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EXERCISE VIKING SUN - DENMARK
30TH NOVEMBER - 16TH DECEMBER 2014
by Lieutenant T R Parkes
Grenadier Guards
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Grenadier Guards show the Americans how to do Camouflage and Concealment
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At the end of last year The Queen’s Company, with elements of No 2 and Support Company, deployed to Denmark to take part in a two week exercise with the Danish 1st Guards Hussar Regiment and Legion Company, 1st Battalion, 503rd Regiment. The exercise was an opportunity for the company to train in harsh winter conditions, in an armoured infantry-led battle group and in a multinational setting. The exercise was split into two distinct phases; the first part focusing on conventional warfare, and the second conducting peace-keeping and counter-insurgency operations amongst a civilian populace.
Getting the whole of The Queen’s Company group to Denmark proved rather complicated, taking several flights over three days arriving at different Danish airports as well as a small convoy arriving by ferry in Esbjerg. However, the move was successful, thanks to a small team of friendly and helpful Danes who gathered up each arrival and guided them to Oksbol Camp, the step-off point for the first phase of the exercise. The last elements of the Company arrived a day before the Danish battle group, so we only had a short time there alone. Running along the white sandy beaches of Jutland’s west coast on a cold, grey December morning, to the bemusement of the locals, was particularly memorable. As was the excellence of the cookhouse, a feature of the whole two weeks, serving up generous helpings of delicious and healthy Danish food.
After a day to allow the Danish battle group to assemble, we deployed onto Oksbol training area, a cold, windswept area of marshland tucked-in by the dunes of Jutland’s coast. Our first task was to deploy on foot ahead of the battle group to secure two bridgeheads to allow the main advance to the south. Despite a successful insertion, the beginning proved rather muddled as friend and foe tried to identify each other. Whilst trying to maintain a screen in front of the successfully secured bridgeheads, we found ourselves rather exposed against roving enemy armour; on a couple of occasions we had to flee into the woods for protection. This rather set the tone for this phase of the exercise, which though frustrating for our light role platoons, proved the importance and excellence of the anti-tank platoon detachments.
Our final operation in this first phase of the exercise was to capture a village in tandem with our American counterparts. Despite another successful covert night insertion, our attack was delayed as we waited for Legion Company to get into position. We spent a freezing hour waiting to launch, which saw the Company standing, stamping feet, and cursing in a bid to stave off the cold. Although the clearance of the village proved slightly underwhelming as we found few enemy to engage, the rest of the day was interesting as we dealt with enemy armour and infantry counter attacks. With the battle group limit of exploitation secured by the Danish armoured infantry, this phase finished and over the next 36 hours we transferred across to southern Zealand for the second part of the exercise.
The Queen’s Company found itself based out of a large Danish farm, north of the town of Vordingborg. This phase was to be run amongst the local Danish villages and hamlets, which was to take some getting used to. We found ourselves undertaking small patrols; setting up checkpoints, dealing with road accidents, cordoning off suspected armaments, while the Danish locals carried on with their everyday lives amongst us. Our primary impact was arguably our support of the local economy, particularly the local bakeries, since we developed quite a penchant for the local pastries. As the week progressed, the scale of operations grew to company level strike operations, inspections of local military facilities, finally culminating in a battle group raid, in driving rain, on the hideout of the major militant group destabilising the region.
With the Exercise finished, the company had a couple of spare days before departure which provided an opportunity to visit Copenhagen. We were kindly hosted by the Danish Royal Guards, although we arrived slightly unprepared, in just shirt sleeve order, to watch a rather wet changing of Guard outside the Amalienborg Palace. Afterwards we dispersed into the city, with some of the more adventurous making it across the bridge to Malmo, Sweden. Exercise VIKING SUN proved a tremendous success. We all learnt a great deal, and the experience stands us in good stead for 2015. |
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