More than 2500 soldiers from Poland, Lithuania, the USA and the United Kingdom conducted the "Strong Griffin '24" exercise. Manoeuvrings utilizing 250 military vehicles, including Abrams and Polish Rosomaks, were held for 2 weeks at the General Silvestras Žukauskas camp in Podbrodzi, located about 10 km from the border with Belarus.
The "Strong Griffin 24" exercise, conducted on October 14–31, was organized by the Lithuanian armed forces for the "Grif" infantry brigade and allies from Poland, the US and the United Kingdom. Polish Army represented 15 The Giant Mechanized Brigade They'll envy Black. About 130 whiszaks along with 30 military vehicles on signal left the barracks on October 18 and moved to Lithuania. On site, they joined the Americans from the 2nd Battalion of the 8th Cavalry Regiment "Stallions" and began preparations for action.
Before the U.S. commander carried out planning and coordination checks and placed tasks, the hangers picked up elements of the MILES system, i.e. Laser Shooting Simulator (LSS). This strategy uses laser beams and infrared to simulate the actual battle. Soldiers in individual equipment had weapons-integrated instruments utilizing which they fired an infrared beam. The hits were recorded by sensors in vests and on exercise helmets. A akin strategy was mounted on combat vehicles active in the “fight”.
Lt Kamil Biedrawa of 15 BZ, commanding the Polish company, emphasizes that thanks to MILES and the usage of the “Strong Griffin 24” simulation measures, they provided a advanced level of realism. However, the American LSS is not as advanced as the simulation strategy late utilized in Drawsk Combat Training Center, so the Lithuanian camp had to trust on field peacekeepers – active observers who approached trainees and informed about the “destruction” of a vehicle or “kill” of soldiers. Nevertheless, Polish soldiers admit that they are very pleased with the experience gained in realistic and very demanding conditions. They besides mention the visit of defence attaché in Lithuania to Colonel Sławomir Pawlikowski and chargé d’affaires Andrzej Dudziński, who visited them at the training ground.
The Hangers acted shoulder to shoulder with the U.S. battleships to launch an attack on enemy forces in which subdivisions of the Lithuanian "Griff" Infantry Brigade and the American National defender were incorporated. All this according to the rule that the main nonsubjective of the yearly "Strong Griffin '24" exercise is to prepare the Lithuanian infantry to plan and conduct defence activities in cooperation with assigned and allied units.
Tasks were carried out utilizing 250 military vehicles, among others. Abrams tanks, armored vehicles M113 and Bradley, Polish wheeled armored transporters Rosomak, commercial vehicles HMMWV, armored JLTV, as well as various logistics and transport vehicles. – Our task was to pave the way for American tanks, including destroying enemy anti-tank positions. Abrams had to safely scope the main perimeter, where the attack was to be carried out – says Lt. Biedrawa.
The hangers moved in hard terrain. Free movement of combat vehicles was impossible, so the company commander ordered the infantry to decision to reconnaissance, destruct anti-tank positions of the opponent and detect ambushes. Poles did their job, but erstwhile they reached the minefield and many field obstacles, they had to wait for Abrams.
Through their cooperation with the Americans, they managed to break through further defence positions. Combat wagons and tanks were pushing forward, pulling the enemy's fire on each other, while the infantry hidden in the woods attacked by surprise. On 27 October we reached the main perimeter of the opponent's defense. The next day we conducted an attack with a company of American tanks, which unfortunately ended in failure for us – the commander of the Polish company reports.
Cf. Biedrawa besides draws attention to the excellent preparation of Lithuanians for the defensive: – They had JLTV vehicles, among others, and the top firepower of defenders were device guns 12.7 mm and Javelin anti-tank. - This is the officer. The Swiss returned to the country with the conviction that allied cooperation strengthens their combat capacity and shows that “we are stronger together”.
