3 days ago
- General
- Pembrokeshire Herald
Tanks return as Royal Tank Regiment launches live-fire training
HUNDREDS of soldiers and armoured vehicles have arrived in Pembrokeshire as large-scale military training begins today (Monday, June 9) at Castlemartin Training Area.
The Royal Tank Regiment Battlegroup will be carrying out live-fire and manoeuvre training at the range until Friday, June 27.
Live firing will take place from Monday to Friday between 8:00am and 6:00pm, with night firing scheduled from Monday to Thursday between 8:00pm and 3:00am. Not all days will see live fire, but these are the authorised times.
Residents should expect increased military traffic, with tanks and heavy equipment being transported in and out of the area during the exercise period.
The Royal Tank Regiment is the oldest tank unit in the world and operates the Challenger 2 main battle tank. The training is considered critical to the operational readiness of the unit.
Castlemartin is one of the few locations in the UK capable of hosting live-firing exercises at this scale, supporting complex, high-intensity training that ensures frontline forces remain prepared for deployment both at home and overseas.
Later in the year, the Queen's Royal Hussars will train at Castlemartin from October 13 to November 7, followed by the Royal Welsh Battlegroup from November 17 to December 5.
Major John Poole, Senior Training Safety Officer at Castlemartin, said: 'Castlemartin provides vital training for our armoured units. We are grateful to the local community for their patience and ongoing support.'
Firing notices will be posted locally and are available online by visiting and searching 'Castlemartin firing notices'.
