In the armored competitions held during NATO "Iron Spear" exercise in Latvia, Polish tankers from PKW Latvia took first place, defeating teams from 9 countries. The crews of the Leopard 2PL winning tanks were commanded by the Chor. Marcin Chrabąszcz and St. Sergeant Andrzej Psiuch. Our battleships presented a advanced level of fire skills and velocity of action.
The three-day global competitions of armored and mechanized divisions were held at the base of Ādaži close Riga, Latvia. There is simply a NATO multi-national militant group, which is the force of the enhanced presence of the Alliance.
“The struggles were organised in early May as part of the “Iron Spear” exercise, in which soldiers took part from quotas stationed in the Natovian combat groups in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland”, says Captain Daniel Kayper, press officer PKW Latvia. The goal of the competition was to check fire skills and communication efficiency between tank crews during dynamic shootings utilizing cannon and coupled device gun.
Twelve section teams were competing, each consisting of 2 tank crews. 2 sections were exhibited by Canadians on Leopard 2A4M tanks, Poles on Leoparda 2PL and Italians – on C1 Ariete tanks and Centauri tank destroyers. The struggles were besides attended by individual sections: from Spain on Leopard 2A6E, Germany on Leopard 2A6, Norway on Leopard 2A4, Sweden on Stridsvagn 122, France on AMX-10 and large Britain on Challenger 2.
What was the competition? In the first stage, which took place at the tank range, the crew were given 7 cannonballs and 14 firearm ammunition. Tankers had to hit 16 cannon targets and the same rifles of different point value. Both the accuracy of the driving of fire and the efficient communication between crews and the velocity of movement of vehicles were assessed.
– Time and communication played an crucial function due to the fact that 2 points were deducted for each minute of operation, and the hit of the same mark by 2 tanks was counted as 1 – explains the disease. Marcin Chrabąszcz, who commanded 1 of Leopards from the winning section.
After the first stage, 4 top teams were selected, which advanced to the final. Norwegians led, the second and 3rd place were Poles, and the 4th – Swedish section. – The finals were held on the same principles, but already on the tactical belt and in a very varied area – said Sgt. Sgt. Andrzej Psiuch, commanding the second Polish tank. This time the crew had only 3 cannon shells and a box of firearm ammunition, 8 weapon targets and 16 rifles.
After fierce competition, 1 of the Polish teams had the same points as the Norwegians and decided to win by about a minute shorter shooting time. In 3rd place the Swedes were placed, and the second Polish section, commanded by the sergeant. Tomasz Kulek and Krzysztof Żyła, the deputy minister, took 4th position. “Our crews presented a very advanced level of fire skills and proved an advantage in the velocity of action against allied crews, for which they were praised by the command of the combat group,” states the spokesperson PKW Latvia.
The same competitions had crews of combat infantry cars competing in their category. Here the Swedes won on CV90, the others were Spaniards on Pizarro, followed by Germany in Pumach, and the 4th place took Norwegians on CV90.
The Iron Spear exercises, in which the competitions took place, are organised annually in Latvia and their aim is to check the training of tank crews and combat vehicles from countries exhibiting their forces under the NATO quota in the Baltic States and Poland. During the maneuvers, soldiers trained, among others, driving fire, uncovering targets and overcoming obstacles. "It was an excellent chance to exchange experiences and to present the skills of crews, their level of training and the capabilities of equipment that NATO troops have," said Captain Kayper.
Polish Military Quota in Latvia It's part of a multi-national NATO combat group under Canadian command. The militant group is simply a force of enhanced Alliance presence (enhanced Forward Presence, eFP). 4 specified groups are located in Poland, Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia. Their aim is to support allied forces in the region and to increase the possible for defence and deterrence on the east flank of NATO.
In the NATO combat group in Latvia, more than 1,000 soldiers serve, in addition to Canadians and Poles, they include soldiers from Italy, Albania, Slovenia and Spain. The Polish contingent has been stationed in Latvia since 2017, and the current 16th change of PKW Latvia has about 250 soldiers and workers. Its main strength are tankers from the 10th Armored Cavalry Brigade from Świętszów. Major Jakub Żołudź is the commander of the change.
