Fight to Sustain and Sustain to Fight!

This spring, 3rd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment (3 RCR) was hard at work refining the Battalion’s air drop and helicopter underslung capabilities, culminating with a low velocity air drop and air resupply to forward deployed troops. These skills were critical for the success of both Exercise ROYAL BERLIN and Exercise ROYAL CAULDRON.

After many months of interruptions due to COVID-19, troops were eager to resume air resupply skills and training. Members of 3 RCR, Canadian Special Operations Regiment (CSOR), 2 Service Battalion (2 Svc Bn), 450 Tactical Helicopter Squadron (450 Tac Hel Sqn), 436 Transport Squadron (436 (T) Sqn), and 2 Combat Engineer Regiment (2 CER) banded together to rig and execute the deployment of nine medium equipment loads using two CC-130 Hercules aircraft, and four sling loads using CH-147 Chinook helicopters.

Low Velocity Air Drops - ROYAL BERLIN
Between April 19 and May 13, 2021, 3 RCR was the lead team to build, rig, and drop nine loads of mission essential equipment. This training began with two serials of refresher training delivered to members from across 2 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group (2 CMBG).

In order to test and validate the skills of the team, a low velocity air drop was conducted on May 13, at Drop Zone (DZ) Anzio in the Petawawa training area. The loads, which were dropped from the CC-130 Hercules aircraft from an altitude of 1000 feet, included an all-terrain vehicle (ATV), a snowmobile, machine guns, mortar weapons systems, rations and water, ammunition, and trailers for both the ATV and snowmobile. The air drop was a great success with all equipment loads opening and deploying successfully. Of the nine cargo loads, all systems deployed properly and no damage occurred to any of the loads.

Helicopter Underslung Operations (HUSO) - ROYAL CAULDRON
From June 7 to 9, 2021, 3 RCR took the lead to build, rig, and sling a total of four sling loads, using different slinging methods, during both the insertion and extraction of soldiers during Exercise ROYAL CAULDRON. The team facilitated the initial rigging at Landing Zone Foulkes #2 (3 RCR’s front lawn), which included a dual hook-up using four nets built into two cluster systems. For this, the team hooked up to the front and rear hooks of the CH-147 Chinook with the assistance of 450 Tac Hel Sqn. The initial slings moved 130 rucksacks to forward deployed troops, located in the vicinity of the Bonnechere airfield. This critical movement of equipment enabled the fighting force to effectively close with and destroy the in-scenario enemy without the added weight of their rucksacks.

The following day, another sling load of rations and water was built and sent out to the troops as part of the resupply plan. On June 9, after the battle was won and the in-scenario opposing force was neutralized, troops from November Company, and its attachments, had their rucks slung back to 3 RCR, again using the CH-147 Chinook.

Troops were then extracted while a small security force remained to ensure the completion of the redeployment from Bonnechere airfield. This was accomplished using a triple cluster load. All underslung operations were a huge success with no malfunctions or damage sustained.

The success of these training exercises has built momentum for further tactical sustainment operations by 3 RCR and across 2 CMBG as units begin to train for high readiness. Completion of air sustainment operations over the past two months have re-established and reinforced the skills required to function as a Light Infantry Battalion and there is no doubt that this training will be used again in the near future.

3 RCR looks forward to demonstrating these skills to their American counterparts when they join 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division in a major light forces exercise at the Joint Readiness Training Center (JRTC) in Louisiana, USA, in February 2022.

Click on an image to enlarge. Photo by Corporal Dean Lynam, Canadian Armed Forces