British forces, specifically The Royal Lancers, are actively reinforcing the security measures in Eastern Europe, specifically in Poland, as part of Operation Cabrit (Op Cabrit).
The main objective of this operation is to bolster Euro-Atlantic safety measures, show solidarity with NATO allies, and send a clear message of deterrence to potential adversaries.
βThe eFP demonstrates the NATO commitment to collective defence all year round”, said a press release.
The Royal Lancers are joined by a multinational, combat-ready force that consists of approximately 140 personnel. They stand alongside NATO allies in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland.
Additionally, their operations are enhanced by their collaboration with the US 9th Cavalry Regiment, which serves as the Battlegroup leaders in Poland. Moreover, the Lancers’ efforts are supported by an array of British military groups, including the Adjutant Generalβs Corps, Intelligence Corps, Royal Artillery, and more.
Captain Guy Scott, the Squadron Second in Command, was quoted as saying, βWe have a range of cap badges serving with us out here and it never ceases to amaze me how quickly a team of individuals from different backgrounds and with different skills can come together and work effectively to make a difference as a team in the British Army.β
Stationed in Bemowo Piskie in North-eastern Poland, The Royal Lancers are equipped with Jackal, Panther, and Coyote vehicles. Their stay in Poland since April has been eventful, partaking in multifaceted exercises which involve equipment such as SA80 rifles, General Purpose Machine Guns, Javelin missiles, and Next-generation Light Anti-tank Weapons (NLAWs).
In June, the Lancers undertook a significant emergency deployment readiness exercise, covering an impressive distance from North Poland to Tallinn in Estonia. The upcoming months will see them engaging in more multinational exercises in Estonia and Latvia.
Panther is still around? I thought they’d been discarded.
Well it is ok for Land Rover replacement.
It is still an useful 4×4 for liason, transport etc. but not like BA did try to use it stuffing it to the top like if was a much heavier vehicle.
I wasn’t aware that they had. I recall it being described as, finally, a replacement for the Ferret!
Give me a Foxhound any day.
Absolutely. Overpriced I’d read for the capability it gives. I don’t think it is used in the same role as Foxhound, carrying a small section? I thought it more a liaison vehicle.
So did I, I think they’re slowly being sold off.
βWe have a range of cap badges serving with us out here and it never ceases to amaze me how quickly a team of individuals from different backgrounds and with different skills can come together and work effectively to make a difference as a team in the British Army.β
Long experience fighting with allies across the globe counts.
OT: Big Polish CAMM (for land based AD) order.
138 Launchers and 1000 CAMM-ER missiles.
I just wonder how Poland can afford this huge increase in military spending?
Don’t get me wrong, I applaud what they are doing and they are on the front line – literally – with Russia after all and would be next in line but they are spending huge sums on military hardware.
Just wondering where the money is coming from.
Itβs coming from what the gov should have been spending on its citizens instead due to the unnecessary escalation in promoting the conflict in Ukraine .
always money for guns and bombs β¦β¦.
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It is simple, they have a bit less social spending.
A miserable 1.5% of GDP increased to 4.5% is 3x more spending.
There was a very interesting article from a serving senior Polish general, who must have had authorisation before talking to the press. In essence the Polish think the rest of NATO has lost the plot and pretty much cannot be relied upon as we should be crash rearming to face the axis of evil that is Russia and China. Poland are acutely aware of the risk of threats from Belorusk (Wagner and malignant asynchronous warfare from Russian agents) Russian short range tactical and battlefield nukes based in Belorusk as well as the threat from the heavily armed Kalingrad exclave. The… Read more Β»
https://amp-theguardian-com.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/amp.theguardian.com/world/2023/sep/06/nato-should-respond-more-aggressively-russia-polish-general-rajmund-andrzejczak?amp_gsa=1&_js_v=a9&usqp=mq331AQGsAEggAID#amp_tf=From%20%251%24s&aoh=16941179964775&csi=0&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&share=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theguardian.com%2Fworld%2F2023%2Fsep%2F06%2Fnato-should-respond-more-aggressively-russia-polish-general-rajmund-andrzejczak
Tired old cold war redux arguments.
But is it? The majority of Countries and intelligence analysts stated that prior to the invasion in Feb 2022, Russia was just sabre rattling, due to Ukraine cutting off the water supply to the Crimea. The massive exercises with Belarus and force movements were written off again as ramped up sabre rattling. But then Russia stepped over the border and nearly reached Kyiv. After the first couple of weeks it did look like Ukraine would have to capitulate due to the sheer onslaught. But they prevailed and later drove Russia back. It is quite right that Poland has taken an… Read more Β»
Russia inst coming for Poland , its the former Soviet Union territory that thy are interested in The reverse happened at end of WW1 , the borders of Poland were decided at Versailles, by language. Not perfect but German areas were separated from polish speaking and the same in the east – polish and Ukrainian language ( Delegation from Kyiv wanted a Ukraine nation as that didnt exist but turned down) Poland and the Russia had a border war 1919-1921 as Poland wanted the historic eastern part of Ukraine that was rules by polish nobility under the Austrian Hapsburgs They… Read more Β»
No, I know what you mean but the world order now, as in the world we live in now, is about not tolerating land grabs to enlarge nations, irrespective of the complex shifting sands of previous ownership. You could make your argument for most of the land in the world as to which group once owned it. So itβs not βthatβs history for youβ or the celts would still be in charge where I live, except the Romans then took it, then the Angles, then the Danes, then the Angles, then the Normans, and thatβs just my turf. We need… Read more Β»
Very true . But the *history* does matter- especially the last 50 years not 1000yrs as it gives context . Ukraine matters to Russia in that way because of shared history and language – history of repression too but Ukrainians were part of that repression too. Cossacks anyone ? It explains but doesnt justify the invasion- which Ive always thought was a mistake- and why the russians arent coming for Poland or Germany, So its not like 1939 again at all. As for the democracy bit surely if Spain prevents the 90% vote for independence in Catalonia, what agreed independence… Read more Β»
Just a couple of things, I disagree with the timeline, actually the older the history the more rooted the claim, just look at Jerusalem. Border disagreements from the last 50 years should be resolvable without carnage. Russia is not a βform of democracyβ, what? the Russians state has the levers to rig elections, lock up or kill the opposition and push its own narrative via its own state media unchecked. I predict Putin will only cease as leader when he either dies, or there is a coup against him, not votes. I agree with you that the US system throws… Read more Β»
A democracy where the government isnt supported by the majority of voters ?
Dont kid yourself
this is not how it works in almost all of ‘democratic Europe’
The Brexit was a majority of voters , and the Scottish independence was rejected by a majority ( interestingly only a majority for independence in Glasgow and its suburbs along with Dundee)
Well that is the problem with democracy I agree, hence why 2 parties work best. I lived in Europe and not sure what you mean, yes itβs no surprise we do things different in Britain, thatβs not a problem given that nearly all of Europe has had dictators in the last 100 years, apart from Britain which had a parliamentary democracy throughout unchanged, so thatβs a pretty proud record, However in terms of now, Europe has the same problem so Iβm not kidding myself at all. They are forced into coalitions which often does not represent the voterβs interests. Take… Read more Β»
So you are a supporter for partial democracy, thats fine but dont get all preachy about other countries not so perfect systems Coalition governments do have majority support, voters know how those european proportional systems work and know they are getting shared power. Usually in germany they DO require the party membership to agree on forming a government Look at result of 2010 election 36.1% Conservative + 29% Liberal Dems equals 59.1% After invasion …cough illegal invasion of Iraq, the democracy decided for them , was it a UK or US style partial democracy where a minority party gets all… Read more Β»
Preachy, thatβs unfair Duker, I just pointed out they had coalitions due to non majority results, i only said that because you stated Europe did not have βgovernment not supported by the majority of votersβ. Of course I am in favour of democracy and the UK and Germany are not βpartial democraciesβ. A minority party does not have power in the UK, it is the largest party that has power but often it is not the majority of the actual total vote. Itβs still democracy. It is not just about a pie chart of who has the most votes, itβs… Read more Β»
Im saying Europe in general has majority governments – an direct effect of proportional representation UK is the outlier here and is least democratic as the majority of the voters didnt vote conservative as only 43.6% did in 2019. Its way behind in how democracy works today , not in the way it worked in1919 Australia has preferential voting in those who win a seat but not a majority of votes , have the 2nd preferences and so on through the least votes distributed till one candidate , usually the biggest vote getter has at least 50% +1. In each… Read more Β»
They are aiming to escalate upto 5% GDP to defence as a MINIMUM by 2027. So that’ll be how they can afford such hardware. During the cold war the UK spent depending upon year 7-12.5%. For that we had a RN with 15 SSNs and 50+ escort warships, an RAF with 20+ fast jet squadrons (7 now) and an army able to deploy an armoured corps of 3 armoured divisions and a supporting infantry Division. (Totalling 270,000 troops including reserves) We’ve simply been allowed to forget just what is achievable with political will and realisation that our freedoms and democracy… Read more Β»
Cold war UK defence much lower than 7%- your min.
It was 7% in the late 50s
it was around 4.6-4.8% just before Falklands war
https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/CBP-8175/CBP-8175.pdf
They have also shown an interest in the F15EX, again not cheap.
Potential adversaries ?π everyone knows the only adversary everyone in here is desperate to rumble with is Russia , The U.K. gov has run our amazing army into the ground itβs a disgrace what they have done and tantamount to treason.
the pictures circulating of a burning Challenger tank in Ukraine should be a wake up call.
nothing is going to change when the incoming labour administration accelerate the programme .
people need to wake the fcuk up!
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