I speak with Colin Ferguson a veteran from the British Army‘s covert Special Observation Post Troop which was founded in 1982.

The "stay behind" Special OP Troop consisted of selected soldiers in 6 man patrols whose task was to dig in large underground hides known as "mexe" shelters along the inner German border. They would then allow the main Soviet forces to pass over them before deploying to two smaller observation posts (Ops) where they would engage the enemy with the long-range guns and rockets of the British Army.

Colin, covers in detail, selection, training and deployment as well as how the mexes were constructed. Do check out Colin’s podcast, “The Unconventional Soldier” which offers first-hand accounts of past conflicts, military history, book and film reviews, plus guests, dits and digression

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This episode is dedicated to remembering two members of the Special Op Troop. Lance Bombardier Steve Cummins, who is pictured on the episode cover and Gunner Miles Amos who lost their lives in 1989 when their vehicle struck a mine near Londonderry. We thank them for their service.

I am delighted and honoured to welcome Colin Ferguson to our Cold War conversation…

There are photos and further info here. https://coldwarconversations.com/episode212/

0:00 Introduction

0:24 Interview with Colin Ferguson, a veteran from the British Army's covert Special OP troop

7:22 Basic training for the artillery and assignment to the 12th air defense regiment

14:24 Volunteering and initial training for the Special OP troop

20:30 The selection process for the Special OP troop and field experience training

33:08 Survival skills, live field firing and the final exercise of the course

36:48 Historical accuracy of army depictions in movies and use of Soviet vehicles for training

40:31 Deployment of special OP troops, selection of shelter locations and creation of target information packs

50:20 Communication distance with the artillery and encryption of communication

59:45 Participation in Exercise Reforger, end of the Cold War and escape and evasion training

1:02:51 Survival and resistance interrogation course and experiences facing the Soviet army

1:12:13 Reflections on the sacrifices of fellow soldiers and remembering the casualties of the Cold War

1:13:44 Introduction to the "Unconventional Soldier" podcast

1:16:31 Store promotion and closing remarks

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