Scorching heat, poisonous snakes and mosquitos prove no challenge to 17 Port and Maritime troops in Albania during Austere Wolf

They were warned of an ‘austere’ environment, and it certainly lived up to that. Scorching heat, vicious mosquitos and even poisonous snakes were just some of the hazards faced by the troops from 17 Port & Maritime during its exercise in Albania.

But that proved to be little challenge to the soldiers who quickly overcame adversity to not only establish a fully functioning port but also set up an extensive military base, complete with shelter, security, and sanitation, in a few hours.

Based at Marchwood Sea Mounting Centre, 17 Port & Maritime were taking part, alongside their army reservist colleagues from 165 regiment, in Ex Austere Wolf – part of Operation Chelonia, a series of military exercises and deployments involving UK forces combining with Nato allies and partner nations across south-eastern Europe and the Balkan region.

It was the two army maritime regiments’ task to create a beach landing zone in an area with little infrastructure to test its ability to deliver ship-to-shore equipment, supplies, vehicles and troops.

Having done that, the units’ next task was to create a base camp in what is a former Soviet naval base. Improvising with army-issue camouflage ponchos, the soldiers created sleeping quarters which might have looked rudimentary but, according to their occupiers, were “dry, adequate and good for a few hours’ sleep”.

Sanitation proved a bit more difficult before supplies could be landed from the Hartland Point cargo ship out in the bay.

But the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers lived up to their reputation for ingenuity by creating a shower out of an old fire hydrant. A hose was attached and a shower head fashioned from a plastic bottle.

Although it proved popular, it was eventually supplanted by proper hot showers when the Operational Hygiene squadron arrived along with laundry facilities.

Corporal Yvonne Farmer, second in command of the unit, said: “We can wash 200 bags a day of dirty clothes. We evolved from the First World War, where there was a very rudimentary service – since then we have become an integral part of a battlegroup, and we deploy all over the world to support troops in the field.”

Apart from the hot showers and laundry facilities, there was one thing that as usual proved a massive morale boost when it finally arrived – the army cookhouse.

After days surviving on ration packs, it was no wonder there were smiles all round when it opened for business in a tent on the dockside. British Army chefs are renowned the world over for providing the best food in military circles, and they certainly did not let the troops down on this occasion.

Just a few hours after arriving, chefs were battling soaring heat in a small tent with no air conditioning to provide a menu of corned beef lasagne, curry, homemade naan breads and vegetable frittata.

Sgt John Antony, catering manager for the camp, said: “We can cater for anywhere between 100-500. We get basic supplies, but it is without a doubt the skills of the military chefs that turn those into excellent meals.

“It’s a massive morale boost for the soldiers to have a field kitchen. The challenges in Albania have been the mosquitos and the heat. At night when we are prepping in the tent and the lights are on there are swarms of mosquitos. “

The chefs are some of the hardest working people in the military, starting shifts at 4am to prepare breakfast and not finishing until 9pm.

Despite the difficult working environment, chefs Corporal Sandy Kavanagh and Staff Sergeant Marc Connolly were cheerful as they cooked lunch when the A&T visited them during a visit to see 17 Port and Maritime in action in Albania.

Corporal Kavanagh said: “The heat has been a big challenge here. We are trying to make potato scones, but the humidity means they are all sticky. Although we have faced worse conditions.

“We take pride in our jobs. We want to provide meals in a field kitchen as good as you’d get on a base back home. Our hard work is paid off by the big smiles the troops give us. We know how much a hot meal means to them.”

Hal Gamble

In the past two years Hal Gamble has sailed round St Lucia and Antigua on a 77-foot challenger and is now about to take his ski instructor exams. Best of all it was all paid for by the Army.

Hal is part of the Army reservist 165 Port and Maritime Regiment. In Albania he was documenting the work of the brigade during Ex Austere Wolf. In his day job he runs a photography business specialising in covering world heritage sites for UNESCO and other similar organisations.

He said: “As a reservist I have been involved in some exciting exercises all over the world.

“People from all backgrounds join up as reservists and there is a great sense of camaraderie. The minimum requirement for a reservist is 27 days a year but you can do more if you like.

“Being a reservist has enabled me to travel to some amazing places and be involved in some incredible things. I have also learnt new skills and gained qualifications which instead of paying to get them, I was paid to get them.”

Hal (27) is about to embark on a six-week officer training course at Sandhurst. He said: “Being a reservist gives you the best of both worlds and it also enables you to test the waters if you are thinking of a career in the military. I would recommend becoming a reservist to anyone.”

Major Mark Player, Deputy Chief of Staff, 104 Theatre Sustainment Brigade.

“This is what I term as the last nautical mile of delivering a force into theatre,” said Major Mark Player of Ex Austere Wolf.

It is the first time 17 Port and Maritime have established a landing beach in Albania. He said: “We are simulating how we would operate in a real-world situation. We are enabling the training of our units and controlling how they are being tested from an artificial perspective, and then managing that dynamic against the real-time challenges.”

The Major was speaking in the tented HQ set up on the dockside of the Albanian naval base. Like the rest of the camp it had been created within less than two days by the troops taking part in Austere Wolf.

Major Player said of the exercise: “It’s our opportunity to showcase how we do this in a rapid scenario. The troops are going through challenges and practicing how to overcome them when they arise. This exercise is a good challenge from top to bottom.”

His own role, he added, was to take care of the “health, safety and well being of all the people in an environment that is hard” and to make sure “equipment and personnel” are brought together to ensure the onward movement of the fighting force can take place.