NATO tanks have put on a show of their strength during a competing exercise in Germany, testing offensive and defensive operations to see who can prevail.
Austria took first place in the Strong Europe Tank Challenge 2017 as six nations and partner nations battled it out in Grafenwoehr, beating France, Germany, Poland, Ukraine and the USA in the exercise.
The second annual challenge, which was won by Germany last year, tested soldiers on vehicle identification, battle damage assessment and precision manoeuvres.
According to Stars and Stripes, Lt. Gen. Ben Hodges, the commander of U.S. Army Europe, said the challenge was designed to foster both a competitive and cooperative spirit among the tankers. After trying their best during the day to outperform their competitors, each night they exchanged professional knowledge, he said.
The partnership event took place over five days at Grafenwoehr’s military training ground in Germany.
Meanwhile, Vladimir Putin’s troops have been practising dropping armoured tanks into the battlefield by parachute.
A BMD-4M amphibious infantry fighting vehicle strapped to parachutes was dropped from the back of an Ilyushin Il-76 cargo plane at an altitude of 800m, during trials at Dyagilevo Air Base, Ryazan Region.
US soldiers in a US Army M1A2 SEP tank during the Strong Europe Tank Challenge 2017 at the military training area in Grafenwoehr, Germany
US Soldiers fly the flag from their M1A2 SEP tanks as they take part in a competing exercise held by NATO in Germany on Friday
A US soldier smokes his e-cigarette as he takes a break during the friendly competition, designed to allow armies in NATO to learn from each other…..More Here