Ten tanks simultaneously pulled up to the refueling station. After a 4th of an hour, they'd have another 1 and then another one. Within an hour, dozens of Abrams were ready to return to battle. “One of the crucial elements practiced during the Iron Gate was alleged mass-scale refueling,” says Gen. Dyw. Arkadiusz Szkutnik, commander of the 18th Mechanized Division.
Refueling Abrams during the “Iron Gate” exercise, photograph 18 DZ
The “Iron Defender 25” maneuvers were the largest and most crucial training task of the Polish Army in 2025. A full of 30,000 soldiers took part. A key function was played by the 18th Mechanized Division, which performed its tasks under the code name ‘Iron gate’.
Gen. Dyw. Arkadiusz Szkutnik, Commander of the 18th DZ, speaking about the challenges of the Iron Gate, indicated among another things the investigating of logistical security. In this regard, a very crucial exercise was to refuel a large number of vehicles simultaneously. – It consisted in the efficient improvement of the alleged mass refueling point by the logistics sub-chapters and simultaneously filling the tanks of the full company of tanks or safety cars. So that they can rapidly proceed the march or enter the fight," says the general.
For the first time in this kind of operation, crews of fresh Abrams M1A1 tanks participated in which was equipped 18th Mechanized Division. Colonel Paweł Gałązka, commander of the 18th Łomżyński Logistics Regiment, was liable for the task. A PPT-10 field refueling point was utilized for refueling. – It is simply a mobile fuel station that allows to refuel 10 vehicles simultaneously. 1 turn lasts about 15 minutes, then another column comes in. Within an hour, respective twelve tanks can be replenished. This allows them to rapidly return to the fight," the officer points out.
Refueling Abrams during the “Iron Gate” exercise, photograph 18 DZ
PPT-10 consists of hoses, tank guns and connectors, whose completion and preparation for work takes only a fewer to respective minutes. The strategy shall be connected to a fuel tanker or diesel. Its fuel is discharged to 5 points, each having 2 stations equipped with ‘pistolets’ akin to those at petrol stations. Tank crews pull up, exit the vehicles, tank up, and after check-in, they leave.
On the battlefield, specified operations are performed at any distance from the enemy's first line, as logistics equipment is 1 of the most crucial goals for the opponent. The military emphasizes that single refuelling, straight from fuel tanks, is carried out successively as needed.
During the Iron Gate, respective twelve vehicles were refueled in respective tours. In total, soldiers conducted many specified operations. The commander believes that they were moving rapidly and efficiently.
