U.S. armoured brigade lands in Poland, boosting NATO presence
The transport ship SNS "Red Cloud" has arrived in Gdynia, delivering heavy equipment for the American armoured brigade. The 1st Armoured Brigade of the 3rd Infantry Division has been deployed to Poland as part of the rotational presence of American forces. Tanks, transporters, and artillery are already being unloaded.
Approximately 10,000 American soldiers are stationed in Poland. The new brigade will replace the departing 1st Armoured Brigade of the 1st Cavalry Division.
The Brigade – or more precisely, the Armoured Brigade Combat Team (ABCT) – is the cornerstone at the tactical level for the heavy forces of the American ground troops, alongside brigades using Stryker wheeled vehicles and infantry brigades.
The superior division detaches the ABCT and is capable of independent operations due to its support units, logistics, and reconnaissance capabilities.
Armoured 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 armoured personnel carriers like the M113 or their replacements, AMPV vehicles. They are supplemented by lighter vehicles such as JLTV armoured cars.
The core of the ABCT comprises three manoeuvre battalions – armoured and mechanized, as well as a command battalion, artillery, and a reconnaissance battalion, traditionally called a cavalry squadron. In total, the brigade consists of 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 – Camp Kościuszko. In Powidz, one of the APS (Army Prepositioned Stock) warehouses has also been constructed, where heavy equipment is stored, enabling at least one more armoured brigade to be equipped.
This setup allows for the rapid reinforcement of American forces in the region if necessary, with soldiers quickly deployed to a location where tanks, howitzers, and infantry fighting vehicles await them.
