Members of 18 Fd Sqn, 3 CER clear a lane towards personnel injured by an anti-tank mine explosion during Exercise Thunderstorm 2002 conducted at theTownsville Field Training Area. Photo provided by 3CER

By Maj Jason Hedges

A THUNDERSTORM circled 18 Fd Sqn, 3CER, for three weeks without a drop of rain and the only clouds were smoke and dust.

Exercise Thunderstorm 2002 provided the opportunity for the squadron to refocus from low-level support engineering to high intensity combat engineering.

18 Fd Sqn exercised engineer command and control within a combined arms setting, culminating in breaching a complex enemy obstacle, using mine-lab detectors and service explosives, such as bangalore torpedoes and slabs of composition B.

All activities including section and troop level patrolling and ambushing tested participants’ team and individual readiness.

The training conducted was an important aspect of 18 Fd Sqn’s preparations for its upcoming on-line responsibilities with the Ready Battalion Group.

A number of sappers from 18 Fd Sqn recently returned from peacekeeping duties in East Timor, as part of the 2 Bn Gp rotations.

Lt Jayne Gissing, Royal Engineers, on exchange with Exercise Long Look joined 18 Fd Sqn as 15 Tp Comd.

A section of assault pioneers from the United States Marine Corps were also allocated to 18 Fd Sqn to conduct a squadron silent-live-fire breach of an enemy minefield and wire obstacle, in support of a battalion night attack.

The exercise provided 18 Fd Sqn the opportunity to use the Light Engineer Tractors and the John Deere 250 skid steer loaders with night-vision equipment in a high intensity setting.

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