Battleships from Świętszow after a long march

Was that a good year?

Definitely a breakthrough. In 2024, we started forming a second tank battalion. At the time of the large brigade it was a full developed subdivision, but for the last decade it only existed on paper. Now, step by step, it regains its combat value. In addition, we will shortly receive fresh equipment. Our self-propelled artillery squadron – the Krab cannonhaubice will replace the Carnations. Deliveries will start next year, but right after the brigade's celebration, we're leaving with training. We will be supported by colleagues from the 23rd and 5th Regiment of Artillery. We besides worked a lot in the field, including preparing for abroad missions.

That's right, your brigade has late issued 2 contingents, although the specifics of both missions were highly different. Let's start with Latvia, where you were active in securing NATO's east flank...

This mission is simply a training mission.So the soldiers started it out of a march. But it was inactive a challenge for us to leave. On the occasion of our change, there was a change of equipment. The PT-91 tanks utilized by the 16th Pomeranian Mechanized Division were replaced by our Leopardami 2PL. The wagons had to be prepared not only for transport itself, but besides for long months. And that's what our logistics did. Now Leopards are utilizing another change, this time staged by the 34th Armored Cavalry Brigade, and we have not recorded major failures so far. Meanwhile, the equipment is operated very intensively.

How crucial was your service in Latvia?

Huge, above all due to building specified an crucial interoperability for NATO. Our soldiers collaborated with Canadians, soldiers from Italy, Spain, Albania, Slovenia and the Latvians. We exchanged experiences, we worked together. Participation in the mission is besides crucial for images. Poland shows that it does not number on the support of allies. She can besides add bricks to collective security, especially since we have a truly well-trained army. Our crews, for example, participated in the global tankers' competitions and took first and 4th places there.

Polish soldiers stationed in Latvia, February 2025.

10 BKPanc besides sent the contingent to Lebanon..where a peaceful mission abruptly became a high-risk mission.

It's true. Before an open confrontation between Hezbollah and Israel took place in 2023, sub-units operating under the aegis of the UN could focus on securing and supporting the local population. Then they were forced to take greater care of their own safety than before. Our soldiers continued to carry out mandate tasks, but they began to act a small bit like on missions in Iraq or Afghanistan. Experience gained from it was useful, for example, during patrols, but besides erstwhile Missiles began falling close UNIFIL Bases.

In the light of this conflict, has the way you prepared the quota changed?

To any extent, yes. We have put more emphasis on issues related to masking, medical assistance, evacuation. However, I will stress this again: the intent and nature of the mission itself has not changed.

Did the journey to Lebanon bring any benefits to your soldiers?

Yes, but it's very different from the mission in Latvia. The tasks carried out there do not precisely fit into the projects to prepare us for a possible war. On the another hand, many experiences may prove useful for us. I am referring primarily to the procedures active in providing assistance to the civilian population. Although this is not an immediate task of the military during the conflict, it is certain that, under certain circumstances, soldiers may be active in specified projects. Furthermore, as with the mission to Latvia, Poland's commitment to specified missions strengthens our image abroad.

The 10th Brigade sends troops abroad, while the sub-units from outside the country are coming to you. For a long time train tankers from Ukraine. How's it going?

Training is carried out in the framework of the EUMAM mission and is handled by experts from Leopard Training Center. Within a year we have three–four turnuses. Everyone lasts 5 weeks. So instructors have small time to bring the Ukrainians, who have utilized russian constructions so far, a completely fresh kind of tank for them. In 3 years, however, we have managed to make a training strategy that works.

Participation in the EUMAM mission is simply a challenge for OSL instructors, all the more so that during the year they besides train Polish tankers. And it is not only the soldiers of our brigade, but besides in the neighbourhood – the 34th Armored Cavalry Brigade, due to the fact that it has late utilized Leopards again.

Meanwhile, Leopardy itself is becoming more and more modern.

It's true. The 2A4 Leopards are slow replaced with 2PL tanks. Vehicles upgraded at the “Bumar-Łabada” plant have more firepower, fresh reflection devices, additional turret armour modules have importantly increased crew safety. Leopardy 2PL proved their worth during exercises in Latvia, but besides last year's maneuvers ‘Dragon ’24’. At that time, we compared the accuracy of Leopards, Abrams and K2 tanks at the Orish camp. The crew of 1 of our tanks fired an effective shot at a distance of 4100 meters. This is an amazing result, which shows not only the possibilities of the car, but besides the training of the soldiers themselves. Modernized Leopardy comparatively easy to service. Their plan does not disagree importantly from the 2A4 and 2A5 models, and we have considerable experience in their use. Specialists from the German Rheinmetall company have prepared our soldiers to run independent services so that we are not dependent on the manufacturer.

As I realize it, the modernized Leopard is besides expected to be a kind of decoy for fresh soldiers. Eventually, the army is expanding, and modern equipment encourages possible candidates to service more than the russian tanks or howitzers.

In a way, yes. We care about fresh soldiers not only due to the formation of the second tank battalion. The willing, of course, after a appropriate verification, we besides accepted to the first battalion or logistics subdivisions. The situation has improved recently. Earlier, volunteers preferred to service in larger towns, specified as Żagań or Bolesławec, but for any time they have besides come to us. It is simply a substance of available vacancies, but I think it is not insignificant that the individual is besides upgrading.

Crabs, Leopardy 2PL... In Poland it is said that in the first place we are expanding and arming units from the east. Meanwhile, as you can see, there's a bit going on in those Western parts of the country. How crucial is your brigade in this geostrategic arrangement?

Of course, I can't talk about the details of the operational plans. In general terms, however, they presume that in the event of an attack from the east border, we will support the units deployed there together with our allies. That's why We're working out a fast shift in that area.. This was the case, for example, during the “Dragon ’24” exercise, erstwhile our tanks were moved by rail to the Vistula line, crossed the river, and then moved from the Grudziądz area to the ground in Orzysz. During the 10 BKPanc maneuvers she was the main exerciser.

Polish-Hungarian patrol in Lebanon, 2025.

As for modernization – on the 1 hand, we appreciate the changes, of course, but on the another hand, we would like a financial injection that would let us to improve the accommodation conditions of soldiers or aid us keep the latest trucks, terrain and passenger vehicles, which we received a twelve years ago in a tank package.

We started with the gene. So let's end the conversation by referring to your patron. This year's festival of 10 BKPanc in a sense constitutes the closure of a series. Last year we had the 80th anniversary of the march of Polish battleships through Western Europe. There were celebrations in Breda, Falaise. To what degree is it crucial for you to remember those events?

The key is part of our identity. After all, we inherit traditions of the 10th Armored Cavalry Brigade, formed during planet War II. A brigade whose first commander was General Stanisław Maczek. We wanted him to be commemorated in St. Last year, thanks to the support of many sponsors and the engagement of the soldiers themselves, we managed to put before our unit a monument to the general. We keep constant contact with the descendants of those soldiers, General Maczek, who decided to stay in the West after the war. We visit each another for anniversaries. It will be now.

The yearly brigade celebration became an almost symbolic beginning of a fresh chapter in the past of the individual. So what challenges await 10 BKPanc in the coming months?

One thing will not change: it will be a busy time. We are preparing, among others, for the October exercises “Fall Beaver”. Our tanks will push the Oder and practice together with sub-chapters from France at the camp in Świętszów. shortly we will besides be certified another change of PKW Latvia. late we had the chance to participate in Operation Safe Podlasie and add our brick to defend the east border. Now we've been instructed to stay on alert to support the Border defender in the west of the country. We'll surely have something to do.