An Cosantóir

www.military.ie the defence forces magazine | 15 pick-up point several kilometres away. Once there, they were informed that their new objective was Fort Davis and that Joint Operations Command in J3/5 had directed them to report to Rosslare Harbour where they would be embarked on LÉ Eithne. At 0900hrs the platoon was trans- ported by RIB from Rosslare Harbour to the naval vessel, which was under the command of Cdr Brian Fitzgerald. Once aboard, the order to get under- way was given by the captain and LÉ Eithne began the eight-hour journey to Fort Davis. Utilising the large deck, the two- stars got some much needed rest be- fore an orders session was conducted by the platoon commander, 2/Lt Jack Corbett, who outlined the difficult mission and taskings that lay ahead. Once the orders were completed, the platoon went to the galley for lunch before beginning rehearsals of Military Operations in Urban Terrain (MOUT) drills on the ship's deck. This area of the ship proved a valu- able asset to the army personnel for a number of reasons and highlighted the contribution a multi-role vessel would play in future combined army- Naval Service operations. (As an aside I would like to express my thanks to LÉ Eithne's EO, Lt Comdr Nessa Maloney, and Cdr Fitzgerald for their generous hospitality; not only providing tours of the NS flagship for the two-stars but also adding to the realism of the exercise by providing simulated covering fire onto Fort Davis as the platoon assaulted.) As the ship sailed close to Roche's Point, the two-stars could see how daunting their coming amphibious landing was going to be. Under LÉ Eithne's covering fire, the 37 two-stars loaded into the RIBs and began their amphibious assault onto the pier of Fort Davis. The ever-active opposi- tion forces located on the Fort waited until a third of the assaulting force was on the pier before launching their counter-attack but failed to dislodge the two-stars' foothold. The two-stars conducted several MOUT assaults against opposition DIBUA positions, which required extensive use of MOE kits and innova- tive methods to continue the mo- mentum. By last light a large section of the upper level was cleared and positions established to consolidate the seized area. Following several probing enemy attacks throughout the night, 2/Lt Corbett decided to retain the initia- tive by launching a deliberate MOUT platoon attack at first light. This suc- ceeded in breaking the opposition's line of withdrawal and eliminated the threat they posed. As sunset came down on Fort Davis on Day 4 of the exercise, intelligence received indicat- ed that the enemy leader was located in the tunnels on the lower level. This resulted in the two-stars conduct- ing a passage-of-lines through a sister platoon and clearing the dark underground tunnels and passage- ways until successfully capturing the opposition leader. As dawn broke on Fort Davis on Day 5, the platoon was informed that four AW 139 helicopters would be arriving to extract them and their casualties back to James Stephens Bks. However, due to deteriorating weather condi- tions the airlift was cancelled and the exhausted platoon were loaded onto trucks for the journey home. On the square in James Stephens Bks, DCOS Ops, Maj Gen Kieran Bren- nan, addressed the two-stars and complimented them on their excel- lent performance and the fact that all 37 students who started the exercise finished it, highlighting the impor- tance of teamwork. Of the 37 two-stars who completed their training with 3 Inf Bn, 22 were from outside the battalion and as they return to their units we wish them every success in their careers. Dílis go bráth. 3 Inf Bn two-star platoon boarding the LÉ Eithne which can be seen in the distance 3 Inf Bn conduct MOUT revision in Fort Davis MOUT Rehearsals two-star platoon on deck of LÉ Eithne prior to the amphibious assault 3 Inf Bn 145th two-star platoon with crew of LÉ Eithne 145th two-star platoon conducting MOUT drills in a CBRN environment 2 Lt Corbett gives Pl Comdrs orders session on board the LÉ Eithne

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