Exercise Wessex Storm - Amazing Finale 1300 Paratroopers attack

This was the finale of a six-week long exercise Wessex Storm on Salisbury Plain in which 2 PARA Battlegroup (part of the UK's 16 Air Assault Brigade) gaining readiness for overseas deployment. French and US paratroopers also took part. The final battle was an attack on Imber Village in the Salisbury Plain Training Area where 1300 2 Para and other paratroops were to be inserted into the area by a massive helicopter operation involving nine Chinooks, six Pumas (all from RAF Odiham and RAF Benson). They were supported by five Army Apache attack helicopters from Wattisham Army base and at least two Army Wildcats supporting the Apaches. The operation took place in several waves, the first wave took in eight fully troop loaded Chinooks and six troop loaded Pumas, protected by Apaches and Wildcats. They returned within 10 minutes to emplane hundreds more paratroopers and this time they also took 2 Para's small ATV quadbikes and trailers in underslung load mode (USL). A final sunset wave took the remaining troops and quadbikes. After dark four 105mm mobile guns were USL flown to the battle. NATA was successful and took the village from enemy forces. The battlegroup includes a company of some 150 troops from the French 2e Régiment Etranger de Parachutistes (2e REP) and a 40-strong platoon from the US Army’s 2nd Battalion, 503rd Parachute Infantry Regiment. The 2 PARA Battlegroup is a 1,300-strong unit built around the paratroopers of Colchester-based 2nd Battalion The Parachute Regiment, supported by signallers, engineers, artillery, medics and logistics specialists from 16 Air Assault Brigade. It is training to be ready to deploy at short notice on operations around the world. Who took part in the attack... 18 sqdn RAF Odiham operated 6 CH47 Chinooks 664 sqdn AAC Wattisham operated at least 5 AH64 Apaches Squadrons from RAF Benson operated 3 CH47 Chinooks and 6 Pumas which perfomed escort and protection duty along with delivering troops. 2 Para was the main 1300 paratroop force. =-French paratroopers from 2e Régiment Etranger de Parachutistes (2e REP) took part along with one of their A400m Transport aircraft which performed transport and paratrooper parachute dropping duties earlier in the week. -A 40-strong platoon from the US Army’s 2nd Battalion, 503rd Parachute Infantry Regiment also took part. All footage copyright Sarah Ward [email protected] #WESSEXSTORM #RAFODIHAM #RAFBENSON