Report: Joe Clapson Pictures: Ian Griffiths and Bodytrak34 AUGUST 2019 http://www.soldiermagazine.co.ukStiff competitionRacing Snake is part of the two-month anti-
armour package taught at Warminster, where
there are also serials covering machine gunnery,
sniping and mortars.
A competitive exercise involving junior NCOs
and officers on different elements of anti-tank
command, it focuses on casevac and target
recognition before moving to live firing.
The manoeuvres are physically demanding- involving 15km of tabbing during a morning
- and personnel will be held to account on their
knowledge of Javelin and the next-generation
light anti-tank weapon (NLAW).
They are also placed in commanding roles
outside the normal scope of their rank to put
them under additional pressure.
Medical mayhemHaving manhandled a series of mock casualties
under contact, the soldiers have dropped their kit
to grab a few minutes of well-deserved rest.
The exertion is etched on their faces, sweat
mixing with cam cream to form river-like patterns.
Their equipment – Bergans topped by the
tubular pipes of their weapons – not only
amounts to a significant weight, it is also
unwieldy and cumbersome.
LCpl Thomas Wallace (Scots) would never
normally have commanded this type of serial.
But he is satisfied at his performance after
experiencing a new level of leadership.
“In any situation like this you have to ensure
your soldiers are best protected and that you’re
able to coordinate a response,” he says between
big gulps of water.
“I think I managed to get the overall picture.
Obviously, this is not a role I would take on
in my day job, but it’s important that you can
plan bigger – the instructors have given our
team a decent score so I’m happy.”Hunters turn huntedA new generation of soldiers is now getting to
grips with this reality.
Staggered along a dirt track, they cautiously
make their way along a tree line to find an ambush
point for an armoured column reported in the area.
It is early – just 0830 – but tabbing with 60kg of
weapons and kit, the relentless physical trauma of
Exercise Racing Snake is taking its toll.
The countryside of the Salisbury Plain Training
Area sprawls ahead, patches of the distant
scenery occasionally lit by a sun that breaks
through the monotony of a slate-grey cloud base.
Gusts of wind rustle the brownish grass. But it
is otherwise quiet.
Nobody is expecting the volley of explosions
that suddenly tear through the landscape.
Instantly the troops are carrying out their safety
drills as the simulated mortar attack rains down.
Commands ring out as an acrid smoke rises
from the trees; defensive positions are taken and
there is a realisation that a number of colleagues
are seriously injured. They will need to be treated
and evacuated before the mission can be pursued.
“A dismounted anti-armour platoon is
actually the biggest threat to enemy tanks in
the conventional setting,” yells Maj Curt Vines
(Para), chief instructor of the direct fire support
division at the Specialist Weapons Centre, amid a
cacophony of shouting and a new wave of blasts.
“But by the same token they are vulnerable
themselves because of the fact they are on foot- if they are seen it is trouble so they need to be
cunning in setting themselves up.”
All this is a far cry from the Op Herrick days,
where soldiers would use the weapon for the likes
of defending forward operating bases. This is
conventional warfare at its purist.
Racing
Snake is
tough but
it’s a team
bonding
exercise
“Racing Snake is tough but it is also a bit of
a team bonding experience,” remarks instructor
CSjt Kevin Hudson (Rifles, pictured below).
“There are a mix of officers, sergeants and
lance corporals taking part so you have a broad
spectrum of ranks.
“The course is also tri-Service, so we have
colleagues from the RAF Regiment and Royal
Marines involved as well – this also helps troops
gain different perspectives.”32-35-sol-aug RACINGSNAKE.indd 3 25/07/2019 17:56