
 Sicily westwards throughout the
Mediterranean for 1800 kilometres
into the Atlantic Ocean. Air bases
across Portugal, Spain, Italy and
three Mediterranean islands provided
aviation support as well, but as this
is mostly outside the scope of this
magazine we only concentrated on
two of the participating multinational
infantry brigades, one Spanish-led and
the other UK-led, and on the UK-led
multinational amphibious task force. Above: US In this scene-setting initial article
We would have liked to have also Marines from the we have selected images to try
covered the Dutch-led amphibious Special Purpose to give the reader a flavour of the
task force (and indeed they invited UK Forces involvement and to
C&S to be embedded with
MAGTF Crisis show some of those they worked
them) and both the Canadian-led Response - Africa alongside, or in support of, on the
multinational brigade in Portugal and disembarking a biggest NATO exercise since 2002.
the Italian-led multinational brigade Royal Marines Over the next few issues we will go
in Sardinia, but with neither the time, LCVP on 5th into more detail on a major exercise
resources nor manpower to cover November [MDN: which received surprisingly little UK
everything we had to be realistic. Horta Pereira] media coverage.

Royal Marines Viking Mk.2 coming ashore at Troia from one of Bulwark’s LCUs on 5th A Russian inspection team, here with Colonel Jensen from the Canadian Armed
November after the multinational company had secured the beach Forces, visited TJ15 in Portugal under the Vienna Document 2011 [DND-MDN
Canada: Sgt Sebastien Frechette]

40 Combat & Survival

 1 Top Left: Mannequin 2
wearing Plate
Carrier, Chassis/
On 29th January 2015 we
broke the news via the
MOLLE Belt, Daysack
combatandsurvival.com
and Helmet with
website that the first order Visor & Mandible
had been placed for the new Guard
VIRTUS (formerly PECOC)
Load Carriage & Integrated Top Right: Plate
Personal Protection System carrier can be
for issue to Britain’s high speedily doffed
readiness light infantry by removing a pin
formations. Earlier that day, mechanism on the
in response to our formal upper left
request for information, a UK
MoD Spokesperson issued
1: Rear view of Plate
the following statement:
“The VIRTUS contract for
Carrier, Chassis/
the supply and support
MOLLE Belt and DWD
of personal protective Spine Bar

W
equipment and load carriage
has now been awarded to hen we met with the Prime 2: Coyote Tan colour target for delivery to UK MoD ware-
Source Vagabond Systems Contractor, SOURCE, at the Plate Carrier and houses by the end of that month. So,
Ltd. This is a multi-year DSEi military expo at ExCel Belt with pouches you are probably asking, what exactly
in London Docklands in is VIRTUS?
contract to supply an initial stand out on the
September, where the accompanying
9,000 systems to the British
images were all taken, the first batch of
MTP-clad mannequin The short description of the tender
Army.”
3,500 full sets of equipment was well on documents stated: “Project VIRTUS

42 Combat & Survival

Front view Rear view
of weight of weight
distribution distribution
yoke yoke
worn with worn with
Chassis/ Chassis/
MOLLE Belt MOLLE Belt

3 4 5

Manoeuvre and Ground Support to Air 3: Weight

Operations.” distribution yoke
and DWD Spine Bar
The manufacturer expands on this by
explaining: “VIRTUS forms the core of a
(Formerly Personal Equipment
scalable soldier architecture, designed
4: Plate Carrier soldier on the move is therefore able
and Common Operational
as a system to address the challenges STV (left) with to vary the load placed through the
Clothing or PECOC) will deliver
of the current and future operating DWD Spine Bar and spine, while maintaining correct stride
an integrated head, torso and
environments. Viewing the ‘soldier 40-litre Daysack and flexibility of the body. Essentially a
load carriage system with the
as a system’ enables an integrated telescopic, adjustable weight transfer
ability for quick release that will
approach to reducing the cognitive, 5: This is the new mechanism (Spine Bar) connectible to
form the foundation of Personal
Protective Equipment (PPE). It
physiological and mechanical impact VIRTUS standard all load carriage system components
will be the core component of
on the individual, enhancing the issue 40-litre acts as a second spine and distributes
the Dismounted Close Combat
operational effectiveness of the combat Daysack weight between the shoulders and a
infantry.” contoured reinforced hip belt (Chassis
Soldier. VIRTUS will support the
/ MOLLE belt) with PALS tapes for belt
activities of all service personnel
To reduce the burden a Dynamic
Images © order pouches. A simple adjustment
engaged in a Dismounted Close
Weight Distribution (DWD) system
Bob Morrison button (on the vest above and behind
Combat role; this encompasses
enables weight to be transferred unless noted the right kidney) allows the soldier to
Soldiers, Marines and Airmen
between the shoulders and the hips, transfer weight from a starting position
involved on Land, Littoral
improving comfort and agility. The with everything carried by the shoulders

Combat & Survival 43

 VIRTUS
includes various
specialist
rucksacks plus
40-litre daysack
and 90-litre
bergen

6
8

6: A wide range of 9
Source Tactical Gear
pouches will be issued
with each STV
7: The new helmet is
the BATLSKIN Cobra
7
through a midpoint, where half is Plus seen here with
taken by both shoulders and hips, to Wolfspider goggles
a lower position where the hips take
by adding full body armour, trauma
all the strain and the shoulders are 8: The current issue plates and extremity shields the
unburdened. This all makes sense Revision Sawfly eyepro system can be scaled up to meet
when you see it in operation. has also been chosen highest threat levels; head and face
for VIRTUS protection is equally scalable.
As for the protection element of vest,
REVISION helmet, eyepro, face visor 9: Rear view of
and mandible guard, this is fully This is just the briefest of looks at
Revision’s BATLSKIN VIRTUS and once the full system
scalable to suit the threat and the
Cobra Plus with is on widespread issue we hope to
mission. The basic vest can be worn
concealed under the combat jacket
Modular Suspension return to this highly interesting topic
for low profile / low threat missions but
System Liner in greater detail.

44 Combat & Survival

 1

IT HAS BEEN SAID

A MILLION TIMES
Main Image:
BEFORE, AND IT IS
The standard 24
VERY DOUBTFUL THAT Hour Ration Pack
NAPOLEON BONAPARTE carton with menu
WAS THE FIRST TO SAY number on side
IT, BUT AN ARMY REALLY
DOES MARCH ON ITS 1: The Halal menu
STOMACH. ON THE numbers are 2
MODERN BATTLEFIELD prefixed with the

A
THERE IS EVEN LESS letter H s it is now over three
CHANCE OF LIVING years (see November
OFF THE LAND IN THE
WAY THAT NAPOLEON’S
2: Menu H4 carton 2012 issue) since we last
contents - the box looked at the UK 24-hour
TROOP’S OPPONENTS Ration Pack in this long-
WERE OFTEN EXPECTED is literally packed
running occasional series, Carl
TO DO, SO THE INDIVIDUAL solid and I thought it was probably
COMBAT RATION PACK time for us to open up a current
IS AN ESSENTIAL PART Images © issue sample so he ‘proffed’
OF THE KIT CARRIED BY Bob Morrison a spare carton while covering
ALMOST EVERY FRONTLINE Exercise EAGLES AMARANTE in Group if we could open one of the
SOLDIER TODAY, BE THAT Norfolk in October. Then when I specialist Halal menus to photo-
IN OR ON HIS VEHICLE was out in Spain in November on graph it for comparison; I could not,
OR IN HIS PACK AND TRIDENT JUNCTURE I asked the however, take that pack away as I
WEBBING. QM at the 4 [UK] Brigade Support could effectively have been depriv-

46 Combat & Survival

3 4
5
Halal ancillaries are
the same as those in
the standard menus
ing one of the Muslim troops on the
exercise of a day’s worth of meals
ordered for their specific dietary
needs.
Looking first inside the standard
Menu 2 carton, which typically
would be issued to troops deployed
on operations or participating
in field training exercises, there
is actually not much difference
between this and the examples
(Menu 13) we focussed on back
in November 2012 but it does
look as if there may be less of the
sweet snacks deemed necessary
for troops operationally deployed
6
to Afghanistan. While in Chinchilla
I checked a Box A menu list (i.e.
menus 1 to 10 out of 20) to confirm
this and noted jams were almost
non-existent. The familiar foil-
wrapped block of Biscuits Brown is
still there, but our carton contained
peanut butter rather than squeezy
sachets of fruit preserve to make
them more palatable; rations evolve
to suit the tastebuds of the soldier.
As per 2012, a squeezable sachet
of fruit purée was included and a
pack of commercial brand nuts, this
time vacuum-packed honey roasted
peanuts, replaced the tropical fruit
and nut mix.
3: Menu 2 All Day The retort pouches in Menu 2 are
Breakfast and Lamb & All Day Breakfast, Leak & Potato
Chickpea Tagine retort Soup, Lamb & Chick Pea Tagine
pouches and Ginger Pudding in Ginger
Sauce; to be frank, although I like
4: The other three retort tagine and cook my own quite
often, I was not impressed by
pouches inside Menu 2
the processed lamb in this main
course. I also found the Ginger
5: Menu H4 Mushroom Pudding, which reminded me of
Omelette and Halal
my school dinners, to be a bit
Chicken With Dal chewy but it tasted okay despite
pouches
its texture. MoD actively seeks
end-user feedback by including a
6: Tuna Chilli Pasta and feedback form in every carton, and
Rice Pudding pouches to encourage a good response rate
from Menu H2 it runs twice yearly prize draws,
each worth £400 in total to three
7: Menu 2 - Boiled winners, so if sufficient people
sweets, Sports Drink grumble about a menu item or
sachet, Fruit Pocket and items this should theoretically be
tissues picked up and dealt with.
Combat & Survival 47

Turning now to the Halal ration
pack, this is one of the special
dietary options provided for the
21st Century UK Forces soldier;
others being Vegetarian and
Kosher. Just like the standard
rations the Halal menus are
packed ten to each outer carton,
though the numbers 1 to 10 are
prefixed with an H to identify them
and there are only ten variations.
Naturally there is no pork in the
H-menus, so those breakfast
8 9: All packs have
48 Combat & Survival
Menu 2 - Biscuits, Nuts,
Cereal Bar, Peanut Butter
and Tabasco Sauce
retort pouches which have sausages
as part of the meal have the veggie
equivalent. Seven of the ten main
meal primary retort pouches have
chicken as the primary constituent,
but there are steak, chilli con carne
and pasta mains too. Incidentally,
an officer acquaintance involved
with selection of Kosher ration secondary food items are mostly quite
pack components tells me that it similar and the common components
is acceptable on religious grounds items are identical. The selection of
for Jewish soldiers to eat Halal cold drink and hot chocolate powder
Above: Menu 2 has meals and for Muslim soldiers to eat sachets is the same, as are the coffee
three assorted drink Kosher. sachets and teabags plus sugar and
powder sachets whitener sachets, and every carton
plus hot chocolate Although the ten Halal menus have contains water purification tablets,
powder a number of different Breakfast matches, tissues, wet wipes, and
and Main Meal retort pouch dishes chewing gum etc. plus a reusable
from the standard ration packs, polythene bag.
8: Menu H4 has
four assorted drink 10
powder sachets
plus hot chocolate
powder
Wipes, Gum,
Windproof Matches,
Sterilising Tablets
and a resealable bag
10: Brew kit gives
four mugs of coffee
or tea plus sugar and
whitener - current
spoon has teeth
Contents
of a Danish
24-hour
ration pack
which
shares a
lot with
its UK
equivalent

Over the last quarter century or 2 3

so when on assignment I have
sampled military ration packs
of many nations, and I have
also bartered a few when in
the field. After girls and sport,
food is often the next popular
talking point for soldiers at
rest and it is not unusual for
those deployed in the field in a
multinational environment for
any length of time to not only
to be inquisitive about what the
other guy is eating but also to 4 5
try swapping rations whenever
the opportunity arises to vary
the diet. The recent Exercise
TRIDENT JUNCTURE was no
different and not only did I
get the chance to look at and
photograph a couple of different
nations’ operational ration
packs but I was also able to
bring home a Lithuanian 24-
hour pack (that’s a rare one)
and one of the latest US MRE
meal packs. I will cover most
of the packs shown here in
1: Danish outer 2: Contents of an 3: Italian ration has 4: Latest generation 5: One day’s food for
more detail in future MARCHING carton - this one was Italian 24-hour ration three separate meal of MREs - I brought a Norwegian JTAC
AMMO features, as and when carried by a CV90 on the ramp of a cartons in a green Menu 19 home to - these are actually
space permits. crew Freccia IFV foil outer taste test it Arctic Field Rations

Images © Bob Morrison Combat & Survival 49

 The PLA’s most advanced MBTs, the ZTZ-99A, roll along Chang’an Avenue. Note the improved explosive
reactive armour on the hull and turret. Although dimensionally higher than the preceding ZTZ-99, the tank
still possesses a lower profile than equivalent Western tanks. Exact specifications are unknown, but it
weighs a shade over 50 tonnes [Xinhua]

1 2 3

Beijing shuddered to a standstill
in early September 2015 as
China’s capital shut down ahead
of a major military parade. The
last major parade took place in
2009, but this one was special as
it occurred away from the usual
1st October National Day. The
reason for this was indicated in
the event’s awkwardly long name,
the ‘Military Parade Marking the
70th Anniversary of the Victory
of the Chinese People’s War of
Resistance against Japanese
Aggression and the World Anti-
Fascist War’.
C&S was in attendance, along with
approximately 2,500 media from
China and around the world, to watch
the country celebrate the anniversary
of Japan’s defeat in World War
Two on 3rd September. Although
Japan formally surrendered on 2nd
September 1945, China celebrated
the victory the following day. This
latest military parade was the 15th
since the Communist-controlled
country was established, of which
eleven occurred in Mao Zedong’s era.
The parade passed through the
historically important Tiananmen
1: The marching formations represented standing armies in which troops
(naturally from the Communist side) fought against the Japanese in
WWII. These soldiers wearing a Type 07 digital-camouflage uniform bear
5.8mm Type 95 rifles [Xinhua]
2: More soldiers, this time dressed in a differently coloured Type 07
universal digital-pattern uniform, march in perfect unison. They are
wielding the QBZ-95-1 rifle, which is the newest variant of the bullpup
rifle in standard PLA service
3: Since 2014 the PLA Honour Guard has included female members. Here
its women, of 1.78m average height, march along Chang’an Avenue with
their Type 95 rifles. Their uniforms represent the Army, Navy and Air
Force from left to right respectively

Combat & Survival 51

 4 5

Main Image: These PLA soldiers are wielding Type 03 (QBZ-

03) assault rifles with bayonets attached which uses the 6
unique Chinese 5.8mm cartridge. Of special interest, too, is
the new uniform the soldiers are wearing, which mimics the
MultiCam-derived patterns now favoured by Western militaries
but is not a direct copy [Xinhua]

4: The NORINCO Type 99A (ZTZ-99A) is the PLA’s newest

MBT design. It features a 125mm smoothbore gun, and an
autoloader means a crew of only three is required. A new
feature is a battle management system (BMS) that makes it
“China’s first information-based tank”

5: The ZBD-05/ZTD-05 family was first revealed in 2006,

reflecting China’s emphasis on amphibious operations. This
ZTD-05A light tank variant of the PLA Navy (PLAN) Marine
Corps is armed with a stabilised 105mm gun. It operates with
a crew of three, and swims via two large water jets at the
rear
6: Army ZBD-04A IFVs advance line abreast. The amphibious
IFV has a turret copied from the Russian BMP-3, complete with
a 100mm rifled gun and 30mm coaxial cannon. This upgraded
ZBD-04A version with improved fire control equipment and
additional armour was first revealed last year
Images © Gordon Arthur unless noted
Square in the heart of Beijing, with
national leaders and visiting dignitaries
ensconced on the Tiananmen
Rostrum where Mao inaugurated the
People’s Republic of China (PRC) in
1949. Interestingly, Western leaders on
the whole declined China’s invitation
to attend this parade magnifying
China’s military might. Thus the
most prominent foreign leaders were
Russia’s President Vladimir Putin and
South Korea’s President Park Geun-hye.
For the first time, foreign troops
participated in a Chinese parade.
Seventeen countries responded to
Beijing’s invitation to participate and, in
all, 947 foreign soldiers marched behind
the PLA foot formations though in not
nearly as much precision.
As to be expected, scant attention was

52 Combat & Survival

7 8
9 11
10
paid to the dominant role of Chinese
Kuomintang forces (now represented
by Taiwan) in fighting the Japanese.
Instead, the Communist Party was
largely credited with the stirring victory
over Japan, assisted by Allied forces
such as the USA!
For the first time in the parade, more
than 50 commanders of lieutenant
general and major general rank
(with an average age of 53) led their
respective formations. It was reported
that many of these generals lost
kilogrammes in weight as they trained
alongside their troops in advance of
the parade. Their involvement was
part of President Xi Jinping’s efforts
for senior leaders to set an example
for rank-and-file troops as part of his
anti-corruption campaign to clean up
the corruption-ridden PLA.
7: The 8-tonne ZBD-03 IFV, which entered service in 2003,
is designed for use by PLA Air Force (PLAAF) airborne units.
The packed parachutes at the rear indicate the vehicle can be
air-dropped. The pictured IFV variant boasts a 30mm cannon,
coaxial 7.62mm machine gun and HJ-73B ATGM
8: A close-up of a command vehicle used in conjunction with
the AFT-10 ATGM launcher. A 12.7mm QJZ-88 heavy machine
gun is mounted in the protected cupola, as the crew rolls past
the Tiananmen Rostrum [Xinhua]
9: The AFT-10 ATGM launcher, based on the chassis of the ZBD-
04A IFV, débuted in an exercise last year. Its eight ready-to-
launch Red Arrow 10 (HJ-10) non-line of sight (NLOS) missiles,
likely using fibre-optic guidance, have a 10km range, cruise
speed of 150m/s and attack speed of 230m/s
10: The PLZ-05 155mm SPH entered service in 2007, its turret
strongly reminiscent of the Russian MSTA-S 2S19. It marked a
significant departure for PLA artillery in that it adopted a NATO-
standard calibre. Five crewmen operate the system. This is the
improved PLZ-05A version of this artillery piece
11: The ZLT-11 armoured assault vehicle boasting a 105mm
rifled main gun is a member of the Type 09 8x8 family of
vehicles. Weighing more than 21 tonnes, it is operated by a
crew of four. Eighteen of them rolled through Tiananmen Square
on 3rd September, each fitted with bolt-on appliqué armour
Combat & Survival 53
 12
Naturally, of greatest significance was
the sheer number and modernity of
the PLA equipment on display on 3rd
September. In fact, officials declared
that 84% of the parade equipment had
never been shown to the public before.
Considering that the last parade was
only six years ago, this is a phenomenal
demonstration of how quickly new
equipment has been introduced to all
four services of the PLA. Furthermore,
all equipment on show was domestically
built and is currently in service; i.e.
nothing in prototype state was present.
There were 50 phalanxes in the parade,
including eleven foot formations, two
of WWII veterans (with an average age
of 90), 27 weapon formations, and
ten aircraft echelons. The spectacle
involved 12,000 troops, 500 pieces
of equipment and nearly 200 aircraft.
Vehicle equipment was divided into
various categories such as ground
combat, air defence and missile
54 Combat & Survival
13
defence, maritime attack, strategic
strike, communication support and
logistics.
PLA troops trained daily for a period
of three months ahead of the parade.
Foot soldiers commenced training on
3rd June, and joint training began on
10th July. The fact that soldiers could
spend three months in such intensive
preparations illustrated the importance
the Chinese government placed on
having the parade just so.
Key heavy armoured systems seen in
the 3rd September parade were the
14
Main Image: New 4x4 version of the Dongfeng Mengshi. The
5.814m-long armoured vehicle has a combat weight of 6,100kg, and
accommodates ten passengers. Here it mounts a 12.7mm QJZ-88
machinegun. Also participating was a 6x6 version in People’s Armed
Police livery featuring a remote weapon station
12: The PGZ-07 self-propelled anti-aircraft artillery system provides
low-level air defence for PLA ground forces with its two 35mm
cannons either side of the turret. Connected to the armament are a
tracking radar at the front of the turret and a search radar at the rear
13: The PLAAF fields the HQ-9 long-range surface-to-air missile
(SAM), which is essentially a copy of the Russian S-300. The 8x8
Taian TAS5380 transporter-erector-launcher (TEL) is equipped with
four launch canisters. Maximum velocity of the missile is Mach 2,
and it has a creditable range of 200km
14: There are two components to the HQ-6A short-range air defence
system- a four-cell SAM launcher mounted on a 6x6 truck, and the
pictured Type 730 close-in weapon system (with a 7-barrel 30mm
cannon) fitted to an 8x8 truck chassis. The latter also carries the
associated radar fire control system
 PLAN YJ-62 (also known by the C-602 export
name) subsonic anti-ship missiles are
transported aboard their 8x8 TEL. Belonging to
coastal defence batteries, the YJ-62 in this shore-
to-ship form has a range in excess of 300km

A major revelation was the mobile DF-21D ‘carrier killer’ anti-ship ballistic China has advanced its precision attack capabilities via weapons like the
missile on the Wanshan WS2500 10-wheeled TEL. With an estimated 1,500km DF-10 (CJ-10) cruise missile. With a range of at least 1,500km it is capable
range it is designed to keep US Navy aircraft carriers far from China’s shores - of hitting targets in Okinawa and mainland Japan. The new Sanjiang
China is the only country in the world to field such a weapon Corporation TEL for the improved DF-10A boasts three missile canisters

The DF-31A intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) was the ultimate weapon This Taian 5450 8x8 truck carries a BZK-005 unmanned aerial vehicle
of mass destruction to appear in China’s WWII victory parade. Hauled by a (UAV). The BZK-005 is a high-altitude, long-endurance platform operated
Hanyang tractor-trailer unit, the three-stage ICBM could deliver a nuclear by the PLAN. Pushed by a three-bladed propeller, the UAV has a cruising
warhead to targets as far away as Washington DC speed of 170km/hr and maximum ceiling of 8,000m

Combat & Survival 55

 Type 99A main battle tank (MBT), Type
04A infantry fighting vehicle (IFV),
Type 05A amphibious assault vehicle,
Type 05A self-propelled howitzer,
and Type 10 anti-tank guided missile
(ATGM) launcher. Missiles of the
Second Artillery Corps (SAC) had
their own phalanx within the parade;
seven missile types were shown, of
which five (the DF-16, DF-26, DF-21D,
DF-10A and DF-5A) were débuting to
the public.
As well as the vehicles rolling along
Chang-An Avenue, Beijing’s main
east-west axis, there was a massive
aviation flyover too. Aircraft included
J-11B, J-10B and J-15 fighters,
H-6K strategic bombers and KJ-
500 airborne early warning (AEW)
aircraft. Rotary-winged craft were also
prominent, with army Z-10 and Z-19
attack helicopters among the most
interesting.
Speaking to the assembled throngs
16
18
56 Combat & Survival
from the Tiananmen Rostrum, Xi
declared: “I announce that China
will cut the number of its troops by
300,000.” A Ministry of National
Defence spokesman later elaborated
that this would mainly target “troops
equipped with outdated armaments,
administrative staff and non-
combatant personnel”. The sceptical
would thus say such a massive troop
cut in no way weakens the PLA, but
it rather streamlines it and makes it
more combat effective by trimming
unnecessary fat.
A spokesman said: “The parade
is intended to commemorate
history, cherish the memory of
fallen revolutionary heroes, uphold
peace and usher in the future, with
no specific countries targeted.”
However, not even the release
of 70,000 white doves nor such
statements as above could erase
the image of China’s carefully
choreographed martial might.
17
15
15: This is an electronic warfare variant of the Type 09 8x8
family (i.e. it is related to the ZLT-11 pictured earlier). China is
making particular efforts to improve its C4ISR and electronic
warfare capabilities, of which this vehicle is evidence
16: As well as the ZTZ-99A, China unveiled an armoured
recovery vehicle (ARV) based on its MBT platform. The ARV’s
configuration is conventional, with a dozer blade mounted at
the front, a hydraulic crane situated along the right side of the
hull, and a winch to enable recovery operations
17: The Dongfeng EQ2050 Mengshi
is China’s very own version of
the iconic Hum-vee, reverse
engineered from the American
original. This is an ambulance
version with two-door cab in PLA
service, with an enclosed cabin at
the rear
18: Another vehicle débuting was
a 10-tonne tactical truck from
FAW, the First Automobile Works.
Its nomenclature is believed to be
MV3, and it is in PLA service in
both 4x4 and 6x6 configurations.
Those trucks participating in the
Beijing parade were fitted with
appliqué armour and carried nurses
58 Combat & Survival
Combat & Survival 59

This month we are
focusing on one of the
Vikings from Norway’s
elite Telemark Battalion
who participated on
Exercise NOBLE JUMP ‘15
´ SPECTER optical
at Swietoszów in Poland.
^
Normally when C&S works
with this mechanised
infantry formation it is on
winter exercises, often
in the Arctic north, and
its soldiers are wearing
snow camouflage over-
suits so it makes a change
to photograph a Viking
wearing just his national
three-colour camouflage
uniform, with mostly
Coyote Tan coloured load
carriage equipment on
top. Visually, this colour
combination worked very
well on the light scrub and
sandy soil terrain of the
dusty Polish training area.
60 Combat & Survival
T
he Norwegian M/98 camouflage
pattern, first introduced around
1998 as its name suggests, is
actually a minor pattern and
colour variation of the earlier M/75
pattern initially used for combat
smocks worn with plain green
combat trousers. Consisting of large
rounded patches of dark green, light
green and dark tan, which could
possibly be better described as
pastel shades of bottle green, pea
green and earth, M/98 is a very basic
The assault rifle
pattern that colour-wise is quite close
carried by this to faded examples of the first pattern
Viking is a Heckler
of British WWII Denison smocks but
& Koch 5.56mm without the distinctive brushstroke
component and therefore its troops
HK416 with Elcan wear the NRF shield badge on their
edges on the brown.
left arm with IRF Brigade in the bottom
sight and his right corner. On their right arm they
The Telemark Battalion, which
personal weapon consists mostly of professional (i.e.
wear a black patch with a low visibility
is the Norwegian version of their battalion insignia,
non-conscript) soldiers is currently
variant of the Glock which consists of a Viking longboat
assigned to the NATO Response
17 9mm pistol, in a shield, and under the insignia are
Force spearhead formation as part
stitched NORWEGIAN ARMY HRF
designated P80 as of its Immediate Response Force
and TELEMARK BATTALION; the HRF
per the Austrian stands for High Readiness Force.
original, carried Above this badge they wear a small
in a thigh holster version of their national flag.
dropped from his
padded waistbelt.
Although Norwegian load carriage
If you look closely equipment and pouches etc. are
you will also see available in M/98 camo, as the
he carries a signal Telemark Battalion served extensively
pistol on his vest in Afghanistan, where they wore a
under his right arm. sand, brown and tan desert variant
uniform, they adopted Coyote Tan
Images © kit as worn here for that operational
Bob Morrison theatre.
Images © Bob Morrison
 Product - UK Contact: Armadillo Merino/Armadillo Merino
Telephone/Web: 07891 284 224/armadillomerino.com

I also had a Polo 1

for our trip to Africa
which I wore a great
deal in all sorts of
situations. Light to
wear, comfortable
and looks tidy.

In a way the word Merino 1: Jean wearing The aptly named Leopard V neck was
says it all. If you want a really the Polo in Africa a very comfortable wear - sadly I was
good material that will endure which she found not able to get a photo of it while
both wear and perhaps days
very comfortable watching leopards - again I used this
at a time without a wash (you
even in the hot one a lot on the trip, and after
or the garment) then this is it.
weather and so

A
rmadillo have a range of next- wore it often.
to-skin garments made from
Merino. The material, however, 2: Sorry, I’m not
is only part of the story here as going to model
the garments have to be made to suit undies (Praise the
the jobs in hand. Flat seams that are Lord, Ed.) but the
not placed in high pressure areas and Rammy Boxers
so on. Over the past months I have are like the others
been using a selection of Armadillo
products, including taking them away
in this range and
with me on a trip to Africa where I was are comfortable to
in ambients up to mid-30s°C and not wear
always able to wash clothes regularly.
In fact these garments really save 3: The Light hike 3 4
time, trouble and resources when socks are a bit
travelling as they do not need to be higher in the leg
washed so often; and you can still and have more
maintain close friendships. I took, and padding so good
used a lot, Commando Cross Trainer
for long day in
2 boots.
4: The Commando
Cross Trainer Socks, Light Hike Socks, Rammy Boxers, The T-shirt, Polo and Boxers also proved
socks are lighter Leopard SS V Neck T and Polo SS. to be fit for purpose and so get worn a
and have more lot.
venting so work For me the stand-out item for the trip, and
well for lighter afterwards, is the socks. I just find them This is not the first time I have had
to be a really good fit and comfortable Armadillo products to wear test and
use and hotter
to wear so they tend to come out of the review, and both times I have found them
climates. bag first and get used day after day. up to the mark. The Armadillo website is
Both sock types I took were ideal, worn well worth a look as it is very informative
Images © or via with my Zamberlan boots for the trip. I in many ways, being not just a list of
Mike Gormley continue to use them now back in UK. products.

Combat & Survival 63

 5 6 7

I did a ‘heads up’ just before
Christmas ’14 and since then
have been using/wearing
the Elliot Brown Bloxworth
model a good deal in all sorts
of situations. Mind you, on
checking the online blog it
has been nothing compared
to some users.
along the A35 as these are names
of villages. This perhaps makes the
company sound a bit twee but rest
assured the pair have a significant
background in the industry and so
set out to develop something that is
both good to look at, functional and
long-lasting which has a backup that
you can talk to if, albeit rather unlikely,
things go wrong. More simply when

S
ince I first covered these
watches they are now appearing
on the shelves of some notable
outdoor retailers, so are clearly
making an impression on the serious
outdoor community. The Elliot Browns
are a bit special in that they are not
(perhaps as yet) a major brand, being
splashed over the international media
and therefore by nature
of their mass market
having to be massed
produced. There is
something very personal
about this company.
For a start there is a
Mr. Elliot (Ian) and a
Mr. Brown (Alex), both
of whom I have met.
They work out of a small
‘facility’ on The Hard
in Poole Dorset; some
readers will know this
place for sure. They
are ‘the company’. The
model names Bloxworth
and Canford may also
be familiar if you drive
your timepiece needs a new battery
they prefer it if you send your watch
back to them so it can have a health
check and they will ensure it is truly
waterproof with its new power pack
in place.
So convinced were Elliot and Brown
of the waterproof integrity of their
In hot water - my
Bloxworth survived
the hot and somewhat
dodgy geothermal
springs in Iceland
The luminous dial shows up well in the dark
if pre-exposed to a good light source
5: The Bloxworth with the watch they tethered one to the
metal strap is designed seabed in Poole Harbour for six
to enable the wearer to months. (Missed that one, eh Boys?)
simply adjust the length When recovered it was a bit mucky
to enable it to be worn on but still working perfectly and under
the grime was perfect.
the outside of a jacket or
wetsuit - very neat
I have the Bloxworth, with a full
6: Bloxworth (left) and stainless strap, which is quite a
Canford compared side chunky watch. A more day-to-day
by side option perhaps is the Canford with
a ballistic nylon or leather strap. For
7: The military style the full spec of these watches, and
Canford in use by a C-130 there are a good few variants on both
Pilot. [image courtesy base types, you are best directed at
Elliot Brown] the website as there is a lot to learn.
Nearly Christmas!

64 Combat & Survival

Product - UK Contact: Elliot Brown/Elliot Brown Whitby and Co/Whitby and Co Aquapac/Aquapac
Telephone/Web: 01202 338 600/elliotbrownwatches.com 01539 721 032/whitbyandco.co.uk 0207 738 4466/aquapac.net

The Signal Here with the

showing the sharpener and
array of tools sits fire starter
alongside its case / whistle
removed

This is a new variant in the
ever-growing Leatherman
Range. The Signal has some
interesting additions for the
serious outdoorsman; for
one the Signal has a built in
sharpener. Although in my
experience Leatherman blades
hold an edge well they will, in
time, need to be sharpened and
so this is a good one.
whistle as well and the whole sub-
unit fits into the handle, as does the
sharpener. So perhaps for the first
time a multi-tool becomes a ‘survival 9
tool’, which they do tend to be called
sometimes.
The Signal, of course, has the
tools you would expect and need
for everyday use; blade, saw,
screwdrivers, pliers and so on.
Of note, this has a hammer and Left: The hammer is a does not have spring-loaded pliers,

T
he fire carabiner clip/bottle opener (well, handy addition which which many of the latest Leatherman
starter you never know when you may need can be seen here tools have, and is a feature I really like.
striker is one, even in a survival situation). The with bottle opener/ I am sure there is a sound technical
another wirecutter has, like some of the other carabiner, lock and hex reason for this but it is a pity as it is
very handy larger Leatherman tools, replaceable a very good feature on the likes of
tools
item to have cutter blades. Also a couple of hex the Wingman, which is my day-today
all in one on nut tools and a lock, so the whole lot favourite and one I am seldom without
your multi- stays folded, especially when using
8: Showing the fire on my belt these days.
tool; even as the hammer.
starter stowed in the
a stand-by. handle The Signal comes with a soft fabric
This Leather- As ever this tool sits well in the hand belt case that can be fitted either way
man even with smooth features even when 9: The blade sharpener on the belt for added convenience. A
has a small, under pressure. My one adverse is held in place by a highly practical Leatherman and a true
but effective, comment on the Signal is that it lock and pin device multi-tool.

10

On a recent trip away we had to have light, wheel-less, robust travel luggage, so
Jean took the Aquapac Upano. At first she was not so sure about the roll top and
velcro closure but, after a long and pretty testing African trip, it proved to be fine; in
fact very simple to use and effective.

We were not expecting to get wet but dirt, dust and sand were a definite. Actually wet could easily have been
11 an issue, as we used a lot of bush airstrips and less sophisticated airports and open transport, so it would
have been so easy for it to be on a luggage trolley out in the torrential rain. If this had been so it would not
have been a concern, as this duffel is a sealed bag. It is closed by rolling the top a few times, which is then
secured by Velcro and further more by adjustable straps. Trapped air can be released by a bit of pressure
and the built-in non-return valve lets the air out. So the packed bag can easily be volume reduced and further
pulled down by the additional straps at either end. Two carry straps are provided which double as shoulder
harness so it can be carried as a back pack. When not in use the Upano can be rolled up to be very small.

We certainly put it to the test on this trip and the Upano passed for sure. A little grubby now, but still fit for the
next trip.

10: There was a lot of small aircraft flying on our trip and the Upano was ideal being light and flexible.
11:The Upano was good to carry between modes of transport and kept out the dirt…

Combat & Survival 65

 Product - UK Contact: Aku/Ardblair Sports
Telephone/Web: 01250 873 863/ardblairsports.com

It was over three years ago when I first reviewed this somewhat
specialised item of footwear, which I still use. Contrary to the
design spec, I even wore them up Ben Nevis in snow, for which
they were not ideal perhaps, but okay.

T
he civvy designation of these is the Aku NS564 Spider Mk.2, but they are known
in certain military environments as the Navy SEAL Boot. The clue is in the name.
Since my first review in 2012, this boot had been further evolved and tweaked
and I have to say it is hard to really see the difference. But it is there, and they
certainly feel different. Originally developed for the US Navy SEALs they have now
been adopted on this side of The Pond and have had input from UK SF personnel.

Aimed to give the wearer much more ‘feel’ than clumpy traditional military style boots
that have much thicker soles, waterproof membranes, high leg and so on. The NS
564s are for the ‘racing snake’; i.e. fast and light. The soles (Vibram SWOT) are quite
thin but no less grippy, designed to support and protect but not interfere with the
connection of the foot with the outside world. The sole is backed up all around by
a rubber rand to protect the wearer’s toes, heels up to the Achilles, and around the
sides. It is this area in particular that has come in for some upgrading.

These are not boots for fully loaded yomping over soggy mountains; the Aku Pilgrims
fit that brief. The NS564 are also not waterproof but they are highly breathable, partly
due to the Air 8000 fabric. Designed for long hot active days on your feet these boots
certainly do not disappoint.

12: The toe rand protection new (left) compared to old shows a definite improvement
13: Along the side of the toe the new rand offers both more support to the wearer’s foot as well as
additional protection

12

13

I took the SEAL boots

on a Cornish coast
walk on a rainy
winter day which, to
be honest, was not
perfect for these boots
which were a bit slippy
on wet mud and grass
66 Combat & Survival
 When it comes to model
construction kits it is
often the case that certain
subjects get more than
their fair share of coverage
in terms of the number of
kits available, while others
are often neglected. Not
so long ago it was tanks
and armoured vehicles of
the IDF (Israeli Defence
Force) that seemed to
be largely overlooked by
manufacturers in favour
of more popular subjects
such as WW2 German tanks.
Thankfully that is no longer
the case and in recent times
there has been a positive
boom in kits of Israeli tanks
and armoured vehicles
being released by a number
of manufacturers, including
quite a few in the past
twelve months.
T
he IDF have some very interest-
ing, and unusual, vehicles in
their inventory which makes for
a good choice when it comes
70 Combat & Survival
Main Image: From 1 2
the mid-1950s Israel
modified WWII-era M4
Sherman tanks with
French 75mm guns
and the subsequent
M50/51 Super
Sherman went on to
serve until the late
to modelling and there’s plenty of the world. Main Battle Tank deriva-
1970s reference material available too. tives have also made it into plastic
The heavily modified Sherman and with the Achzarit armoured personnel
1: AFV Club Centurion Centurion tanks have fascinated carrier, based on the Soviet T-54/T-55
Sho’t Mk5/1 version
model makers for years, but more chassis, being one example. More
circa 1967 recently it’s been the various marks recently the mighty Caterpillar D9R
of the Merkava main battle tank that armoured bulldozer has arrived, so
2: AFV Club Centurion have gained favour; this home-grown there’s plenty of scope to keep keen
Sho’t Kal Gimel tank being unusual for having a front model makers occupied for many an
version circa 1982 mounted engine, unlike the vast hour.
majority of tanks from elsewhere in
We have compiled a list of no
3: AFV Club Centurion 3 less than twenty-eight kits that are
Sho’t Kal Dalet currently available and, having
version with ram last month focused purely on the
Merkava and the Achzarit due to
Full size M51 space constraints, this month we
Sherman image look at 1/35th scale IDF Centurion,
© Gary Norris Sherman, M60, Tiran and D9R
Bulldozer construction kit availability.
Quality and detail wise some
 Boxed Meng Meng’s
Models D9R D9R ‘Doobi’
‘Doobi’ armoured builds into a
bulldozer fascinating
model

4 5 Above: Tamiya’s
version of the late
model M51 Super
Sherman

4: Magach 6B GB
Academy Magach
6B - this tank is a
heavily modified M60
5: Tamiya Tiran 5 -
this Israeli tank was
a modified captured
T-55
1/35th kit manufacturers are better
than others, but nowadays the
Maker Scale Kit Ref UK RRP
differences are so small as to make Academy 1/35 Magach 6B Gal Batash MBT 13281 £29.99
little or no difference and I think it’s
fair to say that if you’re a reasonably AFV Club 1/35 Sho’t Kal Gimel 1982 Centurion AF35267 £52.99
accomplished model-maker you
should end up with some great AFV Club 1/35 Sho’t Kal Dalet Centurion AF35277 £52.99
models of what are undoubtedly
some of the most interesting AFV Club 1/35 Sho’t Centurion Mk 5/1 AF35159 £32.99
subjects in the world of armoured
fighting vehicles. Additionally, if you AFV Club 1/35 Sho’t Kal 1973 Centurion AF35124 £32.99
want to super detail your model
there’s definitely no shortage of Dragon 1/35 Israeli M50 Super Sherman 9122 £28.00
aftermarket accessories available; it
just depends on how much you want Italeri 1/35 IDF M60 Blazer MBT 6391 £24.99
to spend.
Meng 1/35 D9R Doobi Armoured Bulldozer SS-002 £49.99
While the recommended retail prices
shown are for guidance, as with Tamiya 1/35 M1 Super Sherman 35322 £34.99
most things if you hunt around you’ll
find some real bargain prices on the Tamiya 1/35 M51 Super Sherman 35323 £34.99
internet or at model shows. It is also
worth mentioning there are also a Tamiya 1/35 Tiran 5 Main Battle Tank 35328 £39.99
number of manufacturers offering
1/72nd scale models of IDF tanks Trumpeter 1/35 Tiran 6 Main Battle Tank 5576 £37.99
and armour, if that’s your preference.

Combat & Survival 71

 For those unaware, former Royal
Marines Recce Troop member Peter
Jenkins is widely regarded as the
UK guru of covert surveillance and
it is hard to find a former member
of the military running their own
business in this field who has
not attended one of his hands-on
courses. I sat in on one of Peter’s
courses many years ago, at the
same time that I was completing
a university course as a mature
student, and I can say without a
shadow of a doubt that Mr J. is the
best teacher I have encountered
over quite a long life in which too
many to count have tried to impart
knowledge into my mis-wired brain.
so I should know my way around a camera and
how to make use of its capabilities, but even I
learned a lot from this heavily illustrated 224-
page large format paperback guide.
Peter has been taking photographs, primarily
associated with his work in reconnaissance
and covert surveillance for slightly longer
than I have been taking them for magazine
publication but he does not consider himself to
be ‘a photographer’. I can understand that as
I find I have very little in common with many of
the, mostly hobbyist, ‘painting with light’ purist
photographers who seem more interested in the
technicalities of camera & lens and of taking the
perfect picture than in capturing the ‘decisive
moment’. In the covert imagery business,
capturing the decisive moment is paramount
and understanding how to make best use of

D
o not let the title of Peter’s follow-up to
SURVEILLANCE TRADECRAFT, which he
said would be his last book, fool you as
although it is aimed squarely at those in
the covert surveillance industry who need to
record still or moving images as a record of
their investigation work it will actually be of in-
terest to anybody who regularly owns a DSLR
or video camera. I have been taking photo-
graphs for publication in C&S (and others)
since it was a partwork back in the mid-1980s,
one’s camera, irrespective of its cost or it having
the latest specifications, to do so is imperative.
Peter not only knows how to teach decisive
moment image capture, but to do it too, as ISS
Training Ltd is just one facet of the Intel Security
Services organisation which also undertakes
commercial and corporate investigations on a
regular basis nationwide.
Although COVERT IMAGERY & PHOTOGRAPHY
is effectively a training manual for some of
Peter’s courses it is also available for general
purchase through quality bookshops and it can
also be bought online from covert-imagery.
co.uk - just click on SHOP. If you have any
interest in photography or videography and, as
I do, you hate reading manuals I can heartily
recommend this book. As Christmas is looming
as this issue goes to print, I suggest leaving the
magazine permanently open at this page as a
not too subtle hint.

A little more up-to-date than his Conqueror

The Conqueror, conceived Another of our
to stand up to the armoured friends, Michel
might of the Soviet Union in Neumann who
I first worked
the Cold War, was Britain’s first
alongside
Heavy Tank and was intended
back in the
to accompany the Centurion
BAOR days
into battle as heavy support if
the Red Army surged forward before the Iron
Curtain fell,
across the North German Plains.
has supplied
However it was really too heavy
some of his
to be effective and consequently
very rare
it had a very short service life, colour photos
from mid-50s to mid-60s, as the of Conqueror
Chieftain which succeeded the out and about on exercise in Germany
Centurion effectively rendered to bring an added dimension to this
the leviathan surplus to superb reference source.
requirements.
As with all Tankograd publications,
This book has been a labour of love for Carl primary text and captions are in both
who, in addition to sourcing many early trials German and English; with good friend
vehicle photos from the archives of our old Britta Nurmann proofing the former and
friend Pierre Touzin, has tracked down many our Far East Correspondent Gordon
seldom previously seen official photos. Arthur proofing the latter.
title, Carl’s record of the Saxon ‘Battlefield
Taxi’ is another little gem. I have to confess
that I played a part in this one, as many
of the Ulster and Jordan images used are
mine, but the vast majority of the photos
were taken by Carl himself, including
operational examples in the Balkans and
Iraq. However where necessary Carl has
used other photographers’ shots, including
some rare examples shot by our sadly
departed friends and drinking companions
Yves Debay and Michael Jerchel, to
illustrate variants or deployments.
Tankograd titles, which are A4 sized and 64 pages thick
between their card covers,
do not carry ISBNs so can
be difficult to purchase
through conventional
booksellers but most of
the UK specialists dealing
in modern military vehicle
reference sources stock
them, as do a number of
the specialist military model
shops. They can also, of
course, be bought online.
Recommended UK price is
£13.99.

72 Combat & Survival

 Next month Carl will be reporting
from north-east Poland on the
recent EXERCISE DRAGON
‘15, the multinational Joint
Combined Arms manoeuvres
held just 100 kilometres from
the Kaliningrad exclave, which
involved armoured battlegroups
from Canada, Germany, Poland,
the UK and the USA. As part of
the UK contribution to NATO’s
Assurance Measures in the
74 Combat & Survival
Baltic the UK committed around
800 troops to the exercise, and
more than 130 vehicles, including
Challenger 2 main battle tanks and
Warrior infantry armoured fighting
vehicles, from 3 [UK] Division’s
Lead Armoured Battle Group.
While Carl was replenishing after
covering Ex. EAGLES AMARANTE
and Ex. DRAGON almost back to
back, Bob the Editor shouldered
his bergen and headed off to the
Iberian Peninsula to cover Ex.
TRIDENT JUNCTURE 15 and next
month we will run his feature on
the British-led multinational 4
[UK] Brigade manoeuvre focussing
on the 1 R IRISH battlegroup. On
the Survival front, Jason will focus
on one of his favourite topics,
namely Bush Medicine. There will
be plenty more features too, but
it looks like we’ve just run out of
space on this page.