Polish and German Armored and Mechanized Forces Exercise Together

The Karakal-21 exercise was organized at the Świętoszów and Żagań field training facilities. The main portion of the exercise - tactical and weapons training - was taking place between 14th and 18th June. As stated by Major Magdalena Busz, PAO for the Communications Activities Division of the General Command of the Polish Armed Forces, the exercise involved all elements of the brigade, using the assigned inventory - 800 soldiers and 200 equipment units in total.

The main goal of the exercise was to verify the readiness of the 1st Tank Battalion as a battalion-level tactical element. The exercise also tested the capabilities of the support elements. Planning, organization, and execution of activities by the 1st Tank Battalion were checked. This also involved the preparation and execution of combat and logistical support in the field.

The Karakal-21 scenario also involved the assets going through a water obstacle. The elements of the 10th Armored Cavalry Brigade involved were supported by the elements of the 23rd Artillery Regiment belonging to the 11th Armoured Cavalry Division, as well as the 2nd Reconnaissance Regiment of the 25th Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Army Aviation Brigade (Mi-24s), and 16th Territorial Defence Forces Brigade.

The soldiers of the 10th Brigade were additionally supported by a Mechanized Company of the 41st Panzergrenadier Brigade of the Bundeswehr. It is subordinated, within the framework of the Cross Attachment memorandum signed between the Polish and German Land Forces, on mutual subordination of land forces battalions between the national commands. The memorandum has remained in Force since the mid-2010s. The 10th Brigade has been a part of this initiative for a few years now. Before that, until the year 2018, it was the 34th Armoured Cavalry Brigade that was participating in that initiative. After the Leopard 2A5 MBTs used by that unit originally had been transferred to the 1st Armored Brigade based in Wesoła, the 10th Armoured Cavalry Brigade became the entity that got itself involved in the enhanced cooperation.

During the exercise, the Germans have used 30 assets in total (Marder IFVs included), along with around 110 soldiers. Between 27th May and 10th June, another Cross Attachment undertaking was taking place - the SchUbz-21 exercise.

The exercise involved a Leopard 2A4 platoon, with support provided by a logistics platoon formed by around 50 Polish soldiers and 10 units of various military equipment. At the first stage of the exercise, the military element was being transferred to a NATO training range in Northern Germany, in Lower Saxony, in Munster. The second stage of the exercise also involved the assembly of the AGDUS simulators that enhanced the realism, and the KADAQ system imitating the effect of firing the tank gun. The MBT element was involved in operations in an international environment, carrying out tactical and fire training, including live-fire activities.