In scenes reminiscent of Braveheart, soldiers advanced over mountainous terrain at first light in Co Wicklow yesterday to confront a fictional rebel force. The force they confronted was modelled on the resistance they would likely encounter on UN peacekeeping duties.
For more than three hours the battle between the forces raged, in a simulated exercise to prepare the troops for peacekeeping service with the UN in Kosovo and Eritrea, as well as with the EU Rapid Reaction Force.
The sounds of mortar and gunfire shattered the silence over the Glen of Imaal from 6.30 a.m. while the stench of smoke bombs polluted the still morning air as the mock warfare began.
Hundreds of men from the 4th Western Brigade had spent the night making an 8 km trek over Table Mountain in readiness for an attack on the "rebels" hiding out around Cemetery Hill. The armed resistance included up to 150 members of the Defence Forces Reserve, formerly the FCA.
Backed up by tanks and thousands of rounds of ammunition, the "peacekeepers" moved into enemy territory which was dotted with booby-traps and mines. Overwhelmed, the rebels withdrew but only after "casualties" were recorded on both sides. Helicopters hovered overhead to evacuate the injured.
Comdt Kieran McDaid said the exercise and the experience it taught soldiers would result in lives being saved. More than 80 Irish soldiers have lost their lives on peacekeeping duties.
"We are nearly 45 years now in peacekeeping operations and we have learnt a lot of lessons from that time, and the main lesson we have learnt is that you can take nothing for granted any more. You must prepare for every eventuality what ever mission you are on and wherever you go, and this training prepares soldiers for situations that they could possibly face overseas. We would say this training will save lives. That's what it's designed to do.
He added: "Our focus during the evaluation will be on how we communicated operationally, how troops were controlled, and how they performed themselves individually and collectively."