Video report (Sergeant Specialist Lukas Kalvaitis)
On October 6 through 16 Lithuanian Land Force's anti-tank units and a U.S. anti-tank team trained destroying armoured combat materiel of hostile forces with their anti-tank weaponry at a combined tactical live fire field Exercise Hunter 2014 at the General Silvestras Žukauskas Training Area in Pabradė.
Minister of National Defence Juozas Olekas praised the participants' professionalism demonstrated at the exercise after observing a live fire event. "Such exercises are crucial as they give a chance for military personnel to test their equipment, hone their firing skills and exchange experience. We have just signed an updated agreement with the United States on replenishing our Javelin anti-tank systems' supplies so our soldiers will be able to improve their firing skills further," Minister J.Olekas said.
"This exercise has been really rewarding to all the participants. They had two weeks for testing different weapons and ammunition, and to familiarise with the harm it is able to cause. Our soldiers undergo training of destroying high-priced armoured combat materiel with various anti-tank weapons. They are professionals in their area as the exercise results clearly demonstrate," Exercise Hunter 2014 Lieutenant Colonel Aleksiejus Gaiževskis said.
Over 200 exercise participants were practicing to use their anti-tank weaponry in defensive operations, delivered live fire, and gained hands-on experience with the capacity of anti-tank weaponry.
The exercise not only demonstrated the impact of anti-tank weapons, artillery shells, and mortar mines (Javelin, Carl Gustaf, PV1110, AT-4, L70, etc.) on armoured combat materiel, but also provided an opportunity to train destroying armoured targets or targets under cover by employing engineer means, heavy machine-guns and automatic grenade launchers (M2HB QCB, H&K GMG 40 mm, etc.).
Lithuania was represented in the exercise by units from the Mechanised Infantry Brigade Iron Wolf, National Defence Volunteer Force, Juozas Lukša Training Centre of the Lithuanian Land Force, Juozas Vitkus Engineer Battalion, King Mindaugas Hussar Battalion, Grand Duchess Birutė Uhlan Battalion, Lithuanian Grand Duke Butigeidis Dragoon Battalion, Air Defence Battalion of the Lithuanian Air Force and the Lithuanian Grand Duke Gediminas Headquarters Battalion.
Photo credits: Alfredas Pliadis
