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Salisbury Plain: Tank columns and Apache helicopters exercises

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Tank columns and Apache helicopters on Salisbury Plain | Daily Mail Online
By Ollie Gillman for MailOnline

Published: 21:06 GMT, 19 March 2015 | Updated: 07:33 GMT, 20 March 2015

Camouflaged soldiers duck for cover as Challenger tanks rumble by and Apache helicopters hover overhead.

While these pictures appear to have been taken in a war zone, they actually show a huge Army exercise which took place on Salisbury Plain today.

Hundreds of military vehicles, including tank columns and helicopters, were on the plain in Wiltshire as a rapid response brigade started a three-week operation to test its capability to deploy at short notice.

The drills include a 31-mile road test involving 1,650 troops, most of which come from the 12th Armoured Infantry Brigade.

Exercise Tractable will test the Lead Armoured Task Force's ability to launch at short notice and is set to become an annual event as most of the armed forces' fast response units are now based in the south west.

There are thought to be 570 military vehicles on the plain, including Challenger 2 battle tanks, which were seen speeding across the fields as soldiers ducked for cover.


Brigadier Roly Walker, who commands the brigade, told the BBC: 'We are going to prove we can bring a fleet and a crew together to form a task force, so if the country needed us to intervene overseas, we're ready.

'Although it is a large exercise, this is relatively modest - what we will aspire to do is bring a whole brigade together and in the future you could see even larger formations coming together.'


War zone: Apache helicopters hover above a column of Army vehicles including Challenger 2 tanks as they take part in an exercise on Salisbury Plain, Wiltshire
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Cover: A group of soldiers shield their ears as the drills, under Exercise Tractable, involve practicing heavy artillery shelling
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Fire! A huge ball of flames can be seen as a tank fires its weapon during the first day of the three-week military exercise
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Camouflage: Two soldiers duck for cover as they take part in the drills, which will test the Army's capability to deploy quickly
26CEF15E00000578-3003143-Camouflage_Two_soldiers_duck_for_cover_as_they_take_part_in_the_-a-32_1426815186220.jpg

On the run: A soldier, one of 1,650 taking part in the exercise, hides behind a wall of smoke as he darts across the fields
26CEF4FA00000578-3003143-On_the_run_A_soldier_one_of_1_650_taking_part_in_the_exercise_hi-a-33_1426815192810.jpg

Plume of smoke: The drills include a 31-mile road test across the plain and will continue into the start of April
26CEEF3100000578-3003143-Plume_of_smoke_The_drills_include_a_31_mile_road_test_across_the-a-34_1426815197296.jpg

Hundreds of military vehicles including Tank columns and Apache helicopters (right) are taking part in the military operation
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Tanks on patrol: There are thought to be 570 military vehicles on the plain, including Challenger 2 battle tanks
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Taking aim: Most of the soldiers involved in the three-week drills come from the 12th Armoured Infantry Brigade
26CEF7AB00000578-3003143-Taking_aim_Most_of_the_soldiers_involved_in_the_three_week_drill-a-36_1426815211423.jpg

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The drills, under the code name Exercise Tractable, will test the Lead Armoured Task Force's ability to launch at short notice
26CEF7C500000578-3003143-The_drills_under_the_code_name_Exercise_Tractable_will_test_the_-a-37_1426815218313.jpg

Exercise Tractable is set to become an annual event as most of the armed forces' rapid response units are now based in the south west
26CEF7A800000578-3003143-Exercise_Tractable_is_set_to_become_an_annual_event_as_most_of_t-a-38_1426815223397.jpg

A soldier covers his eyes as an Apache helicopter kicks up dust in an image that could easily be mistaken as being from a war zone
26CEF3CA00000578-3003143-A_soldier_covers_his_eyes_as_an_Apache_helicopter_kicks_up_dust_-a-39_1426815228431.jpg

Long lines of tanks tanks were seen speeding across the boggy fields in Wiltshire as armed soldiers ran alongside
26CEF64C00000578-3003143-Long_lines_of_tanks_tanks_were_seen_speeding_across_the_boggy_fi-a-40_1426815234715.jpg
 
Brigadiers leading the exercise said the exercises would ensure the Army was ready to fight overseas if called upon
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Brigadier Roly Walker, who commands the brigade, said: 'We are going to prove we can bring a fleet and a crew together to form a task force, so if the country needed us to intervene overseas, we're ready'
26CEF63A00000578-3003143-Brigadier_Roly_Walker_who_commands_the_brigade_said_We_are_going-a-42_1426815246817.jpg

26CEF51D00000578-3003143-Bringing_up_the_rear_Apache_helicopters_hover_overhead_as_the_tr-a-43_1426815249449.jpg

A hard days work: Some of the soldiers looked exhausted after the day's work, but they will be on exercise for the next three weeks
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the huge exercise, which could be even bigger next year, is designed to test the Lead Armoured Task Force's ability to strike swiftly
26CEF23900000578-3003143-The_huge_exercise_which_could_be_even_bigger_next_year_is_design-a-44_1426815255789.jpg
 
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