Gas masks in sunshine: Tigers ready for CBRN role in 4 Brigade ahead of leaving Cyprus

First Battalion, The Princess of Wales' Royal Regiment (1 PWRR) – nicknamed the Tigers – have completed training and validation as a Counter-CBRN unit while in Cyprus.

Soldiers from B Coy were selected to be part of one of two sub-units in the British Army that can respond to chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) threats.

The unit spent weeks practising its response to chemical spills and decontamination at Episkopi Garrison, the primary headquarters for British Forces Cyprus.

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Preparing for the threat 

In one training scenario, a MAN truck crashed, leaking an unknown substance around a casualty.

"The exercising troop have been informed that there has been a chemical spillage," said Corporal Mark O'Bray, one of the CBRN Tactical Training Instructors.

"They are essentially trying to find a route into the area so we can find and confirm what sort of chemical it may be."

Using a Chemical Agent Monitor (CAM), the survey team scans overhead while 'prodders' scrape the floor with detector paper attached to a short pole.

The unit wore limited protective equipment for the training due to the hot weather in Cyprus.

"In a cold environment, if we were in the UK, we'd like to be in Category State 4, which is the full PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) CBRN suits," said Cpl O'Bray.

He added that due to the heat in Cyprus, the regiment is taking extra precautions, so serials are carried out in clean fatigue with respirators on and haversacks attached.

However, B Coy wore full equipment for the final validation.

The bigger picture 

The role forms a part of 1 PWRR's new tasking upon leaving Cyprus and joining 4 Brigade.

"It's a great opportunity for B Company," said 2nd Lieutenant John Hatton, 4 Platoon Commander.

"While we're not the specialists in this role, what it does allow us to do is find that threat, where it might spread to, and allow the specialists to conduct their role."

Use of chemical weapons in war is prohibited under the Chemical Weapons Convention.

However, an investigation by Dutch and German intelligence agencies found the use of chloropicrin in Ukraine.

The chemical agent clogs gas masks, making it difficult to breathe and forcing the unit to move from cover, where they can be killed.

"As we can see from Ukraine, the threat of chemical warfare is still viable and still being persecuted by enemy forces," said 2nd Lt Hatton.

1 PWRR will join the Field Army's Counter CBRN Readiness Protection Group this summer after two years as the Resident Infantry Battalion in the Western Sovereign Base Area.