New armored brigade boosts US military presence in Poland
The transport ship SNS "Red Cloud" has arrived in Gdynia, carrying heavy equipment for the American armored brigade. The 1st Armored Brigade of the 3rd Infantry Division has been sent to Poland as part of the rotational presence of American forces. Tanks, transporters, and artillery are currently being unloaded.
About 10,000 American soldiers are stationed in Poland. The new brigade will replace the departing 1st Armored Brigade of the 1st Cavalry Division.
The brigade, more precisely the Armored Brigade Combat Team (ABCT), serves as the tactical foundation of the American ground forces' heavy operations, alongside brigades utilizing Stryker wheeled vehicles and infantry brigades.
Its superior division detaches the ABCT and is capable of independent operations due to its support units, logistics, and reconnaissance capabilities.
Armored Brigade Combat Team in Poland
The team includes 87 Abrams tanks (specifically, the M1A2SEPv3 variant), 152 M2A4 Bradley infantry fighting vehicles, 18 M109 howitzers, and armored personnel carriers such as the M113 or their replacements, the AMPV vehicles. They are supplemented by lighter vehicles, such as JLTV armored cars.
The core of the ABCT consists of three maneuver battalions—armored and mechanized—as well as a command battalion, artillery, and a reconnaissance battalion, traditionally called a cavalry squadron. In total, the brigade includes about 3,500 to 4,500 soldiers.
Permanent American Forces in Poland
Alongside units sent to Poland on a rotational basis, there is a permanent forward command post of the American V Corps in Poznań, known as Camp Kościuszko. In Powidz, one of the APS (Army Prepositioned Stock) warehouses has been established, where heavy equipment is stored, allowing at least one more armored brigade to be equipped.
This setup allows for the rapid reinforcement of American forces in the region if necessary, with soldiers being quickly deployed to a location where tanks, howitzers, and infantry fighting vehicles are already stationed.
