STA Patrols are an advance force capability which can operate across the full spectrum of conflict and is held at readiness to deploy anywhere in the world at short notice.
Organisation
4/73 Battery comprises a Battery Headquarters and three Patrols Troops which provide support to 1st Deep Reconnaissance Strike Brigade Combat Team (1DRS BCT) and the Warfighting Division - 3rd (United Kingdom) Division among others.
Role
Special Observers give commanders the ability to deploy a specialist advance force element at range, in proximity to the enemy and in all weathers, to locate and prosecute targets as required. Working as an intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance (ISTAR) asset, the STA Patrols are subject matter experts in Surveillance, Reconnaissance and Joint Fires.
A Special Observer preparing for a reconnaissance task.
The skill set includes:
Covert Surveillance
Reconnaissance Tasks
Technical Surveillance Capabilities
Manned Aerial Surveillance and Reconnaissance
Evidential Quality Photography
Terminal Control of Joint Fires (surface to surface and air delivered munitions).
ISR Coordination
Specialist Training Support
Selection and Training
To become a Special Observer and join 4/73 Battery, each member of the Battery must firstly volunteer to attend the Surveillance and Reconnaissance Patrols Course (SRPC). The SRPC consists of a 13-week selection and training process which is designed to teach each volunteer everything that they need to know to join an STA Patrol and deploy on global operations.
The course is broken down into 7 phases and is held in 10 different locations across the UK.
Students conducting a loaded march whilst on the SRPC Aptitude phase.
Phase 1 - Aptitude. The aptitude phase is conducted on the cheviot hills and is a test of the students land navigation skills whilst also conditioning the students for the later stages of the course. The aptitude phase culminates with 'test week' which consists of 4 test marches (16km, 18km, 22km, 44km).
Phase 2 - Medical and Communication Training. The medical and communication training week are is designed to teach the students the fundamental patrol skills required to communicate and medicate in the field.
Phase 3 - SOP Training. The SOP training weeks consist of patrol routine skills and is designed to give students the baseline understanding of the tactics, techniques and procedures which will need to be implemented throughout the rest of the course.
Phase 4 - Rural Operations. The rural operations phase is designed to teach and then assess the students ability to conduct surveillance and reconnaissance tasks whilst operating at range, in isolation and in close proximity to an enemy in the rural environment.
Phase 5 - Urban Operations. The urban operations phase is designed to teach and then assess the students ability to conduct surveillance and reconnaissance tasks whilst operating at range, in isolation and in close proximity to an enemy in the urban environment.
Phase 6 - Live Fire Tactical Training. The live firing phase is designed to test the skills and drills previously taught within a live fire exercise.
Phase 7 - Final Test Exercise. The final test exercise is a combination of rural and urban operations and is conducted at protracted ranges across the UK. It is designed to test the students knowledge which has been learned throughout the course and is done over 10 days, observing a complex enemy force.
Two Special Observers conduct a map check whilst conducting quad mounted operations.
Following the end of the final test exercise, students who are successful will receive the coveted Special OP Triangle and will join a community of less than 500 Special Observers.
Continuation Training
Following the SRPC, these newly qualified special observers will then complete specialist training on covert photography, SERE, vehicles, heavy weapons and the ability to call in Joint Fires.
Additional Training
Once continuation is complete, the newly qualified special observers will then join an STA Patrol and depending on rank, they will conduct environmental, specialist and career courses which will provide them with unique skills which they will employ in their STA Patrol whilst on global operations.
History
"It is the eyes, the ears, the experience, and the instant decision making ability of the specially trained OP soldier which is second to none in the process of high-quality surveillance and target acquisition" - Maj Gen ACP Stone CB (Founder of the STA Patrol capability).
In early 1970s, I Corps General Support Artillery Regiment was based in the foothills of the Harz in the town of Hildesheim close to the inner German border. This included 5 Regiment RA whose role as part of the NATO General Development Plan (GDP) in the event of war, was to contribute to imposing delay on the advancing Warsaw Pact forces. Operating deep inside enemy territory, however, required specialist training at that time only undertaken by the Corps Patrol Unit, consisting of 21 SAS(R), 23 SAS(R) and the HAC.
By 1980, the Commanding Officer of 5th Regiment Royal Artillery, Lt Colonel A C P Stone, prepared a detailed paper setting out the case that the Regiment required special observation post soldiers. This new unit would dig underground shelters close to the inner German border and allow the advancing enemy forces to pass by them. Following this, two pairs of Gunners would emerge from each underground patrol shelter to direct the fire from the Regiment's artillery. Thus, in 1982, the Special Observation Post Troop was founded to take on that role as part of 5th Regiment Royal Artillery (RA). The unit was stationed in Hildesheim, close to the IGB. From 1985 onward, two Special OP Troops would have guided the artillery fire of their respective parent units (5th and 32 Reg RA) from their underground shelters on the IGB.[1] In 1989, Captain D B Jones, suggested to his Commanding Officer, that there should only be one Special observation post organisation and that ideally it should be based back in Hildesheim near the operational deployment area. In April 1991, two troops were merged, forming 473 (Sphinx) Special OP Battery RA.[2]
The ending of the cold-war meant that the role of the Battery evolved to meet the demand of the Army and the threats of the time. 4/73 Battery continues to evolve to this day and has done so since its conception in 1982. The role of the Special Observer is as important now as it has ever been, the need and ability to deploy highly trained soldiers to operate at range, in isolation and in close proximity to the enemy is still the most reliable and flexible form of target identification and prosecution.
Recent deployments
Special Observers conducting urban vehicle ranges.
The battery have deployed on every major combat operation since 1982 including Northern Ireland, Iraq, Bosnia, Kosovo, and Afghanistan whilst also deploying across the globe to conduct deployments alongside allies and partners. As an advance force capability, STA Patrols can deploy to conduct surveillance, reconnaissance and joint fires anywhere in the world at short notice. Their rigorous selection and training pipeline allows them to be highly skilled and credible soldiers which can operate in any environment.
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