The scale of the training undertaking represented by the exercise codenamed “RYŚ-14,” held from November 17 to 21, 2014, was exceptionally large. Nearly 2,500 soldiers were involved in active operations during the five-day maneuver, with British soldiers—mainly from the United Kingdom’s 12th Armored Infantry Brigade—accounting for more than 30% of the participants. The number of various types of equipment used during the training was also considerable.
The exercise’s main participants—the 1st Battalion Tactical Group (1bZT), whose core consisted of soldiers from the 1st Tank Battalion of the 10th Armored Cavalry Brigade—operated nearly 30 Leopard 2A4 tanks during the training. Their British partners from a battalion tactical group used 20 Challenger 2 tanks and more than 20 Warrior infantry fighting vehicles. In addition, the subunits supporting and securing the tactical and live-fire maneuvers deployed a substantial number of tracked and wheeled vehicles. During the final stage of the exercise, more than 600 pieces of equipment were involved at the OSPWL Świętoszów training-ground facilities.
The main objective of the exercise was to assess the 1bZT’s preparedness to carry out tasks in accordance with its wartime role. During more than 120 hours of intensive training, the soldiers under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Paweł Michalski had to demonstrate full readiness to perform a broad spectrum of tactical and live-fire tasks in various battlefield environments, in cooperation with allied subunits from the United Kingdom. After occupying their initial positions, the tank soldiers had to organize and conduct defensive operations and, in the exercise’s final phase, carry out a practical counterattack.
Throughout the “RYŚ-14” exercise, all the intensified training effort involving practical tactical and live-fire operations was monitored and coordinated by the brigade’s permanent staff and training branch. These two functional branches were responsible for preparing the draft concept for conducting the exercise and, consequently, for running it. The work of the individual functional cells within the exercise leadership structure, including the higher-level and neighboring units team, enabled the exercise to be conducted efficiently while avoiding errors that could have disrupted its entire course. Properly linking the tactical situation with the troops’ actual operations in the field required meticulous coordination of all activities as early as the planning phase; in the case of this exercise, it resulted in the achievement of its main training objectives and effects.
During the training, the Polish soldiers from the 10th Armored Cavalry Brigade and British soldiers from the United Kingdom’s 12th Armored Infantry Brigade training together at the Świętoszów training ground were visited by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence Tomasz Siemoniak. During the visit, he was accompanied, among others, by the General Commander of the Branches of the Armed Forces, Lieutenant General Pilot Lech Majewski, and the British Ambassador to Poland, Robin Barnet. On the exercise’s final day, the Polish-British maneuvers were also observed, among others, by the Chief of the General Staff of the United Kingdom, General Sir Nicholas Carter, and the Commander of the British Army, Lieutenant General James Everard.
“The execution of tasks במסגרת the tactical exercise with troops codenamed ‘Ryś-14’ confirmed the ability of the 1st Battalion Tactical Group (1bTZ), built around the 1st Tank Battalion (1bcz), to prepare and conduct combat operations in cooperation with allied forces. The battalion’s combat system was assessed as well coordinated. The exercise was an excellent opportunity to improve NATO procedures, which is extremely important in a unit assigned to the High Readiness Forces, such as the 10th Armored Cavalry Brigade. The experience gained is invaluable and will be used in the brigade’s future operational and training activities, while the friendships formed will be maintained and developed,” concluded Colonel Maciej Jabłoński, the exercise director and at the same time commander of the 10th Armored Cavalry Brigade, satisfied with the high assessment of the tactical and live-fire tasks completed throughout the “RYŚ-14” exercise.
The “RYŚ-14” exercise, which was the main phase of the joint Polish-British training exercise codenamed “Black Eagle,” underway since the beginning of November, added another very important dimension to the entire undertaking. During these intensive and active operations, a strong sense of shared military bonds clearly emerged, overcoming the language barriers that occasionally arose.
This was another NATO training undertaking, of which member states have conducted an exceptionally high number this year. In addition to integrating the participating subunits, it was also an excellent opportunity to compare the capabilities of combat equipment—especially since Challenger tanks appeared in Poland for the first time. On the one hand, the “Ryś-14” exercise confirmed the professionalism and international experience of the soldiers of the 10th Armored Cavalry Brigade. On the other, it demonstrated that NATO member states can train effectively anywhere within the Alliance, overcoming various types of barriers and ultimately confirming their effectiveness and readiness to act.
Capt. Justyna Balik/ii