MOBILE EXERCISES IN THE REGIMENT

Flak, Volume 1, Issue 3, 15 April 1943, Page 1

MOBILE EXERCISES IN THE REGIMENT

(By

R.N.Z.A., 98th Bty., N.Z.A.)

With the approval of- the Brigade Commander, mobile exercises have been carried out. regularly by the 98th Battery each week over the last couple of months. They have created great interest in the unit, and are having a marked effect on the general tone and efficiency of the Battery as a whole. It is therefore at the request of the Commanding Officer that a resume of our activities in mobile exercises is published in the hope that it may be of benefit to the Regiment in the event of opportunities being afforded to the other batteries to carry out similar exercises.

The first exercises were simple, and merely entailed getting the gun out of the pit, packing stores on the tractor, and moving to B.H.Q: where they were checked over by the B.C. The guns were then taken in convoy for a distance of about eight miles, halts being made en route when necessary to check intervals, etc. These exercises were carried out, under test for time, instructions for the mo/e being sent out by Don/R without previous warning. The time was taken from the receipt of instructions to the arrival at R.V. Protecting a Bridge The next exercise was in the form of a definite Tp. task, a simple verbal operational order being issued by the B.C. to the T/C who passed them on to those concerned. The task was to protect a bridge and cutting during the passage of an infantry unit en route to the north to repel an imaginary enemy force moving on to Auckland. The enemy was assumed to have several warships and an aircraft carrier standing off the West

Coast, and air attack was expected. The area selected for this exercise is ideal for instructional purposes, actual gun sites are obvious, the routes to each are excellent, and the layout of the whole troop can be seen by every member. , Each troop in turn carried out this exercise, and the results in each case were most satisfactory. Kumeu Station Defended The success of these exercises prompted something on a larger scale, and plans were duly made for a mobile exercise. The enemy was assumed to be in possession of all country north of Russell, and his spearheads were in contact with our forces. The 98th Battery was holding a general line from Whangarei to Darga'-i ville, and C. Troop was detailed to defend Kumeu Station against air attack. The guns met at an assembly point and put into action. Arrangements had been made with the Air Force for an army ? co-op. plane to carry out a recon-

naissance of the area prior to making low-level attacks on the V.P. It was gratifying to learn that it was not until the guns uncovered to engage the plane that their positions were located. Immediately after the engagement, the guns took up alternative positions and again camouflaged themselves most effectively.