Sappers from the 21 Engineer Regiment (21 Engr Regt) have been active in exercises near Minley, Surrey.

This is part of Exercise Iron Titan, a pivotal Army Field Training Exercise (FTX) that marks the most significant in two decades.

The exercise stretches over six weeks, showcasing the multifaceted roles of the regiment. These skilled troops are demonstrating a range of complex engineering tasks across several locations, emphasising the invaluable expertise they bring to other army formations.

“The last time we did an engineering exercise of this scale was in 2001. The importance this time around is that we are exercising alongside other elements of the Division. So, logistics, signallers, aviation, gunners, and Deep Recce Strike are all training together,” highlighted Colonel Jim Webster, the Commander of the Engineers in 3 (UK) Div, in a press release.

The exercise involved the use of M3 Amphibious Rigs, or Wet Wide Gap Crossings (WWGC), underscoring their significance in combat scenarios. Lieutenant Colonel Perry Bishop, Commanding Officer 21 Engr Regt, emphasised their role, stating, “There are an awful lot of big rivers in Europe, so if we are going to keep the 3rd Division alive and, on the move, and killing the enemy, a core part of that is getting across those big spans of water and we are the only people in the Army who can do that.”

The M3 Amphibious Rig is a self-propelled, amphibious bridging vehicle that is used to transport vehicles and equipment across water.

Major Ryan Ingram, Officer Commanding 23 Amphibious Engineer Squadron, which is part of the 21 Engr Regt, shared insights on the M3 and its importance to both the UK and NATO. “From the northern tip of Estonia down to the southern tip of Poland there are over 4000 crossings. 1800 of those are greater than a 100 metre-span. So therefore, if you consider just those figures you’ll understand how integral we are to the fight,” he stated.

You can read more by clicking here.

George Allison
George Allison
George has a degree in Cyber Security from Glasgow Caledonian University and has a keen interest in naval and cyber security matters and has appeared on national radio and television to discuss current events. George is on Twitter at @geoallison
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31 COMMENTS

  2. 3 RSME at Gibraltar Barracks have more than one of these types of bridging equipment, used for training but available for operations if required

    • I’m interested that there is still heavy kit on Gib TBH….

      Not the most likely location for it but I suppose forward positioned to load on a Point in a hurry?

      • Gibraltar barracks is just a name mate. It’s the home of the RE training Regt( there used to be two) It’s not too far outside of Aldershot.

        • There are two. 1 RSME is still with the HQ at Chatham, while the combat Engineer side, 3 RSME, the Combat Engineer Wing, and the RE TDU is at Gibraltar Barracks, as in this article.

          • Yes there are but way back when both 1&3 were located at Cove with 1 Regt responsible for basic training of new recruits etc and then they moved on to 3 Regt for engineer and trade training! They were reformed into one Regt when the basic training was done by the Army training centres and now they go to Gib barracks for the Engineer side of their training. Chatham was mainly officer training along with some of the more exotic trades. Mind you as I have said this was when centurion was a rank not a tank days😂

          • Still a satisfactory set up though, how the training pipeline is organised and the facilities it has?

          • Jacko wrote:
            “”Yes there are but way back when both 1&3 were located at Cove with 1 Regt responsible for basic training of new recruits etc and then they moved on to 3 Regt for engineer and trade training!””

             
            I did both my Basic (1 Reg) and 3 Regt (Combat Engineer training) at Gib Bks
             
             My first posting was Chatham (24 fd Sqn) and everybody in the Corps carried out their trade training there (Plant was at Wainscott across the water) The only Officer training carried out was the young Officer cse, where candidates fresh from RMAS (As well as foreign officers) did their introduction to combat engineering, that was held at Chattendean (aka Chattenden) which was where all the mil cses were held such as sigs cse.

            Just up the road from Chattendean was lodge hill where there was a bridging hard, minewarfare hard, Joint Service Bomb Disposal School , search school and I did my CSB cse there but down at Upnor , The RE sales team was also based at Chattendean 

          • Very good but I’m talking back in the 70s when Gib barracks was not even a dream! We were in the spiders of Southwood camp right alongside the railway line. 1regt done the basics when we appeared from Junior leaders at Dover and the apprentice college at Chepstow we went into 3 Regt to complete our Cbt engineer training (B2). Then dispersed for trade training ie 56 SQN for dvr trades and like you have said Chatham etc for some others.these regts were called training not RSME that to us was depot and as I said the officers went to learn their trade! So different timescale different memories have a good day.

      • They also had air-portable bridging equipment designed to support an armoured thrust involving river crossings. And a nice vehicle park with excellent workshops plus a lake to train for amphibious operations as you can see in the pic

        Whether that is still relevant given the Army’s current configuration in not sure

        • It is always relevant. In fact the RE are involved in their biggest exercise in years at the moment, involving the 3 Regiments that support 3 UK Division and other elements too.

          New bridging equipment is being bought to replace the GSBs and CSBs used alongside Titan, including trials with Boxer.

          • The RE always spend their money very effectively. And they are still one of the largest Corps in the Army, second only to the Royal Logistics Corps. Glad to hear they are getting new bridging kit!

        • Air portable wouldn’t take armour mate it was for the airborne and commando sqns to play with. Armour thrusts will be supported with AVRE,AVLB and Terrior.

          • Those were the days, single Sqns supporting 5th Airborne and 3Cdo Bdes.

            These days, 9 Para Sqn RE and 51Cdo Sqn RE have expanded to Regimental size mate, and form part of 23 and 24 RE.

          • Had only been around for a few years. That man should be in the dock.

            Good it didn’t happen, all deployable Bdes should have RE support at regimental size. Took 24 quite a while to grow I understand.

    • Well back in the 70,s we bridged the Rhine with M2s! Given time a bridge using our resources can be built to span most gaps but of course the enemy might have different ideas.

  4. Lots of RE doing stuff on this exercise. Fuel dumps, pipeline installs, artisan works even the Railway teams are doing track laying etc.

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