The goal is to master and keep the Finnish airport to become a base for allied forces. This was the task the 6th Airborne Brigade soldiers had to execute during the Swift consequence ‘25’ maneuvers. General Brig. Michał Strzelecki, commander of 6 BPD.
This year's exercise edition ‘Swift Response’ was of peculiar character for us, for example, due to the fact that Poles were the first large, allied contingent to appear in Finland after its accession to NATO. But let's start with how large a component from Poland took part in the exercises?
Brig-Gen Michał Strzelecki: On site, a battalion airborne group, or respective 100 people, operated. But any of my subordinates carried out tasks in the country, including logistics security. We besides developed 2 command stations – main and tactical – in 2 different locations. The transfer to the exercise area was provided by aircraft from 8 and 33 Transport Air Base. There was besides a squadron from a battalion group of air-desanant groups. 25th Air Cavalry Brigade. At any phase of the exercise, a company of Finns was included in our group.
Some of the component reached Finland by sea.
That's right. The 8th Coast defence Fleet helped us in this task. And in Finland we were supported by a division from 1 Rocket Brigade. In a word, a large undertaking which is simply a joint effort of many tactical unions of the Polish Army.
How long did the dynamic exercise phase last?
Four days. However, given the spread to the area of action and return, we are talking about 2 weeks. Of course, as with all manoeuvres, Swift consequence besides had a multi-week planning phase.
What were your assignments?
As all year, we carried out the Joint Forcible Entry operation, which meant that we were liable for beginning a fresh direction, which in practice meant the request to control and keep Pyhtää Airport. With the presumption that it would be the alleged air-desant bridgehead for the larger allied forces that would enter the fight in the next throw.
Did you take off?
Not by parachute. This is due to the deficiency of convenient discharges, allowing jumps in accordance with the safety conditions in force during area time. We utilized a method called tactical landing of aircraft. This part of the task was carried out at another airport. From there, by land we reached the right area.
Did the airport you captured effort to take back the Finns?
Yeah.
You mentioned a division from the 1st Rocket Brigade. Did you have it? HIMARS launcher?
Yeah. Unfortunately, during the exercise itself, it was not possible to carry out combat shooting, but we rehearsed all stages of guidance. Additionally, a fewer days before the main part of the exercise, a group of advanced artillery fire observers 6 BPD came to Finland to carry out the applicable firing of the United States Marines' HIMARS set.
For us, the light infantry, the ability to interact with rocket artillery is of large value, due to the fact that our organic fire support is very limited.
Is cooperation with the Finns worth that?
Of course. It is worth noting that we were the first so large, allied contingent to appear Finland after its accession to NATO. And returning to the benefits – it is hard to overestimate the fact that we were operating in a very hard area. That taught us a lot.
What precisely do you mean?
The light infantry is only by name, due to the fact that everything we have we request to decision on our own backs. The area where we were operating was highly demanding: it was primarily a dense forest, increasing swamps, heavy littered with bedrocks. But the power of the paratroopers is the maneuver. erstwhile we stop, we lose the basic advantage, the component of surprise. Thanks to the Finns, we learned a lot about how to operate decently in specified an area and what is crucial to maintaining an advantage.
What's up?
First of all, defence of communications hubs. Due to the properties of the site, traffic is highly scanned there. The anticipation of setting alternate routes, bypassing the position of the opponent, is close to zero.
What kind of soldiers are the Finns?
Although their army has just joined NATO, erstwhile it comes to procedures and cognition of English, the Finns are full integrated into the Alliance.
What level of training do they present?
Tall, but you should be aware that These are primarily conscripts and reservists. They frequently deficiency the experience of many years of service, full exercise, field training and abroad missions, specified as the 6th BPD paratroopers.
On specified a reservation, I anticipate a critical review...
Don't be, due to the fact that we're talking about a military of heavy motivated soldiers. As a country we are in the process of expanding the armed forces, it is crucial to train reserves and I think that Finnish experience should be implemented here.
Your subordinates are professional troops, what differences were apparent?
Most Finns were very young people, and we were older than them. I stress this due to the fact that professional soldiers are more mature, think more independently, easier for them to take the initiative. In the case of a formation like ours, maintaining the initiative in combat is simply a key feature. We've got no armor, we're little immune to the entrance. Our advantage is the maneuver and the initiative.
Still, you had to cancel, hand over Pyhtää Airport..
Paratroopers are the avant-garde of the main forces if they do not come – and that is the case in this case – we must withdraw. On the another hand, we have been accounted for for effectiveness in individual episodes of combat, and here is nothing to be ashamed of. It is besides crucial that we have had the chance to verify our tactical procedures in a very circumstantial area, which includes quite a few valuable observations. It is besides worth emphasizing the nature of these Polish-Finnish “resistances”. The another side was not part of Swift Response. The Finns carried out their own maneuvers, meaning that tactical episodes were not tailored to either ours or their needs. This was so a typical component of uncertainty and improvisation for real armed actions.
Were you in charge personally?
As I said before, we have developed 2 command posts in the country, but during the dynamic phase of the exercise, yes, I have flown to the place with the alleged command and reflection point.
Can you see more?
We cannot talk about method details, but I warrant that we have ensured continuous communication between different positions and elements, operating in real time. As commander of the paratroopers at the most crucial moment, I had to be where my subordinates were.
"Swift Response" is the yearly maneuvers of NATO Air Force. Their aim is to improve the capacity for fast deployment of forces, to increase the readiness for collective defence and to check the ability to conduct complex combined airborne operations in crisis situations. The 6 BPD has been active for many years. This year's edition of Swift consequence outside Finland was besides held in Norway, Sweden, Lithuania and Latvia.
