Tank Battalion 14 was invited by the German Armed Forces to take part in an interesting and complex information training exercise, which was successfully held in recent weeks and has attracted interest from military circles throughout Austria. Other units were also involved in the exercise: The PzB 14 main battle tank platoons were supported by an armored infantry platoon from PzGrenB 35 and the supply and transport company of PzStbB 4.
The exercise project “Participation in the German Armed Forces’ ILÜ 2018” was carried out with great effort over the past few weeks. Contingent commander Major Christian Brunmayr completed 4 preparatory missions – a kick-off meeting and the first to third planning meetings.
During three weeks of preparation at the Allentsteig training area, the Austrian contingent was formed from parts of the 4th mechanized infantry brigade. 2 Leopard 2A4 tank platoons (Panzerbataillon 14) and 1 Ulan armored infantry platoon (Panzergrenadierbataillon 35) formed the mixed reinforced tank company as a combat element, supported by a repair section from the staff company of Panzerbataillon 14 and a supply and transport element from Panzerstabsbataillon 4.
Twelve Leopard main battle tanks, six Ulan infantry fighting vehicles and 24 wheeled vehicles were shipped together with 29 containers of supplies, mostly by rail, to the Bergen military training area in Lower Saxony, Germany. Particular attention was also paid to customs clearance – especially for the men’s armament and the personal equipment of the 78 participants. From mid-September, the 203 (D) tank battalion under the command of Panzerbrigade 21 “Lipperland” practiced the most challenging station of the ILÜ “Combat Shooting Operation Combined Forces”. A total of 28 exercise rounds were completed, 21 of which involved live fire. The exercise included a delay phase in which the Austrian company was deployed in heavy fire.
The supply transport element provided ammunition and supplies and also supported the German comrades in transport tasks beyond its own area – for the repair element, the particular challenge was naturally to repair the defects on the tanks professionally until the next deployment, so that it was always possible to provide two armored trains in the passages. The ILÜ was the presentation of the assets of the German land forces. In the concluding presentation week, the activities of the armed forces were vividly presented at various stations for around 5,000 visitors, mainly junior commanders and leaders:
- Land forces in action presented the available weapon systems from small arms to the Leopard 2A7, the equipment of the military branches of infantry, reconnaissance, engineers, artillery, grenadiers, tanks, etc.
- The central medical service in the form of a rescue center demonstrated the medical care of the troops using examples – from the admission diagnosis to the transport of injured persons to the operating theater.
- The CIR (Cyber and Information Space) command went into the threats and possibilities of strategic reconnaissance, geo-information systems and communication – it was quickly recognized how many cell phones were not switched off despite requests from the grandstand.
- Naturally, the final highlight was the “Combat Shooting Operation of Combined Forces” station, in which the Austrian main battle tanks were also involved. An attacking mechanized enemy was delayed, blocked, fought with artillery, reconnoitred and then the threatening situation was cleared in a counter-attack from house-to-house combat to hostage rescue supported by vehicles – all in live fire from the grenadiers, from the Leopard main battle tank to the Tiger combat helicopter to the Mars rocket artillery: a successfully coordinated shooting of all participating branches of the armed forces.
- The “Logistical Capabilities RSOM” (Reception, Staging and Onward Movement) station also made a special impression – the logistics required to supply the deployed troops with personnel, equipment and material until they arrive at the deployment site were presented.
It turned out that a very important exercise experience for the Austrian contingent was the deployment itself. Packing the spare parts, materials and supplies deemed necessary, ensuring operational readiness and integrating daily operations into the framework of the German command structures are to be filed under “lessons learned” – valuable new experience and knowledge of procedures were gained in these areas. This means that the significant effect of the exercise is not the large-scale tactical events in the company battle, which can be assumed to be “mastered” in the squad presence unit anyway, but all the necessary accompanying circumstances that lead to the troops being able to fight at the front. The many – albeit constant – training rounds provided additional weapon drill for the crews, and the many shots fired also helped to automate perfect handling and familiarization with the procedures. The experience of how important it is to properly maintain one’s own equipment so that it also functions properly in the required activities is also not insignificant. As a result, the skills of their own craft were honed to an extent that rarely occurs with this level of intensity in their own training projects.
After-duty small talk with German comrades of all ranks supplemented and enriched the experiences gained in daily operations. The exchange in such informal discussion groups ultimately represents a further valuable contribution, because in this way the different experiences about procedures, the stability of the technical equipment and of course also about the individual adventures in the daily service routine could be told and passed on in the group.
In the end, all the wheels meshed together in such a way that the process was carried out to the satisfaction of everyone involved and was able to convey a picture of what is available on a battlefield and how these resources can be used. The fact that everything went according to plan – and without any accidents – can be attributed to the professionalism and willingness of all the soldiers involved, from the corporal as driver to the major as contingent commander.
