Army battalion face a tough battle in German war game

Pte Tom Canwell from Portsmouth, on alert against enemy attacks during war games in Germany

More than 200 troops from the 1st Battalion The Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment (1PWRR) – affectionately known as the Armoured Tigers – took part in Exercise Allied Spirit VIII.

Conducted on the sweeping countryside of southern Germany, the training event involved more than 4,100 soliders from 10 nations.

The battle scenario was designed to develop the ways different nations link together in allied operations with Nato.

During the operation 1PWRR, under the command of a Polish Mechanised Brigade, worked alongside a company of Danish armoured infantry.

Operating in their Warriorr armoured fighting vehicles, the Tigers faced repeated attacks from waves of ‘enemies’, played by American forces.

Major Christiaan Stoffberg, commanding officer of C Company 1PWRR, said: ‘It has been very a testing exercise where we have had to adapt to circumstances as presented refining techniques and tactics constantly, we are learning a lot and quickly.

‘The realism of the exercise has been phenomenal, challenging us throughout, the training area has been unforgiving with the terrain often making communications difficult for everyone.

A Warrior Armoured Vehicle on exercise as

soldiers from 1PWRR (The Tigers) tackle NATO Exercise Allied Spirit 8 — A Warrior Armoured Vehicle on exercise as soldiers from 1PWRR (The Tigers) tackle NATO Exercise Allied Spirit 8

‘It has provided a great learning opportunity for us all.’

The infantry regiment is Hampshire’s local unit, recruiting soldiers from across the south.

Among those taking part in the training exercise included Portsmouth soldier, Private Tom Canwell.

He said the war game was one of the most testing operations he had been on.

Soldiers from 1PWRR (The Tigers) tackle NATO Exercise Allied Spirit 8

He said: ‘Allied Spirit is completely different from any exercise I have been involved in before.

‘Here we have been tested to the full by an enemy who has been very determined, attacking us continuously.

‘You have to remain alert throughout to potential attacks – it has been a unique and challenging experience testing us all, made even harder by the snow and cold weather when we first deployed out onto the training area.’

The Armoured Tigers are the UK’s high readiness armoured infantry battalion based in Germany, assigned to take on missions at short notice.

It is made up of three Warrior companies, a fire support company and a headquarters company.