IN PICTURES: Army jumps to it on Exercise Eagle's Eye

[SO19]

IN PICTURES: Army jumps to it on Exercise Eagle's Eye
26 Jul 07

To test it's rapid reaction capability to ensure the UK is ready for anything in the world at five days' notice, up to 1,000 troops of the British Army have become airborne.


Troops from 2nd Battalion, The Parachute Regiment (2 PARA) prepare their kit in a hanger at RAF Lyneham [Picture: Cpl Gabriel Moreno RLC]


Troops from 2nd Battalion, The Parachute Regiment (2 PARA) listen to a briefing in a hanger at RAF Lyneham [Picture: Cpl Gabriel Moreno RLC]


Troops from 2nd Battalion, The Parachute Regiment (2 PARA) head for the C130 with their kit [Picture: Cpl Gabriel Moreno RLC]


Troops from 2nd Battalion, The Parachute Regiment (2 PARA) prepare to board the C130 with their kit [Picture: Cpl Gabriel Moreno RLC]


The first of 80 parachutists aboard a C130 aircraft start to deploy along the five kilometre drop zone [Picture: Richard Watt]


The first parachutists approach the drop zone [Picture: Richard Watt]


Two RAF Hercules C130 aircraft drop 160 men along the five kilometre drop zone near Imber Village [Picture: Richard Watt]


The equipment belonging to each parachutist is clearly visible, suspended below him [Picture: Richard Watt]


Several large parachutes collapse after a heavy equipment drop [Picture: Richard Watt]


Three members of 2 Para move off after landing at the drop zone, near Imber Village [Picture: Richard Watt]

For the past two weeks, around troops and vehicles from 16 Air Assault Brigade, the Army's premier rapid reaction fighting brigade, have been conducting Exercise Eagle's Eye.

One of the key elements of the exercise saw 300 troops conducting a parachute jump onto Salisbury Plain from RAF C130 Hercules aircraft. The jump centred around the Battle Group of 2nd Battalion, The Parachute Regiment (2 PARA) assisted by elements from a number of support units in 16 Air Assault Brigade including artillery, engineers, medics, signallers, and military police.

All of these elements make up what is known as the Airborne Task Force (ABTF), a capability that ensures the Army can respond quickly to incidents around the world. Several parachute drops landed vehicles, equipment and supplies for the troops, once on the ground.

Brigadier Mark Carleton-Smith, Commander of 16 Air Asslt Bde, said:

"16 Air Assault Brigade has to be ready to deploy anywhere in the world at five days' notice to move, and in order to fulfil this role it is vital the Brigade practices its essential aviation and air assault skills to maintain operational capability."

Troops from Colchester-based 16 Air Asslt Bde assisted in the evacuation of British citizens from Lebanon during Operation Highbrow last year, as well as deploying more than 3,000 troops for a tour of duty in Afghanistan, also last year.

Major Alex Parks, chief planner on Exercise Eagle's Eye, said:

"Today's drop was an example of a theatre entry, allowing us to place many troops in an area as quickly as possible. This is part of our commitment to the Joint Rapid Reaction Force. We dropped around 300 troops today and just over 120 yesterday.

"We've also conducted a full air assault using Chinook helicopters involving troops from the Battle Group of 1st Battalion, The Royal Irish Regiment (1 RIRISH).

"This type of training is run every year but last year it didn't happen due to the Brigade's deployment to Afghanistan. Despite the effects of the weather this has been a very successful exercise."

To practice a variety of airborne skills the exercise included Apache, Lynx, Chinook and Merlin helicopters. RAF fast jets also supported the exercise along with United States Air Force A10s from the 81st Fighter Squadron.

Many of the troops involved have come from Colchester Garrison, and from Wattisham Airfield in Suffolk, the home of 4 Regiment Army Air Corps, which is currently going through its final training to become a deployable regiment of Apache attack helicopters.

http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/Defen ... lesEye.htm

[harry hackedoff]

Great post there SO

[tom163]

Amazing pics mate and a good read.

[SO19]

Great post there SO

Of course it is.

[Paratrooper01]

Biggest lick in the world....walking out to the C130 with your parachute on carrying all your kit.

...even bigger lick, tabbing off the DZ with your parachute and your kit!!

[got1]

My backs aching already seeing them weigh there equipment.
Memories

[jcclimber]

I had a few mates out there on that exercise. Good pics and story.Cheers.

[Skeav]

I know the lads in that first pic, makes me realise what I'd be up to if i hadn't been MD'd....

Ah well, I guess my time will come!

"Matt"

[Rogue Chef]

Pics 1 & 2 - Hands in pockets! Disgraceful!

[Paratrooper01]

Pics 1 & 2 - Hands in pockets! Disgraceful!

Airborne soldiers....they have the right.

[Greenronnie]

Pics 1 & 2 - Hands in pockets! Disgraceful!

Airborne soldiers....they have the right.

It's the LAW!!

[jabcrosshook]

That looks like alot of stuff to carry *gulp*

[harry hackedoff]

Pics 1 & 2 - Hands in pockets! Disgraceful!

Maybe they were Arctic WarfareTrained

[jabcrosshook]

Well I like it.
Could be used for a desktop background maybe.
There was another poem I wanted to put on instead of this but couldn't remember it, something about a winged horse into battle or something.

[parachick]

Great post there SO

5 klc long DZ, its just got to be Eveley, 1 inch deep grass, untold miles deep chalk, bloody hard DZ, even harder than Western on the Green.

Chick.