Sri Lankan 4th ARMOURED REGIMENT - Foreign Military Studies ...

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Yet, despite my strong objections, I wasdirected to deploy one tank troop inJaffna by late December 91. I returned toTrincomalee and directed the Czechinstructors to accelerate the training forthe troop earmarked for deployment.In mid-December 1991, MajorRohan Jayasinghe joined the regiment asSecond in Command after graduatingAnanda Wimalaweerea, OfficerCommandingHeadquarter Squadron; MajorMilinda Peiris, A Squadron; Major BAPerera, B Squadron; and Major AjithRatnayake, C Squadron. Captain (QM) SAraniel was quarter master. Theseoutstanding officers were the foundingpillars of 4th Armoured Regiment.from Malaysian Staff College. TheSquadron Commanders were Major“LOYALTY TO A FINE REGIMENT MAY TAKE HOLD OF A MAN ANDSTIFFEN HIS RESOLVE” - LORD MORAN, THE ANATOMY OF COURAGErolling and were an indispensable part ofThe Light Aid Detachment underCaptain Chandima Gunaratne andLieutenant Yakandawela along with thebest available vehicle mechanics,electricians and armament technicians ofSri Lanka Electrical Mechanicalthe regiment. Other functional back upelements such as Sri Lanka ServiceCorps (SLASC) set up a fuel point atClappenburg, and Sri Lanka ArmyMedical Corps (SLAMC) provided amedical orderly with basic medicine.Engineers (SLEME) kept the tanks28
In late December 1991 after sixweeks of basic introductory training, thefirst troop of tanks was sea lifted by SriLanka Navy Landing Craft Medium(LCM) to Jaffna. It was an intricateoperation since both tank crews andLCM crew had no prior experience ofloading battle tanks on to an LCM. TheCzech trainers who did not approve ofthis early sea movement watched withshock and awe as drivers maneuveredtanks along a precipitous ridgeline inClappenburg Bay and loaded them on tothe LCM. Despite lack of training orprevious experience the operation wascompleted successfully. The Czechslater complimented the Sri Lankan crewsfor their amazing aptitude and feltconfident that the regiment would dowell.By this time the officers had acquiredsome knowledge and experience toconduct basic courses on driving,gunnery, radio, and live firing trainingfor the tank crews. A jungle areaadjacent to the camp was chosen as atank driving area with improved naturalobstacles for vertical climbing, ditchcrossing and maneuver training. A signposted marking the driving area read“Tankodrome,” a word borrowed fromthe Czech tank vocabulary. Basic troopmaneuvers, harbor drills, and nighttraining were conducted in a teakplantation opposite TrincomaleeMonkey Bridge camp.SLEME personnel along withtank crews were trained on towing drills,tank component changes and otherrecovery drills utilizing the complex butextremely versatile ARVs. Training wasThe Czechs departed aftercompleting the initial training package.not without accidents. A troop leaderlost part of a finger due to incorrect29
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Page 3 and 4: tracked vehicles. A reluctance toin
Page 5 and 6: influence and became an independent
Page 7 and 8: Classic Sri Lankan hospitalityand b
Page 9 and 10: making the final decision. He arriv
Page 11 and 12: II. Field Marshall BernardMontgomme
Page 13 and 14: with buildings, jetties and sheds.
Page 15 and 16: “WE NEVER WAVERED BECAUSE, IN THE
Page 17 and 18: It was a challenge thrown at me and
Page 19 and 20: trailers to camp. They contained ta
Page 21 and 22: eportedly used in twenty-threecount
Page 23 and 24: The Commander of the Army Lieutenan
Page 25 and 26: conditioning was an area that drewr
Page 27: een done at the time. I was directe
Page 31 and 32: egiment they were adorned with aspe
Page 33: Brigadier C S N B Mudannayake RWP U

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