17 July 2007

The second phase of Whiskey Company Group’s Exercise Wolf took part in Hawkes Bay in June. The group combined with detachments of engineers, reconnaissance, snipers, Javelin, signallers, an FO Party, 3 Squadron, 5 Squadron and its A1 Echelon to again form Task Force Wolf.

The Wolf series of exercises is designed around the three block war concept and fighting an asymmetric enemy.

Exercise Wolf Two was planned around operations currently being conducted by the Canadian Armed Forces operating in southern Afghanistan. The Canadians are finding that on any given day a combat team could have elements distributing aid, quelling riots and, at the higher end, conducting direct action against insurgents. This is the epitome of the three block war concept.

Task Force Wolf began its advance from Linton after a 24 hour lockdown in Chaytor Hangers which aided in the battle preparation of the task force. Reconnaissance and sniper detachments had been inserted 24 hours prior to the Task Force advance to provide early warning and timely information for the airmobile insertion of a security platoon. The following day the task force advanced on multiple axis with dismounted elements, conducting airmobile insertions to secure critical points and defiles to provide security to its main body.

Once firmed at Roy’s Hill Range in Hawkes Bay, the force to established and hardened a Forward Operating Base (FOB BLACK) from which operations were conducted.

During the exercise, the ‘enemy’ was played by the Cadres of 7 WnHB commanded by Capt Marc Schmid and W01 Hone Dalton. The enemy had been briefed beforehand on the concepts involved and the parts they were to play. Throughout the exercise the enemy proved to be a clever, cunning and adaptive foe which Task Force Wolf pursued.

Almost immediately, the FOB endured sniper and mortar attacks from an unrelenting enemy. This forced an immediate change in the security of the FOB and the deployment of the Quick Reaction Force, saturating the local area with presence patrolling.

Throughout the exercise the task force conducted various platoon and company tasks with two full-sized operations. Commanders at all levels faced the issues that are involved when fighting the three block war. Any platoon could be delivering aid and the next day could be conducting ambushes on enemy insurgents. This type of operation gave commanders the dilemmas of Rules of Engagement, keeping soldiers aware of their specific roles and the issues of fighting an enemy that is rarely seen but always active.

Task Force Wolf conducted a variety of operations during the exercise ranging from cordons and searches to VIP protection. Other operations conducted included Company -sized OP lines, ambushes, aid distribution, mass casualty scenarios. Other training covered key point protection, local and presence patrolling, raids, convoy escorts and integrating indigenous security forces such as the Afghanistan National Army and Police.

Exercise Wolf Two provided another opportunity for commanders and soldiers at all levels to operate in a combined arms setting. It also provided commanders the opportunity to test their tactics against a non-conventional enemy and assess intelligence crucial to the success of future tasks. The exercise provided those of Whiskey Company knowledge of command issues when dealing with local security forces and the barriers needed to be overcome by conventional means but more often than not by thinking outside the square.

Support from 3 Squadron and 5 Squadron again proved to be a force multiplier the ability to project forces further and faster and to receive timely intelligence during crucial planning phases and decisive parts of the battle.

Whiskey Company and attachments will again reform in September for its DLOC assessment on Exercise Wolf Three which will be conducted throughout the North Island.

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