Panzerbrigade 42: Germany's first post-WWII base nears Belarus

The Lithuanians have reported the start of construction for a base for the German armored brigade "Panzerbrigade 42," which will be stationed about 12 miles from Belarus. Here’s what the first brigade deployed outside Germany since World War II will have at its disposal.

According to Reuters, the base, expected to be completed by the end of 2027, will accommodate up to 4,000 soldiers. Notably, this is the first permanent deployment of the German armed forces outside the borders of the Federal Republic of Germany since World War II. The construction of the base will cost more than 1 billion euros (about $1.1 billion).

Germany has been collaborating intensively with Lithuania in terms of arms supplies for several years, including PzH 2000 self-propelled howitzers and wheeled armored personnel carriers based on the heavy variant GTK Boxer. Additionally, Germany has established a service center for the PzH 2000 and Leopard 2 tanks sent to Ukraine and announced the construction of an artillery ammunition factory.

The "Panzerbrigade 42" armored brigade will initially be equipped with Leopard 2A6 and Leopard 2A7V tanks (with newer A8 versions joining over time) and SPz Puma infantry fighting vehicles. The Leopard 2A6 is a newer version of the well-known Leopard 2A5 tanks, produced in the 2000s. They feature reinforced armor, enhanced optoelectronics, and a new, longer Rheinmetall Rh-120 L/55 gun that improves accuracy and armor-piercing capabilities by accelerating kinetic penetrators (APFSDS-T) to higher speeds.

Another improvement is the crew's ability to operate in hunter-killer mode, where the tank commander uses a panoramic thermal sight to locate targets and direct the gun, allowing for quicker elimination of detected objects than in the traditional mode where the gunner fires based on the commander's information.

In the case of the 2A7V or 2A8 tanks, in addition to further reinforcing the armor and improving optoelectronics, a key addition is the Trophy active defense system that shoots down incoming anti-tank guided missiles or anti-tank grenades. The Trophy system is highly effective, as evidenced by Israel's experiences in the Gaza Strip.

Meanwhile, the SPz Puma is the best-armored and most expensive infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) in the world, costing 17 million euros (about $18 million) per unit. These IFVs, introduced into service in 2015, are highly advanced constructions, utilizing not only periscopes but also cameras that provide the crew with full 360-degree situational awareness.

The complexity of the design initially caused availability issues during NATO exercises. These were resolved by the manufacturer through the introduction of improvements and crew training. However, Germany still faces challenges with the Pumas, now due to bureaucracy and environmental regulations blocking fire extinguisher certification.

The SPz Puma weighs 69,000 pounds in its base version, and the weight increases to 95,000 pounds with additional armor. It is operated by a three-person crew, with space inside for a six-person dismount squad. The Puma's armor in the base version provides level IV protection according to STANAG 4569, and adding additional modules increases protection to level VI.

Furthermore, the Puma is also outfitted with an advanced MUSS active protection system that disrupts the guidance of anti-tank guided missiles, and it is covered with Igelpanzerung mats on the top for excellent protection against anti-tank submunitions from cluster munitions.

Despite its considerable weight, the Puma is mobile thanks to its 1,088 hp diesel engine. It can also be transported by air using Airbus A400M aircraft. Its main armament is a Mauser MK 30-2 automatic cannon with a 30mm caliber, mounted in an unmanned turret.

This cannon can engage targets at a range of up to 1.8 miles, and for more heavily armored targets, the Puma is equipped with a dual launcher for MELLS anti-tank guided missiles, produced under license from Spike-LR, which can destroy tanks at a range of up to 2.5 miles.