An Cosantóir

| 13 www.military.ie THE DEFENCE FORCES MAGAZINE LEADERSHIP DOCTRINE HISTORICAL VIGNETTE 8: THE DAY THAT THE TANK CAME CALLING Lt Anthony Bracken, Recce Sec Comd, C Coy, 46 Irishbatt, UNIFIL, 1979/1980 Following the helter-skelter dash to At-Tiri on Sunday afternoon and the tense beginnings of the incident a relative calm ensued over the first twenty-four hours. Cpl Cyril Henry, Trooper Paddy Moore and I settled into a routine to man the AML 90. Having slept in the car the first night we all agreed that unless this uncomfortable practice was absolutely necessary it had to cease…and then Sherman came calling. The DFF (de-facto forces) were equipped with US Sherman Tanks, known as 'Super Shermans' being modified versions of the original M4 design. Weighing in at just over thirty tons and armed with a 76mm main gun accompanied by a 0.5in HMG and two 0.30in machine guns, the tank was a resilient warrior in the Middle- East, seeing service with the Israeli Defence Forces for over thirty years since the 1950's. To put it mildly no member of Recce Section, C Coy, 46 IRISHBATT UNIFIL would have predicted such a close encounter with one of these behemoths but then the incident at At-Tiri was proving to be anything but ordinary. Waking up on Monday morning 07 April 1980 to a trundling hulk placing itself no more than ten metres or so from our 90mm Cannon was an interesting experience. I told Cyril to lay the battle-range mark on his gun sight on the turret race of the Sherman and I then brought a HEAT round from the carousel into the breach holding it on the chock release mechanism. Looking across at Cyril with both of us thinking the improbable, I often wondered what Paddy Moore was thinking at that juncture as he crouched in the driver's seat facing his counterpart in the tank. Both barrels were trained on each other for a day. It was highly improbable that if either or both vehicles fired that the rounds would have had enough range to do more than cursory damage and cause large headaches for the crews…at least that is what my AML 90 crew, myself included, chose to believe. Day two of Sherman's visit saw the welcome sight of the main armament elevated above its head-on aim and so we reciprocated. I am sure that the tank crew were as relieved as we were, and I know that the check-point infantry who had borne witness to this strange stand-off were likely happier as well. The following early morning Sherman trundled off down the road to Kunin Crossroads much as he had trundled in, never to be seen again. Perhaps that crew returned to their battle position at the Brown Mound and could well have been involved in direct strikes onto the Platoon HQ the following Saturday, thereby bringing Comdt Taylor's, Company Commander C Coy 46 Inf Bn, wrath down upon them in the form of two Dutch TOW missiles. The tanks of the DFF were to remain silent for the reminder of our tour of duty. Whatever the final story it was an intriguing visitation, initially frightening, then worrying and finally curious. Thank God neither of us had to open fire…as Irish soldiers we would have rapidly found out if the 15mm of French hardened steel at the front of the AML 90 was up to the task. VIGNETTES Updated vignettes, or short accounts, from both a historical and modern perspective have been included in the Leadership Doctrine to highlight the real world practical examples of leadership. While some of the vignettes emanate from leaders not of our parish, we only have to look within our own organisation for inspiring examples of leadership. Over the coming editions of An Cosantóir we will select and publish leadership vignettes from our Doctrine based on particular themes. In this edition we have selected two of our own leaders, past and present that provide us all with powerful examples of what leaders can achieve through Physical Courage and Teamwork. Navy Army Air Corps Col Anthony Bracken BMC For his actions at At-Tiri, Col Bracken was awarded the Military Medal for Gallantry (An Bonn Mileata Calmachta), with distinction. DO YOU HAVE ACCESS TO OUR INTERNAL COMMS APP CONNECT? 1 Scan the QR code on this page or download Workvivo app to your phone (entering Irish Defence Forces as organisation). 2 Register using form (quicker using civilian email address). 3 Once account verified you can set password.

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