The searing heat of Afghanistan may have been absent, but

swooping helicopters, rumbling tanks and the rat-a-tat of

gunfire were all present as a huge military exercise swung into

action.

Yesterday, two weeks of intense army activity and heavy-duty

military movement began on Salisbury Plain as nearly 6,000

troops prepared for the rigours and dangers of war.

In one of the biggest military exercises held in the UK in

recent years, a large swathe of the 300-square mile chalk plain

in South Wiltshire doubled as a dusty Afghanistan war zone.

Some 500 vehicles will be used in the Mission Rehearsal

Exercise for British military personnel who will be deployed to

fight rebels and support the fledgling Afghan government later

this year.

Royal Marines and soldiers from 3 Commando Brigade will be

training alongside 1st Battalion The Rifles, which formed from

the Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire

Regiment.

With the aim of mimicking real-life operations, troops will

be supported by aircraft from all the army, navy and airforce,

including helicopters, jets and two Hercules transporter

planes.

A flurry of helicopter activity is anticipated at the

Ministry of Defence site at Ludgershall, with up to six Apache

attack choppers, two Lynx, two Sea King and four Chinooks all

expected to be involved.

Mock battles will rage in and around a ramshackle ghost town

which has evolved over the years at Copehill Down and today

resembles a Middle Eastern settlement.

While keeping the specifics of the two-week training

exercise firmly under wraps, military top brass warned people

from surrounding Salisbury Plain to expect noise – especially

from aircraft.

A spokesman for 3 Commando Brigade said: “The Brigade has to

be ready to deploy anywhere in the world, especially Helmand.

Rehearsing key skills is an essential element in maintaining

operational capability.

“This is an operationally focused brigade that gleans its

most recently operational experience from Helmand Province in

Afghanistan.”

He said every effort would be made to ensure that noisy

activity was limited to normal training times.

“In principle, flying hours have been limited to between 7am

and 11pm during the week with only limited flying on

weekends.

“However, on some occasions flying will be conducted

throughout the night.

“Exercise planners have made every effort to avoid

over-flying sensitive and built-up areas.

“Ground activity will take place on military training areas

during the day and night and over the weekend.”

A spokesman for the Exercise Control said: “While it is

appreciated that this exercise will cause some minor disruption

and inconvenience to people in the local areas involved we

would ask for their co-operation and understanding to ensure

that the Armed Forces maintain their genuine operational

effectiveness.”

Lt Col Mike Beard, Commandant of Salisbury Plain Training

Area, said drivers should be particularly aware at tank

crossings around the Plain where there will be more activity

than usual.

Horse owners should take extra care as there would be low

flying aircraft, he said.