35 Combat Engineer Regiment Operations Held at Black Lake Mine
Members of 35 CER neutralize a resupply convoy using IEDs
By Lieutenant Édouard April, Deputy Commander, 15 Wing
On the weekend of November 12-14, 2010, 35 CER deployed together with various 35 CBG units in a combined-arms exercise to pool their knowledge and experience. The large-scale exercise, held for the second year in a row at Black Lake mine, not far from Thetford Mines, enabled both of the participating 35 CER combat engineer troops to enhance their knowledge of the various military occupations and, in particular, of offensive operation procedures used by the infantry. It also gave 35 CER the chance to shine by effectively applying its know-how in the use of heavy equipment, water treatment, urban breaching, clearing buildings, and simulated destruction of military vehicles.
The 35 CER engineers were deployed in the advance guard on the Thursday preceding the weekend exercise in order to install the two ROWPUs to treat water. They also took the opportunity to put the heavy equipment to good use on Friday by levelling the ground on which the ROWPUs were set up and repairing a major road that had been impassable for some military vehicles.
On Saturday morning, the troops practised conducting an ambush and raid representative of actual targets that were stormed in the afternoon. During the confirmation attacks in the afternoon, the engineers were required to breach a concertina-wire obstacle and organize the laying of simulated IEDs on a road to immobilize a convoy as realistically as possible.
To conclude the exercise, urban attacks were carried out on Sunday morning, and an efficient redeployment brought the troops back home safe and sound after a demanding weekend.
As the saying goes, “Good things come in threes.” Here’s hoping there will be a third instalment of the exercise, once again bringing together the various 35 CBG units to foster the growth of the combined-arms cohesion that took root around this time last year.
CHIMO!
Lastest news