ENSURED AIRPORT

Cavalry advances taking advantage of the darkness of the night. The aim is to get to the Huesca-Pirineos Airport and establish a perimeter cordon that guarantees the safety of the whole precint before dawn. Real distances are not the same as those in the simulation exercises, so the squadrons will have to take into account the setbacks that may arise when moving along civil areas. It is the first time that the Zaragoza-based Light Armoured Cavalry Group 'Lanceros de Borbón' I, from the Cavalry Regiment 'España' no. 11 faces this situation in a real exercise.

Between 2nd and 5th October, the squadrons deployed in the Hoya de Huesca area to conduct a tactical exercise to control the area, in which a security perimeter between six and eight kilometres around the airport had to be established. The exercise began with the reconnaissance of the area, in which the three squadrons advanced until the limit line was reached—materialised by the towns of Gurrea de Gállego, Grañén and Tardienta.

A new detachment for each group is deployed over these towns, apart from the Command Post, initially based in Almudévar.

«Each squadon ensures a certain area, so firstly, they will have to conduct reconnaissance and control exercises until the limit line is reached», claims lieutenant colonel Placer, chief of the “Lanceros de Borbón” group. For their part, the groups are also present in the towns. «We patrol around the cities, Tardienta, in our case. The aim is to guarantee safety and determine that there are no enemies in the area», highlights captain Sañudo, chief of the Armoured Squadron.

They work on an alleged deployment exercise in an allied area, from which the enemy is retreating. No direct offensive action is to be performed, it is just about advancing and providing safety with patrols, check point and observation posts.

Sergeant Feltrer, commanding one of the sections that have established a checkpoint, remarks that the exercise contributes to improving agility and, since they do as a group, to reach common goals. 'Every unit has a task, and they all belong to a common mission', the sergeant explains.

oth the Armoured Squadron, with Centauro vehicles, and the two Light Groups, with their Cavalry Exploration Vehicles (VEC) were the main protagonists of the night advance. 'It is crucial to perform reconnaissance of the paths, and follow the longitudinal and perpendicular routes', points out Captain Tundidor, chief of Group Operations.