The name of the battalion command vehicle

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THE NAME OF THE BATTALION COMMAND VEHICLE

The traditional name of call sign Zero, the battalion commander’s Ratel, was Immanuel, meaning “God with us”. The name was painted in white on the left front of the Ratel.

It was kept in immaculate condition, repainting it necessary, even after Zero had only returned for a visit to the training area.

After a short hiatus when the regiment moved to the Army Battle School after the end of the border conflict, Immanuel once more became a constant presence at every mobilisation parade, whether it was for an exercise or an operation. The members of the battalion would fall in in front of the command vehicle, and the unit chaplain would conduct a service, often using the driver’s hatch or Immanuel’s turret as his pulpit as he beseeched the Almighty to be with the men drawn up before him because soldiers live always in the shadow of death even if they are only rehearsing their drills.