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APPENDIX II
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APPENDIX II
X. LIVE FIRING EXERCISES
To enhance the learning experience at the coming live firing exercises, the 60mm light mortar
and the 7.62 General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG) were added to the syllabus. 2WO Richard
Ong, l SIR Platoon Sergeant of 81mm Mortar and 2LT Surjit Singh, SVC Artillery gunner had
both mastered this weapon and were assigned to fire the 60mm light mortar for all live firing
exercises. LTA Joe Heng and 2LT George Ho displayed proficiency in handling the GPMG and
were assigned to fire the GPMG from the support base for platoon live firing exercises. The
section training was focused on immediate reaction to enemy fire and the repetitive sequence
of fire and movement. The Israeli advisors were very thorough with these lessons. They started
the lessons from an appreciation of the tactical situation to dry runs and followed up with
live firing. The lessons would begin with scenarios on various situations such as the section
on independent patrol or as part of a platoon on offensive operations. We discussed methods
and actions to be taken. Upon accepting our recommendations, the Israelis made us walk the
ground to check our plans. The execution of living firing would commence after a few ‘dry
runs’ during which safety was the primary consideration. The same format of execution was
repeated for night live firing exercises. For night live firing, improvised oil lamps, nicknamed
Joudi lamps, were used as safety markers along the routes and the direction of assault.
The following week, we started the demolition and grenade lessons. The materials were
imported. We practised with live grenades during the training sessions. But for live firing
exercises, we used training grenades as a safety precaution. For the demolition lessons, we
were taught to use improvised jerry can petrol bombs for vehicle ambush lessons. For platoon
offensive operations, the concentration was on quick and deliberate attack. Like the section
training, the lessons began with an appreciation of a given situation in the Pasir Laba live firing
area at Snake Ridge, above the Four-Track Junction, facing Bajau Hill 205. The Israel advisor
directing the quick attack lesson told us that such operations would normally be done against
an enemy outpost or an enemy in hasty defence with a minimum of prepared defences. The
platoon would usually be on a patrol or a point platoon of a company in advance. In this
lesson, the quick attack was on an enemy outpost. After two hours of discussion, we checked
the ground for dry runs before executing the live firing. This would be our first experience
to use a ‘bangalore torpedo’ to breach a defended enemy locality. The assault would be done
through the gap marked by guides on both sides shouting “Gap! Gap!” Support from both
high and flat trajectory weapons was employed during the attack. The execution of the day
live firing was carried out strictly according to instructions and this could be attributed to the
thoroughness of our Israeli advisors. The night attack was a repeat of the day format. Joudi
lamps were used to mark the route from the assembly area to the objective. As an added safety
precaution, at the extreme left and right of the assault force, lights were set up to indicate to
the flank groups where the main assault force was. The night quick attack was conducted with
ten safety officers. As the platoon deliberate attack would have an almost similar pattern of
execution, it was decided to only have a tactical lesson. We were told that this form of attack