Armoured brigade bolsters US military presence in Poland
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 sent 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 – more precisely the Armoured Brigade Combat Team (ABCT) – is the tactical cornerstone of the American ground forces' heavy units, alongside brigades utilising Stryker wheeled vehicles and infantry brigades.
The superior division deploys the ABCT and is capable of independent operations due to its support units, own 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 M113 armoured personnel carriers or their replacements, AMPV vehicles. They are supplemented by lighter vehicles, such as JLTV armoured cars.
The core of the ABCT consists of three manoeuvre battalions – armoured and mechanised, as well as a command battalion, artillery, and reconnaissance battalion, traditionally called a cavalry squadron. In total, the brigade comprises 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 Army Prepositioned Stock (APS) warehouses has been established, where heavy equipment is stored, enabling at least one more armoured brigade to be equipped.
If necessary, this setup facilitates the rapid reinforcement of American forces in the region, with soldiers swiftly deployed to locations where tanks, howitzers, and infantry fighting vehicles are prepared for use.