The first K2 tanks reached the Training Centre for Land Forces in Poznań. They'll be trained by crews from the Black Panthers. The courses will start next year and will be led by CSWL instructors. They prepared for this role, among others, in South Korea.
Exercises at the camp in Orzysz, March 2023.
– It's a large tank. It is effective, fast and very maneuverable. It definitely surpasses PT-91 and T-72, the vehicles that we utilized in CSWL for years. In fact, I like it even more than Abrams. It consumes little fuel and has an even more advanced fire control strategy and a somewhat longer barrel. I witnessed K2 crews giving effective shots at a distance of 2,700 m,” stressed Captain Rafał Gałęzewski from the Poznań Centre for Training of the Land Forces. This was the first company he commanded. K2 tanks. 4 so far. Vehicles arrived in Gdynia straight from South Korea, and a fewer days ago they reached Poznań. “Technicians under the supervision of servicemen from Korea will check, among others, the operation of all systems, including weapons, whether to supplement the operating fluids. The equipment must besides be entered into the records – says Colonel Maciej Łukarski, commander of the combat vehicle battalion at CSWL. This list is of course longer. Completion of formalities and actual preparation of tanks for operation, including shootings, will most likely last until the end of the year. erstwhile it's all locked up, they'll start courses for future crews.
The training will be attended by soldiers from the units to which the Black Panthers go. “In the case of Abrams we conduct 2 types of courses – for crews themselves and for maintenance members. It'll be different here. We will prepare crews, while technicians will prepare the Logistics Training Centre in Grudziądz for service – explains Colonel Łukarski. For now, it is not known how frequently K2 courses will be organised. “It all depends on the needs of the units to study to the General Command of the Armed Forces,” said Colonel Lukarski. It is known that classes will be conducted by Polish instructors. They were prepared for this function during training at the Hyundai Rotem maker in South Korea, as well as under the guidance of Korean specialists in Poland.
For courses to Asia, among others, Captain Gałęzewski drove. They were very intense and demanding. We had to master quite a few theories, but the main part of the training was applicable classes. The crowning of the course was the firing of combat ammunition, both for solid and mobile purposes – the officer points out and adds: "I will not lead the class myself, but I had to know the tank that my subordinates would use.
But 4 K2s are just the beginning. The CSWL is about to receive further tanks of this type. In total, the number should scope several. In the method maintenance of vehicles, specialists from Hyundai Rotem will be helping for any time. At the same time, the Poznań centre intends to train its own instructors. – Candidates will meet tanks during standard courses for crews. They will then take up the positions of Shadow Instructors, or Shadow instructors. In another words, they will become understudys of full instructors. Only after passing this phase and passing the essential exams will they be able to conduct the courses on their own", said Lukarski.
The K2 tank is 1 of the newest acquisitions of the Polish Army. Ministry of Defence ordered 180 specified vehicles. respective twelve copies have so far reached the Vistula River. The contract's worth nearly $3.4 billion. K2, besides called the Black Panther, weighs 55 t and has a 155-horse diesel engine. It is equipped with a 120-millimeter cannon, it develops a velocity of 70 km/h and can overcome water obstacles of up to 4 metres.
Thus, CSWL consistently builds competence erstwhile it comes to training soldiers for the recently acquired types of tanks. In the summertime of 2022, close Poznań she moved Abrams Academy. Crews and method crews initially acquired cognition under the guidance of US instructors. However, Polish “instructors from the shadows” were shortly joined by specialists from abroad. In time, they began conducting classes on their own, only under the supervision of the Americans. At the same time, a modern training complex is being expanded in Biedrusek. We're strengthening our potential. Our goal is to accomplish the ability to supply training for all types of fresh vehicles, not only tanks, but also, for example, the fighting Badger infantry cars – concludes Colonel Łukarski.
