ROYAL Wessex Yeomanry reservists from across the South West have been demonstrating their capability on Lulworth Ranges.

The reservists deliver support as the United Kingdom’s Armoured Reinforcement Regiment providing armoured resilience to the UK’s Reaction Force.

They participated in a live firing exercise on the ranges last Friday to test their mettle.

As their colleagues were driving to work in the morning rush hour, more than 160 members of the Royal Wessex Yeomanry (RWxY) spent the week climbing on board one of the most sophisticated and complex Armoured Fighting Vehicles in the world; the Challenger 2 Main Battle Tank.

The RWxY soldiers, who have come from squadrons in Bovington, Barnstaple, Cirencester, Exeter, Salisbury and Swindon, have been rigorously tested in a number of roles on the Challenger 2 during the Live Firing package,

The training is designed to test the soldiers in the Commander, Gunner, Loader and Driver roles and the week has seen them tested on static shoots, engaging moving targets, the use of different sighting systems, day and thermal, before increasing the tempo and the challenge with firing on the move and firing on the move whilst engaging a moving target.

The exercise culminated in the Annual Crew Tests (ACT) – the first time reservist crews have completed the same tests as their regular counterparts – in which all three crews passed on the first attempt.

Lt Col John Godfrey, Commanding Officer of The Royal Wessex Yeomanry said: "Training on Challenger 2 takes great determination and significant personnel commitment. This is the first year that RWxY Reserve crews have fired the Regular Challenger 2 Annual Crew Test. The personnel on ranges today have maintained their competency and currency on the tank throughout the year, completed synthetic firing preparation over the preceding weekends and demonstrated what they are capable of this week. Our first crew to shoot the ACT achieved a ‘Level 6’ – the highest ACT standard. With a subsequent level 4 and 5, our first 3 crews to fire the Regular ACT have achieved a 100% first time pass rate. I could not be prouder of them.”