Ex Lionheart as seen by general public 1980

Interesting to think it was large enough news to be on every night the TA were involved

[@reccerat4446]

This was Ex Crusader 1980, Ex Lionheart was 1984, I had just finished training and joined my armoured regiment in Germany Sep 84 and went on Lionheart a few weeks later. Chieftain Gunner, A Sqn 2nd Troop for Lionheart.

[@JJ_Khailha]

I remember this as a kid. The school bus was quite a long journey (40mins or so) from Detmold to Gutersloh and you’d be looking out the window and start seeing troops everywhere, around bridges and underpasses, in the tree lines, along the sides of the fields. Hobart barracks played host to US soldiers and we’d chat to them in their APCs. We thought they were so cool. Interesting to see that the Ukrainians seem to be using similar tactics against Russia at the moment and seem to be doing very well. Dispersing your forces, empowering lower ranked officers to make tactical decisions. Killing the approaching enemy then breaking off to fight another day.

[@TarnishUK]

Ex Lionheart took place in 1984. As stated by the narrator in the film this is Exercise Crusader.

[@1spooney]

Exercise lion heart was 1983 I know because I was on it

[@1spooney]

I'm sorry about this my bag it def 84 I'm not thinking straight

[@gunner678]

Exactly! I was on both and many more!

[@TheFordmustangv8]

TarnishUK all major Ex’s were every 4 years...I did Ex Iron Hammer in 1988.... and it was bloody cold...

[@haalstaag]

Lionheart was a scream.....we were dug in in Sebessa (not sure of spelling as I am old now)

[@mickgriffin1210]

Yes I was there too, I was in 8 Regt RCT and my job during this exercise was to drive a Land Rover 3/4 ton with one of the umpires so I got to see both sides of the battle lines. It was great to see large tank formations crashing through the West German countryside, never will I see that again in my life time.

[@benconway9010]

Perhaps until today the way things are going cos it’s going to happen for real if something isn’t done to quash it

[@geno9869]

I was in the TA at the time. 5/8 King Regiment. This exercise made me join the Regs. Loved every minute of it. i was knackered had no sleep, but hey the 24 hours R and R was great. We had it in Koln :)

[@theonemesis5217]

Damn magnetized VHS tapes of the 80s! Cult and wonderful, if only they couldn't have such problems, on their backs! They were tormenting us, like that, ever since those days! In any case, this is an otherwise great footage, full of nostalgia....

[@stealthandysteath1069]

Great to see what a army can do. Great too see the old SLR. Hope too get one but only for the range.

[@mickt1230]

I remember it well. Very wet and cold.

[@markforsyth2721]

I was 19 back then and had arrived in Munsterlager in the January for a posting to 32 Armd Engrs. As the only Armd Engr regiment then, we fought on both sides of the exercise dependent on the phase. If we got stopped, we simple told them we were with the Bridgelayers, and would get waved through. Happy times and great memories.

[@clickbaitfishing7787]

Maybe you meet my dad ,he was 32 armd

[@ianwheatley3838]

was driver of oc 31 sqn. Maj Lester. Ist posting after training and first real ex.

[@alanthevan]

We played the enemy on this exercise. It was a blast.

[@yusufturner1971]

Me to 1Plt, A Coy, 2RGJ out from sunny Tidworth as enemy forces for Crusader! 😆

[@alanthevan]

Yusuf Turner Small world. I was in 2PLT. Joined the Bn in Feb 1980, just before we went to the USA.

[@yusufturner1971]

@@alanthevan Hi! Small world is right! I arrived from the depot in June 1980, I used my middle name Mark back then, and yes it is, so who am I talking to?

[@alanthevan]

Yusuf Turner My names Alan Fishwick. Ended up serving 10 years.

[@yusufturner1971]

@@alanthevan Yep I remember you, and you've got some photos posted on the RGJ Association website?

[@colinrobinson7421]

An eye-opener as a teenager with 2 Mercian doing CONSEM defence. Loved all the helicopter assaults with the RAF Pumas as part of the pre exercise training.

[@samueltempleton741]

Great watching this, I was a Boy soldier with the Royal Irish Rangers, Auchinleck Platoon training at Ballymena Northern Ireland. The Platoon went over to Germany serving along side the 5th Battalion Royal Irish Rangers. It was a great experience especially walking in the NBC suit. I remember digging in near the river Leine just below Marienburg Castle outside Hannover.

[@edpzz]

out from UK for 6 weeks and given one days R&R, Got my LOA cash payment, blew the lot in one night on the Reeperban, , thats all I remember of Crusader 80, happy days

[@northdevonpictures826]

I thought Lionheart happened in 1984, and I was probably on it. Some of us were on Banner in 1980 but there was another big NATO Ex in BAOR, 1978/79. Tanks, helis and all sorts; great fun. We (QRIH) lived rough for weeks on end for these things. Thank feck for Wolfgang and his van.

[@JJ_Khailha]

That’s interesting. I remember a big exercise and our primary school/Hobart barracks airfield was attacked in Detmold but that couldn’t have been Crusader because the dates don’t line up. Certainly lines up with your reference to the BOAR exercise. Anyway, as a kid it was super exciting. We had been given advance warning in the classroom and even though we were expecting it, when the jets came in low it was amazing to be in the middle of the action.

[@madgeordie4469]

I was on this exercise as a corporal in 2 Mercian. It was an amazing experience but it did make me thank god it was not for real. I do not think that things would have panned out exactly the way the directing staff indicated. If the reds had really invaded we would have gone, first chemical then nuclear within days. Very scary.

[@adrongoddard7479]

It was Crusader 80, Lionheart was in '84

[@JesusChrist-ir1td]

I'm sure I'm not alone in thinking thank fxxk that wasn't for real! P. S. Had to chuckle at the 'phase 3' plan to advance and re-capture ground. I'll bet that was popular! :-)

[@felix7911]

1980 was ex Crusader Lionheart was in 84 did both exercises, was in 8 sigs in 80 they emptied us all out and sent us all out to Germany Lionheart I was 21 sigs

[@davebennett4081]

I loved being on this exercise. Had only been in Germany for a month when deployed. Better fun than Lionheart.

[@stuartb4525]

Barely a helmet in sight lol.

[@05017351]

Really interesting, shame about the poor quality. Any one know if there is a better version out there to watch? I really want to learn more about this point in history.

[@UlsterAndy]

Was on the exercise 1st Devon and Dorsets. In one of our trenches we were digging in we came across a German ww2 bunker in a field that no one knew was there. Had to fill in and re dig another trenche a right pain.

[@robthomas4302]

I spent the first five days dug in just north of Alfeld. Great times.

[@datanton1]

To give you an idea on how much smaller the british army is now. 35000 troops is about half of the army today. Back then this was a troop movement of 1/10 of the army...

[@raystewart6524]

Did this Ex on the UK side of things..I was driving a 55 seater coach..oh what fun..I was attached to an RCT TSU Unit in York Had a platoon on my coach..they were brewing up on the coach..using hexy burners..burnt the floor in so many places..carved their names on the seat backs...even broke one of the rear door windows..the MTO sent them a bill for the refurb of the coach...4000 quid..

[@nigelcarter9503]

I was on that exercise. Part of 4 Div.

[@ChrisGroggyCreaser]

- During the "Cold war"... :) - 2 Weeks without sleep,enough food,etc,etc... :(

[@magnolia430]

I think you have the date wrong in your heading, Because Ex Lionheart was in 1984 as i was part of it based in Münster at the time.

[@ageprodeutschland1660]

so nice that the Russians almost waited since all the troops arrived safely the battleground by ship and tourist-bomber without disturbing u-boats attacks or air defense.

[@Iolis]

Absolutely enjoyed that exercise being dug in a pig farm with lots of bangs and firewords thrown around. Hard to believe it was over 40 years ago. Seems like yesterday!

[@anthonybrownhovelt]

We watched the Yanks para drop straight into our ADA area we would have shot the lot down! It was very impressive though.

[@fsutcliffe816]

we got told we could not drop so made do with low flying 4tonner

[@johnallen7807]

A great exercise, we jumped in at night into hides and then observed and reported back to 1 BR Corps ( I hate being near tanks moving at night lol).

[@markellis7819]

Don't suppose there's a better version of this, without the wobbles?

[@HO-bndk]

18:08 SLR modified to fire full auto - or just fast on the trigger?

[@xclonejager6959]

Harry Ford fast trigger finger you can see him pulling it multiple times

[@gunner678]

@@xclonejager6959 you can rotate the safety and fire full auto, but not recommended.

[@gunner678]

@@xclonejager6959 definately rotated the safety and bypassed/disengaged the sear, therefore it is full auto. Absolutely buggers the gas plug and the barrel, quite quickly too. Probably the armourer lol.

[@gunner678]

Yes, the sear is disengaged by over rotating the safety. Not good for the weapon, but it looks good on the TV news! Also illegal, but it is easilly done if you know what to do. It used to be taught as a last resort AAAD option if the LMG packed up. The LMG mags were used also.

[@brianfreeman8290]

I had a bloody SMG ! In a real theatre I'd have dumped that pretty quickly. The SLR was an effective bit of kit. Hit someone with a 7.62 and he'd be staying down !

[@andreasspinnrock3557]

Heute wäre es unmöglich solche Manöver durchzuführen

[@donaldmason4959]

Video heads needed cleaning!

[@mwnciboo]

Imagine what these new AI, cleaning algorithms that do WWI egc could do this.

[@Jeffybonbon]

this sums up the exercise ???

[@marky59]

I enjoyed this Exercise albeit a bit wet :)

[@gunner678]

Crusader. Lionheart was 84.

[@davidmarshall1053]

Did both as well fkin mint ex 2 RGJ 77-84 Mortars

[@stevenbreach2561]

Think I was on that one,5thRIDG C Sqn

[@anonymous2513456]

Thank god that VHS is dead.

[@robs5688]

Unwatchable.

[@12dougreed]

What a waste of time and money. Just find a wood park up go to sleep 💤 read books drink German beer and then wait for something to happen, that never did. I can just imagine them deciding on a name. Over a few after lunch brandies in the mess. Oh , I say old chap what shall we call this one? How about Run Jerry run Jerry run run run ? No no can't use that . They are on our side now, Red Rushing Russian is a good one. Or I know Rocking Horse . Oh old chap love the Rocking horse one , reminds me of my nurse . We can use that at a later date. Crusader 💕 followed by Lion heart. The name Lion heart will be blood curdling for them. Wow yes those names are so powerful, enough to frighten the shit out of the USSR, that's as long as the Beatles don't fuck things up again. At least it will at same time secure our jobs by bullshiting the rest of the world, the last thing we want is to lose our free cigarette ration free petrol tax free cars tax free Alcohol travel allowance that is easy to fake .double wages for being so far away from home 6 weeks leave per year 9 to 4 daily work routine plus 2 hour lunch break. And jolly good piss ups in the mess.