Zofo
16-06-04, 13:22
We were pulled out of Germany, sent to the UK for training (3 months) and then sent out to the desert. In Germany we were normally equipped with 1 tonne hard top landrovers but because we had AFV 432s in the Regt. these were "upgraded" with our kit, drivers allocated and we were reunited with the waggons in Saudi.
We were deployed to the border area amongst other places and supplied EW support and counter measures to 7 Armoured Bde and the USMC then (eventually) 1 BR Div.
Probably the most spectacular sight was sitting in a trench watching the MLRS loose off about 500 metres from our position. Incredible - and bloody frightening. Once the rockets were up you could track their progress (these were night firings) and then as the bomblets exploded there was the most almighty ripping sound.
We deployed forward but not with the Div for the land attack, we were way to the East doing another task and were not involved in the fighting.
Not being a "Teeth Arm" has its advantages but also the disadvantages. We stayed in Kuwait then Saudi for ages after the conflict had finished. We did the odd tour round the fighting sites and battlefields and managed to take some photos but in the end, for us, it was very much like a massive scale exercise with the world's most expensive pyro!
There are some stories that I'll come onto later if I can; not directly concerning me but some of my mates who were deployed as far forward as it was possible to go without deserting! They did have some hairy experiences.
We were deployed to the border area amongst other places and supplied EW support and counter measures to 7 Armoured Bde and the USMC then (eventually) 1 BR Div.
Probably the most spectacular sight was sitting in a trench watching the MLRS loose off about 500 metres from our position. Incredible - and bloody frightening. Once the rockets were up you could track their progress (these were night firings) and then as the bomblets exploded there was the most almighty ripping sound.
We deployed forward but not with the Div for the land attack, we were way to the East doing another task and were not involved in the fighting.
Not being a "Teeth Arm" has its advantages but also the disadvantages. We stayed in Kuwait then Saudi for ages after the conflict had finished. We did the odd tour round the fighting sites and battlefields and managed to take some photos but in the end, for us, it was very much like a massive scale exercise with the world's most expensive pyro!
There are some stories that I'll come onto later if I can; not directly concerning me but some of my mates who were deployed as far forward as it was possible to go without deserting! They did have some hairy experiences.