Appendix "D"
ARMY REPORT
ON
EXCERCISE "ROUND-UP"
GENERAL
Exercise ROUNDUP was primarily an RCAF ex and NOT an Air Def exercise. Army units, therefore, fitted themselves in where practicable. This report deals with the Army side of the exercise and with two units in particular, 50 HAA Regt and 28 Tech Sqn RCEME. On the whole the exercise was quite successful and many lessons were learned. Co-operation between the two branches was excellent and the Active Forces (AF) outdid themselves in helping the Reserve Force (RF) units participate.
"A" BRANCH
There was very little involvement of A branch in the exercise. AF pers loaned to the RF did an excellent job. All ranks were conscientious, soldierly in their bearing and manner and a credit to the service.
"Q" BRANCH
Co-operation in Q matters was of the highest order. The staff of Central Command and Eastern Ontario Area out-did themselves in helping the RF units. The Q problem is probably the most difficult to solve. The burden of Q in the ex fell mostly on the QM of 50 HAA Regt RCA with a small amount of help from the A&T Staff. This afforded excellent trg for the RF 'Q' people and all ranks learned many lessons. However, confusion existed, delays occurred, effort was unduly expended and the results were out of proportion. This was NOT due to a lack of effort, but rather to a lack of teamwork trg and combined effort that comes from long association in the field. It also resulted in a number of people being switched from regular trg and doing jobs they were not familiar with. It is, therefore, suggested that a proportion of the 'Q' detail be handled in the future, by AF pers. Fatigues, quartering, sanitation and even feeding are examples of the help the AF could supply. Vehicle maintenance was good, although the petrol point was a considerable distance away and it required a complete afternoon for refuelling purposes. The possiblity of a gasoline truck at the deployment area may well be considered. Recovery services were well handled by the RF unit participating. This work provided excellent trg for the unit and many useful lessons were leaned.
"G" BRANCH
From the standpoint of ops, the exercise offered very little. This was due to weather mostly and the fact that the exercise was primarily RCAF and NOT Air Defence. Further, the positioning of equipment was done from a publicity point of view and NOT an operational occupation. Had the weather, however, NOT been so adverse, a regimental deployment would have been carried out as planned. Sr officers on both sides failed to appreciate the role of HAA and expected the regt to behave in a LAA role. This, however, can easily be cleared up for a future exercise. In future exercises use of A GRA and AAOR units would facilitate trg of Sr officers. It is believed that lack of equip prevented 1 AAOR from taking part in this exercise. Use of mobile unit from RCSA(AA) could be given consideration in future exs. Trg at the Jr officer level was good. The occupying of a position and the in and out of action drills are one phase of trg that is all too often forgotten. This exercise pointed out the need for this type of trg and all ranks did excellently under the adverse conditions.
Proper targets were limited due to the low ceiling, but, the advantages of live tgts for following far outweighed any disadvantages the ceiling produced. This is especially true of the radar operators. The long ranges of the exercise allowed for many runs and further trg of this nature is a necessity.
The RCAF requested the use of blank ammo during the exercise. The purpose was to accustom fledging pilots to flak flashes. Due to the shortness of time this was not possible. "Instructions for Practice AA Arty in CDA" 1950, makes NO mention of restrictions in firing blank. Ammo text books do NOT stipulate any abnormal restrictions in firing blank. Section 1R of the Cdn Ord Catalogue does NOT list blank ammo as being available. Use of blank would add considerable realism to such exercises. Blank interspersed with every ten rds of drill would serve both Army and RCAF purposes. The officer can see NO safety difficulties involved in the use of blanks and recommends its use in future exercises.
Due to the weather the planned regimental deployment was washed out. Vehicle loading and plans were developed along a regimental convoy and deployment basis. All ranks worked well under the conditions, however due to the all-night convoy on FRI night; the adverse weather on SAT; the discussions and resultant change in plans and the work necessitated by same, all meant that by SUN the personnel were extremely tired and, therefore, did not obtain as much benefit from the actual trg as they might have done. It is a point of discusion as to whether it would be advisable to conduct future exs in the same manner. From a RF Army point of view, future exercises should be conducted in the spring or early fall as the chances of good weather prevailing would be better and the possibilities of illness and resultant loss of work would be less.
CONCLUSION
Ex ROUNDUP was an unqualified success. More exercises of this nature should be conducted. They could, however, be conducted as Air Defence exercises with RF AGRA's and RCAF Res Groups playing their normal roles. This would alleviate the individual unit of a good deal of the planning and allow them to concentrate on the ops and trg. An exercise of this nature is something that may be taking place in the near future in deadly seriousness and ROUNDUP showed the lack of preparedness and trg along these lines.
AF planning was NOT evident at the beginning, but their co-operation was most excellent as the exercise progressed. If an Air Def exercise is planned including HAA and LAA units AF participation in planning and helping the RF will be a must.
To avoid excessive fatigue of RF pers different plans could possibly be arranged. For example all equip could be transported to the exercise area by the AF under supervision of the A&T with RF personnel travelling by either RCASC busses or by train.
It is the opinion of the reporting officer that exercises of this nature are urgently required, especially in Air Defence. The results obtained from trg alone would repay money, time and effort expended. The value obtained for recruiting, esprit de corps, publicity and a host of other benefits will be tremendous.
(RV Leamen) Major
3 Sec A&T Staff.