Destination: Latvia

 

Leopardo combat tank in action. Photo: DECET

Military Police. Photo:DECET

 

 The 11^th Brigade has generated and prepared an armoured and mechanised battlegroup, which will include Pizarro vehicles, brought by the 6^th Saboya Regiment, and Leopardo combat tanks. They will bring support arms equipped with mortars, missiles and Raven navigation systems. There will also be shooters, a transmissions team, a section of mechanised trenchers and an explosive devices deactivation team (EOD). Completing the team will be a logistics contingent, a military police unit, a type ROLE 1 paramedics formation, as well as senior command staff. In total, there will be more than 300 soldiers coming from all of the brigade units, including the cavalry group, the 1^st “Legazpi” Battalion and the nº 67 “Tercio Viejo de Sicilia” Regiment, located in San Sebastian and integrated into the 11^th Brigade after their latest organisation changes, who will bring an Anti-tank defence squad.

At the forefront of the battle group is captain De Toro, who is one of the most pleased members of the group. He is a big fan of mechanised brigades and he explains that this is a “great opportunity” and “an important professional challenge, as we will have to transport mechanised and armoured platforms and other light platforms on a VAMTAC (High Mobility Tactical Vehicle).” He is very motivated, as he will have an extraordinary team with him who will open the scenario with the Pizarros and Leopardos. Some of the team members, such as 1st Sergeants Rubio y Sosa, have spent nearly all of their professional lives working with the Pizarros and could not miss an opportunity like this. Corporal Pallero, squad leader who has been in the 11th Brigade for 14 years, also feels this way.

For Soldier Andrade, this is the first time he will work as a Pizarro driver in a mission, and he says that being with his tank and crew will feel like a dream. Soldier Horcas, a Pizarro shooter, is looking forward to seeing how other armies work. Soldier Zamora, a precision shooter, added an important point: “Latvia is going to be a new experience for us all.”