From October 21 through 26 combined field tactical exercise with live firing tasks of the units of the Lithuanian Land Force Hunter 2012 took place in the Pabradės Training Area. The training audience drilled defence operations using anti-tank equipment and weaponry available.
Chief of Defence of Lithuania Lieutenant General Arvydas Pocius has observed the training event and lauded good preparation of the participating troops and their teamwork abilities while employing infantry, engineer, support fire and antiaircraft defence assets.
"In the final phase of the exercise the training audience demonstrated the high-risk caused to the enemy forces by versatile and well-organised defence provided by multiform fire arms," Chief of Defence said. According to General, such exercises are crucial for preparing troops for both - ensuring national defence and contributing to multinational operations.
The training audience of the exercise numbering to over 200 practised employing the available anti-tank weapons and equipment in defence operations, completed live firing tasks and familiarised with the capacity of anti-tank equipment in practice. In Hunter 2012 L-70 antiaircraft gun was used for the first time to destroy the armoured enemy equipment according to the exercise scenario.
Vice Minister of National Defence Mykolas Juozapavičius, Chief of Defence Lt Gen Arvydas Pocius, defence attachés of foreign countries based in Lithuania, and other representatives of the national defence system observed the tactical situational firing.
The exercise involved personnel of anti-tank units of the Lithuanian Land Force and a variety of equipment used to down armoured equipment of hostile forces - from anti-tank artillery pieces to modern missile systems. The following anti-tank weaponry was used for live firing part of the exercise: shoulder-mounted mid-range anti-tank missile system "Javelin", anti-tank recoilless rifles "Carl Gustaf M3", "RPG-7" and "AT-4" (disposable), anti-tank recoilless gun "PV 1110" and a 120 mm mortar. Military personnel of the Air Defence Battalion of the Lithuanian Air Force fired from the L-70 antiaircraft gun.
The exercise Hunter 2012 was conducted in four phases: phase No. 1 covered theoretical practice and weapon handling test, phase No. 2 - live firing exercise and demonstration of the effect of anti-tank weapons on targets, phase No. 3 - demonstration of the effect of engineering means in defence, and phase No. 4 - situational live firing.
The exercise was organised by the Lithuanian Land Force Headquarters and representatives of the military units involved in the training event: all the units of the Lithuanian Land Force, the Lithuanian Grand Duke Gediminas Headquarters Battalion and the Lithuanian Air Force.
More information about anti-tank weaponry used by the Lithuanian Land Force: http://kariuomene.kam.lt/lt/ginkluote_ir_karine_technika/granatsvaidziai_ir_priestankiniai_ginklai
PAO for the Lithuanian Land Force Capt Mindaugas Neimontas, cell phone 00370 640 45 380.
