Several twelve Abrams tanks ran the S19 way on low chassis and caterpillar kits. They were escorted by the Military Police and police. The equipment was transferred during the Iron Gate 25 exercise conducted as part of the Iron Defender. “The biggest maneuvers this year are entering a decisive phase,” said Brig-Gen. Rafał Miernik, Head of the Board of SGWP Training.
The 18th Mechanized Division plays a key function in the maneuvers, which directed the top forces to action. Today, the soldiers were practicing the long-distance equipment. This episode took place during the most crucial exercises codenamed “The Iron Gate ’25”. – Their goal is to check the combat capabilities and skills and habits of soldiers of all military units 18th Division, together with the units assigned for the time of training – he said Gen. Dyw. Arkadiusz Szkutnik, Commander 18 DZ.
Abrams on the express route
Tanks appeared on Friday on the S19 way in Lublin Voivodeship M1A1Abrams 19th Mechanized Brigade. The public road was about 40 kilometres long. As the spokesperson for the Iron Division explained, Colonel Paweł Zagazińczyk, in these areas of Abramsa were moved from the parent military unit on low-carriage kits. There they were landed and went on caterpillars equipped with peculiar rubber caps. After driving respective twelve kilometres, they were re-loaded into kits and transported to a fieldground in Orzysz. After the tour, the tanks moved in the columns – each had about 20 vehicles. The full operation was conducted in the escort of the Military Gendarmerie and police.
– The aim was to check our ability to rapidly spread troops at a long distance combined method, i.e. utilizing rail transport, low chassis tows, as well as on track tracks on motorways and high-speed routes and in an convenient area – explained Gen. Szkutnik.
With momentum and security
This task allowed to test the mobility of tanks at longer distances and measure their method reliability and practice the interaction of different elements of the group and combat protection.
At the same time, the defense, safety and anti-aircraft shields of the troops were trained. This was an chance to grind logistics safety skills, i.e. refuelling, service, method evacuation and coordination of large military columns traffic in real conditions with the participation and support of the General Directorate of Roads and Motorways, Police and Military Police.
Now the soldiers are waiting for the next phase – the restoration of the combat capability. Tactical and fire activities will take place at the Orzysz camp. As indicated by the gene. Szkutnik, exercises are carried out on the full dimension of the east border of Poland, from Podkarpackie to Lublin, Mazowieckie, Podlaskie and Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship.
Although a large number of soldiers are active in the maneuvers, he assured Brig-Gen Rafał Miernik, Head of the Management Board of SGWP TrainingThis does not affect military operations and the safety of the state. The General stressed that all operations "Safe Floors", “Safe West” or “East Zorza” and many others, take place as planned.
The exercises “Iron Defender ‘25” is the largest and most crucial training task of the Polish Armed Forces in 2025. A full of 30 1000 soldiers and 600 units of basic equipment of the Polish army and NATO alliance states participate.
