About 1,000 soldiers took part in the exercises of NATO's multi-national conflict group in Latvia, Oak Fire. Among them were besides Poles from the 19th amendment of the Polish Military Continent Latvia. The night fire drills active artillery, helicopters, combat vehicles and tanks, including Polish Leopards from the 34th Armored Cavalry Brigade.
The Oak Fire exercise took place at the camp in the area of the base of the city of Ādaži, where the office of the NATO multi-national combat group, consisting of a company of Polish military contingent tanks in Latvia, are located. Canadian, Spanish, Italian and Danish troops took part in the exercises in addition to Poles. Aim? Exercise the collaboration of global forces, conduct fire training in night conditions, including air support in the form of Canadian Bell CH-146 Griffon helicopters.
In the field but Leopard tanksother than Polish soldiers from 34 Armoured Cavalry Brigade Canadians, Spaniards and Danes besides usage the Zagania, Italian tanks C1 Ariete and Canadian armored transporters LAV-6. The activities besides utilized artillery and exploratory drones. The fire drills continued for 5 days, mostly at night.
– Area of the camp in Ādaži It's a woody swamp area, with planes where you can shoot. The area is demanding, and we have besides been practicing maneuvering in hard night conditions on it, says cf. Michał Sławski, deputy commander of tank company with 34 BKPanc. – erstwhile carrying out the shooting, we ate optoelectronics. We were shooting static targets at a distance of up to 3 km “The officer adds.
The script of the exercise was to prepare and carry out an attack on the opponent, and reconnaissance drones were utilized in the maneuvers. Soldiers besides trained the procedure of calling for close air support with the participation of the so-called. JTAC (Joint Terminal Attack Controller) – an advanced aviation guidance navigator. It is simply a decently trained certified soldier, liable for the management of combat aviation, assault helicopters, unmanned aircraft, and coordination of aviation and ground forces, including artillery.
– The biggest challenge for this kind of global and large exercise like the Oak Fire is the appropriate combination of subdivisions from different countries. specified exercises are very crucial to cooperate later on in the case of possible actual combat actions," Lt. Sławski emphasises.
The 19th change of the Polish Military Quota in Latvia has more than 200 soldiers. The commander of the contingent is Colonel Robert Markiewicz. The basis for the change is the 34th Armored Cavalry Brigade, whose soldiers have served in Latvia since June. At the beginning of December, they will be changed by their colleagues from the Black Division, or armored men from the 10th Armored Cavalry Brigade from Świętszów.
