European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - September 16, 1980, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Genera notes combination of circumstances Britain has big Rose in Cruz Ader 80 Story and photos by Rudi Williams Bremerhaven Bureau chief crusader 80," an exercise coming under the umbrella of the autumn forges cries of nato exercises is billed As the largest and most comprehensive British army exercise held since the Early 1950s,"ru.di Williams stars and stripes Bremer Haven Bureau chief went to the British army of the Rhine Baor Headquarters at Rhei Dahlen Germany to talk . Sir William Scotter commander in Cen. Sir William Scotter. Short warning scenario chief British army of the Rhine an commander of the Northern army group about the massive nato Man Euver another topics is the British army will report edly hive More soldiers participating in crusader 80 than in any nato exercise in Germany since the establishment of nato in november 1949. Is this True ifs Why was it decided to conduct such a massive exercise in 1980, More than 30 years after be establishment of nato Scotter Well it s Only a combi nation of circumstances that have made tithe biggest exercise we be had for some years. And the  Are it Hap pens to be the 1st British corps exercise year at a corps ice. We re also at the same time introducing a live practice four reinforcements from the United King Dom which we Haven t done for Man years. Every year for example we sent 22,000to 24,000 of our territorial army to Ger Many to train. They come every year inuit packages and train out Here. This year they re All coming together As part of the reinforcement package to test the reinforcement machine. We re also reinforcing with a lot of regular soldiers from the United kingdom so that s one reason Whit gets raised to a High level. The other reason of course is that this is the first time that the reformer exercise of the 2nd . Army armoured division has been brought into the Northam Northern army group area. That has bumped up the  also have some germans participating. So that has bumped up the figure again. It s a combination of circumstances which has made it a much bigger exercise than the Normal corps exercise. Is How Many exercise co mender the umbrella of crusader 80 ind Bow amay countries will be participating Scotter a lot. There it an exer Cise in the United kingdom called Square leg which is an Arney Hom defense exercise and also generating the support for the exercise Over Here. The there is an exercise called jog Trot which it the bringing in of reinforcements through the dutch and belgian lines of communications up As far As Senn Clager in Germany. That includes dutch and Bel Gian participants. Then we have the major tactical exer Cise which is  there s a Gunc German territorial Northern command exercise As Well on the Rhine. This is part of the bringing Forward of our reinforcements to test How we would get them Over the Rhine River if the Bridges were  How Miny territorial and Otter military people my Navy and air Force will be participating i Cru Sader 80? Scotter i think the Overall total including umpires and controllers is about 100.000. Now that includes nearly 20,000 United Stales troops. We re bringing 22,-500 territorial army soldiers from the ., 10,000 regulars 1,000 Royal air Force men. To help beef up some of their air bases. Nearly 4,000 germans Are Takin part. Is How does the British Territo rial army and its training program com pare with the j a. Reserves Scotter Well i Don t know How the us army Reserve training program goes but i can give you an idea of the territorial army program. They have to do 35 Days recruit train ing when they join and we generally do that in one of our infantry regular training depots. They Are trained by regular cos. They must then do 15 Days in Cam together As a unit. They also have an extra 15 Days which they must do in order to get their Bounty. They then have another 17 Days which they can do voluntarily an they must do on cd Ching a week training throughout the  Lurns out a very Well motivated and very Well trained Man. Incidentally one four territorial battalions is taking part in crusader under command of the . 2ndarmored division. This is a territorial Parachute battalion. So you la be Able to Sec what they Are like then. Is what is the crusader scenario Scotter the scenario is not particularly different from any other. It s de signed to induce the Short warning so that we have to turn out of our Barracks very quickly. That s one of the things we retesting. It s part of a wider scenario be cause there is another exercise which embraced the reinforcement of is troops to Europe and the British reinforcement of the  This was called concordant journey and was an accent  the scenario has been written lock Brace All of these. It goes through the Usu Al things of a period of tension and Detents going wrong and things like that bringing us to a Short warning scenario. Is How Large is the exercise area Scotter the exercise Are stretches from Hanover in the West to Braunschweig in the East then further South from Bielefeld to the Harz mountains it s a Square in that area. Is what role will the us. 2ndarmored division Forward play in the exercise Scotter they re going to have a major role. I was particularly keen that they should have a lot to do when they be come All the Way from the United suites and drawn up their Pom us preposition ing of materials configured to unit set in the South and come up to join us. They first of All Are going to be the Orange enemy during the first couple phases of the Battle. In the last phase of Battle they arc going Tobe the counterattack Force to practice partly what their main role is. Is will British Sot Dlen coming from the  Draw equipment from Etc  Ito Clu such u he is. Army so mus warehouses if so Dot tils apply to All or is some equipment brought Iron toe .? Scotter it varies according to the Type of unit. During crusader i believe 62 major units Are drawing their equipment from stocks in Belgium and Germany. What you Call Pom us we Call Pue positioned unit equipment it varies according to the to Joe of equipment whether they have it with them in England or whether they draw it up Over  what is being done to mini Mize Man Euver  Man Euver damage a been a very great concern to me. We have examined every other nation s precautions that they take on Maneu vers throughout the Central Region. We be extracted All Thebes or most effective methods that we can from everybody. We borrowed a German film which they showed to All their sol Diers and we be Given it a British subtitle and an introduction by the British corp commander. That s going to be shown to every Soldier who takes part in the exer Cise at least to every Soldier who owns a vehicle that could do  re making a film ourselves which is going to be shown to them All. Partly to Tell the families what it s All about but also to Tell the soldiers what it s All about and emphasizing the exercise damage aspect. We re going to test soil throughout the exercise area throughout the exercise. We will Grade it from Green Orange to Pink Green meaning no restrictions varying up to Pink where heavy vehicles will Only be allowed to move on roads Orwell drained tracks according to what the ground and weather Are like in the  have a whole mass of stickers in the vehicles do s and Don t s for soldiers and posters which we be put out in the area. We be briefed All the land authorities and the local authorities Down to a certain level. We re briefing All the Farmers an telling All the villagers what s going to happen. Where we be got major tank activity the course will be walked and marked to an extent to make sure the tanks keep inthe area where they can do least damage. So we really Are making a very big Effort indeed to minimize exercise damage. And of course we have a damage control organization to Check damage right on thespot and to pay out As much of a compensation As we can right on the spot. Is general Scotter. Let s talk about Jour other poll too a coma Nader la chief of the North array croon first of Ell what to tin North array group cob Utise of Scotter the Northern army group consist of from North to troth t dutch corps German corps British command a belgian corps. Within Reserve we re allocated by the commander in chief of the Central Region the 3rd is. Corps from the United  also have at a certain period in the Alert system the German territorial Northern command responsible to Roe for rear areas Security traffic control and to  the 2nd amoral maim Forward Mored into the Oster Boto Schanbeck area a air Force a-10 for Ward base snored la Aubon air Force tactical control fug cars Tore into be Breme Rateb area mow Here sue a Mora about us. Marine and another air Force a-10 Forward base. What b die reason for the seemingly sc4den interest in beefing up forces in Northern Germany Scotter i Don t think it s a Sud Den reason. I think it shows the unite states interest in nato and providing forces for nato. And now that the have provided the 3rd . Corps which we re All delighted about. Is a possible Reserve in the Northern army group area presume Day these preparations Are connected with the support of that  How do Yoa think lie Ger mans in the Northern Germany area fed about the possible buildup Scotter i m sure they re absolutely delighted. Here locally in monchengladbach there s a lot of extra work connected with the building of the Pom Cus Sites. But above All i View the Possi ble arrival of the 3rd . Corps in Thi area As being the biggest thing that s happened in nato in this area since the for mation of the bund Estehr. It does really show to the people of North Germany How much the United states is committed tothe defense of nato. We Are All delighted at the Progress being made. Is How hate toe Warsaw pact countries reacted to thl buildup Scotter i Haven t the faintest idea. Chow is no Challenge sol. Ronnie do a has All thai Nec Essary to beat no a Quick meal and the sergeant sets up his Gas Hove to prepare boiled potatoes and sausages at South tampon. England. Doali of the British Royal Irish Hussan made tic meal far himself and his Crew while key were waiting for tanks and other Iwato equipment to be loaded on a ship to jots the nato Maneu vers in Germany