https://www.army.mil/article/167842/Germany_Claims_Trophy_in_Strong_Europe_Tank_Challenge/GRAFENWOEHR, Germany -- The German platoon took top honors in the Strong Europe Tank Challenge, a three-day competition that tested offensive and defensive operations and mounted orienteering, with Denmark and Poland placing second and third, May 13, 2016.
Seven platoons from six NATO nations took part in the U.S. Army Europe and German Bundeswehr-sponsored competition that was hosted by 7th Army Joint Multinational Training Command, May 10-12, here.
Units that participated included Denmark's 1st Platoon, 1st Tank Company, 1st Tank Battalion; Germany's Platoon C, Company 3, Mountain Panzer Battalion 8, Panzer Brigade 12; Italy's 1st Platoon, 2nd Company, 8th Battalion, 132nd Regiment; Poland's 11th Lubuska Armoured Cavalry Division, 34th Armoured Cavalry Brigade, 1st Battalion, 1st Company, 1st Platoon; Slovenia's Wolf Platoon, 45th Center of Tracked Combat Vehicles; and the U.S. Army's 1st Platoon, D Company and 3rd Platoon, C Company both from 2nd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division.
All platoons brought four tanks each to compete. Poland and Denmark both operated Leopard 2A5 tanks, each with crews of four soldiers. Slovenia competed with M-84 tanks with three people in each. Germany brought four-person crews to man Leopard 2A6 tanks. Italy's four-person crews operated Ariete tanks. The U.S. had two platoons using M1A2 tanks with four Soldiers in each one. The German unit was a reserve unit.
