Page 10 - AirForces Monthly - Issue 381 (December 2019)

Exercise
Report Baccarat 2019

Wildcats For the first time,

the British Army
Air Corps joined an
play Baccarat exercise in France
with both Wildcats
and Apaches. Oliver
Jonischkeit reports
from the northeast of
the country.

T he Armée de Terre’s 4 BAC, General Frédéric Gout Rhine on the German border. Tigre HADs from the Batallón
e
de Helicópteros de Ataque I
The French Army sent
was in charge of the overall
(French Army’s) 4
e
Brigade d’Aérocombat (4 e operations and was assisted helicopters from its three (BHELA I, Attack Helicopter
BAC, 4th Air Combat Brigade) – by a Spanish lieutenant colonel combat helicopter regiments: Battalion 1) at Almagro.
headquartered in Clermont-Ferrand who headed up the international 1 Régiment d’Hélicoptères de The AAC participated with
er
in central France – organised the helicopter battalion. Combat (1 RHC), 3 RHC and 5 e eight Apache AH1s from 662 and
e
er
large-scale Baccarat exercise for the Ground troops for the RHC, home-based in Phalsbourg, 663 Squadrons of 3 Regiment
third time from September 16-26. multinational exercise came Étain and Pau, respectively. in Wattisham, Suffolk, and
In all, more than 2,200 personnel, from France, Spain and the The Spanish Army brought two two Wildcat AH1 helicopters
60 helicopters and 80 armoured Spanish Legion. They practised CH-47Ds from the Batallón de from 661 Squadron at Royal
vehicles were involved in an area together with helicopters from Helicópteros de Transporte V Naval Air Station Yeovilton,
measuring 186 miles (300km) from France, Spain, the RAF and (BHELTRA V, Transport Helicopter Somerset. Also taking part was
west to east and 93 miles (150km) the British Army’s aviation arm, Battalion 5) at Colmenar Viejo, a pair of RAF Chinooks from
north to south. Several airfields the Army Air Corps (AAC), as three NH90 TTHs from the Batallón RAF Odiham, Hampshire.
were used, but Étain and Séchault the manoeuvres progressed de Helicópteros de Maniobra III In preparation for the
were the main focuses of activity. eastwards from exercise areas (BHELMA III, Airmobile Helicopter manoeuvres, the Wildcats practised
Commanding officer of the around Rheims to the River Battalion 3) at Logroño and three with the Apaches in Wattisham

AAC hunter-killer team: Wildcat AH1 ZZ407 and Apache AH1 ZJ221. The
Wildcat is increasingly supporting the Apache in a reconnaissance role and
providing intelligence to commanders on the battlefield. All photos Oliver Jonischkeit

10 // December 2019 #381 www.Key.Aero

10-11 Baccarat AFM Dec2019.indd 10 08/11/2019 12:33:21