In July 2024, 2 RAR conducted Exercise Black Axe to certify the battalion in live fire scenarios, with support from the 5th Aviation Regiment, 2nd Cavalry Regiment and the 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, USMC. The live fire scenarios focused on battlefield shaping, platoon raids and dismounted combat team attacks. During these scenarios, 2 RAR snipers were employed to provide intimate / direct fire support to platoon attacks, and as an airmobile quick reaction force to interdict high value targets.
Throughout Exercise Black Axe, our snipers gained valuable experience by integrating into the planning cycle of each platoon commanders plan, as well as back briefing their plans directly to the battalion’s senior leadership for each time-sensitive mission. This process allowed each commander to understand the capabilities that could be provided by snipers, and increase shared understanding – a key aspect of effective battlefield commentary within an often chaotic tactical setting. Prior to the attacks, snipers inserted into their hides and commenced observation and reporting of the enemy positions. During the attacks, snipers employed precision shooting to destroy high value targets at critical times in support of the platoons achieving break in, and to destroy withdrawing enemy (simulated by moving marathon targets). Upon the successful clearance of the enemy positions, the snipers extracted from their hides and re-postured for their next task.
The culminating evolution of Exercise Black Axe involved a dismounted combat team assault onto an enemy bunker system, supported by an ASLAV troop in a support-by-fire role, who enabled by a 2 RAR AARMD (Javelin) team, were subsequently tasked to interdict an enemy counterattack. With sufficient indications from both electronic warfare and UAS elements, a reconnaissance platoon from 1st Recon Bn, USMC, were triggered to conduct an airmobile assault of a secondary enemy position. Following additional indications from UAS, three high value targets were identified in the area. The 2 RAR snipers were enacted as a quick-reaction force and inserted into the area in a counter-leadership role. This saw the snipers with a DFSW security element, rapidly load into CH-47 Chinooks, fly map-of-the earth to a hot zone which was cleared by the Chinook’s mini guns, and rapidly occupy firing positions. After giving quick engagement area orders, the snipers engaged vehicle and dismounted threats at ranges of 100-1200m using Blaser.338 and .50 Cal rifles, before breaking contact and withdrawing to an alternate landing zone for extraction.
The exercise drew many valuable lessons for the 2 RAR Sniper Cell and provided the team leaders and shooters with an experience that validated previous training and SOPs, as well as highlighted areas for improvement. They look forward to applying the lessons learnt during Exercise Black Axe to future training evolutions in 2024; specifically, during the upcoming jungle-based approach sniping package, and during the upcoming urban sniping activity. These evolutions will ultimately strengthen the 2 RAR Sniper Cell’s capabilities and contribution to the battalion’s operations in the years to come.
CPL Sam Dierckx
