Zuzana SpGHs fire at Lešt as part of preparations for NATO’s eFP in Latvia
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- Date: 04.10.2019
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2nd Fire Battery gunners from the Self-propelled Artillery Battalion Michalovce conducted a tactical artillery live fire exercise with Zuzana II Model 2000 Self-propelled Gun Howitzers at the Training Centre Lešť during the first three days of October. According to Battalion Commander Lt Col Roman Bobaľ, the exercise involving the battery and two recce teams was part of their preparations for their next year’s deployment to Latvia for NATO’s enhanced Forward Presence (eFP). As part of the rotation schedule, gunners of the Michalovce-based Self-propelled Artillery Battalion will arrive in Latvia to succeed the outgoing members of the Nitra-based Mechanised Battalion in mid-2020.
In his statement during the exercise, Coordinator of Fire Support and Chief of Artillery in the Slovak Armed Forces Col Pavol Barančík said: “Historically, this will be the first time that a coherent artillery unit will be deployed abroad alongside members of NATO armed forces. That is why we place special emphasis on the unit’s pre-deployment training. I am satisfied with the outcome of the firings as well as with the approach the commanders and members of the batteries have demonstrated. I hope that, while in the Baltics, they will bring credit not only on SVK Artillery, but also on the Slovak Armed Forces as a whole.”
The exercise consisted of manoeuvre practice, fire organization and control, and realistic conduct of fire at targets in daytime and night-time conditions. As Battalion Commander Lt Col Bobaľ pointed out, the exercise tested the commanders’ ability to plan operations and the move to firing positions; exercise command of subordinate units as part of a defensive scenario; and provide and control fire in support of manoeuvre units.
In his statement during the exercise, Coordinator of Fire Support and Chief of Artillery in the Slovak Armed Forces Col Pavol Barančík said: “Historically, this will be the first time that a coherent artillery unit will be deployed abroad alongside members of NATO armed forces. That is why we place special emphasis on the unit’s pre-deployment training. I am satisfied with the outcome of the firings as well as with the approach the commanders and members of the batteries have demonstrated. I hope that, while in the Baltics, they will bring credit not only on SVK Artillery, but also on the Slovak Armed Forces as a whole.”
The exercise consisted of manoeuvre practice, fire organization and control, and realistic conduct of fire at targets in daytime and night-time conditions. As Battalion Commander Lt Col Bobaľ pointed out, the exercise tested the commanders’ ability to plan operations and the move to firing positions; exercise command of subordinate units as part of a defensive scenario; and provide and control fire in support of manoeuvre units.
