![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.reeltoreel.nl\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/amf-loods1.png\")
<\/a>First encounter with the beast, parked right there in the classroom![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.reeltoreel.nl\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/amf-loods2.png\")
<\/a>After weeks of training, we went riding with it:<\/p>\nThis was out first night exercise with the tank. After that period in the Netherlands, which lasted 6 months, I was stationed in Germany in Bergen-Hohne. Here are some pictures from there:<\/p>\n We also went into the field. A lot. Sometimes for a few days. Here are some pictures:<\/p>\n In Bergen-Hohne is Europe’s largest and best shooting range for tanks. Of course we went there. Here are some action pics:<\/p>\n At the very end of the tour, we did a NATO real world exercise, where you drive through the real world and drive the public road through villages and take shelter at some farmer’s place etc.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n<\/a>learning to guide the tank backwards from the command hatch.<\/a><\/a>And finally, after weeks and weeks, we went on exercise with it:<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a>Me on top of the leopard 2.
\n<\/a>This was during our first exercise as a platoon with the platoon leader putting on his cap.<\/p>\nParaat<\/h2>\n
<\/a>detail of the front of the wheel mechanism<\/p>\n<\/a>This picture was taken from a tank of which the back had had a collision with a turrent.<\/a>Here we are busy putting a new track on the leopard 2. Needless to say the track is very very heavy.<\/a>A Eskadron 41 Tankbataljon<\/a><\/p>\nField exercises<\/h2>\n
<\/a>Waking up after a night in the field.<\/p>\n<\/a>‘wasbord’. This terrain is formed this way with the bumps due to the tanks driving there. It gets worse over time. It is very uncomfortable to drive.<\/a>Leopard 2 hidden behind a bump in the terrain.<\/p>\n<\/a>All Terrain Vehicle. The leopard 2 has no problem with any terrain.<\/p>\n<\/a>Full speed ahead, eeeh\u00a0reverse<\/strong> I mean. This is a manoeuvre to withdraw, driving backwards full speed.<\/p>\n<\/a>lolo. The leopard on a low-loader.<\/p>\n<\/a>Parked in a ditch, this tank wasn’t coming out by itself. It had to be towed out.<\/p>\n<\/a>What leo 2?<\/p>\n<\/a>My driver managed to drive the tracks off of our tank, making a turn in very loose sand. It took us a while to get the track back on the cog.<\/p>\n<\/a>Me in action. Reading the map doing a relocation during the excise. Unfortunately the picture is not very good, but the tank was moving around a lot.<\/p>\n<\/a>My crew and my tank just after we rolled the tank from the train that had brought us to the exercise field on the other side Germany. This picture was taken\u00a0in the morning, as the trainride was a night train. I am standing just behind my driver. I am the one with my back to the photographer.<\/p>\n<\/a>Fill ‘er up! This takes long. Very long. 1100 liter.<\/p>\n<\/a>Me giving the tank a thorough cleaning afterwards.<\/p>\nShooting practice<\/h2>\n
<\/a>This actually is a small version of a Dutch shooting range where you can practice tactics, like target distribution between tanks etc.<\/p>\n<\/a>Same small shooting range but then the view as seen from the tanks.<\/a>On the big firing range. Drivers resting between sessions.<\/p>\n<\/a>Grenades are stored right behind the shooting tanks.<\/a>Me (right) and another tank commander talking to the platoon commander (middle).<\/a>Alpha tank in action, ready for firing.<\/p>\nreal world field exercise<\/h2>\n
<\/a>Here we’re waiting to get out of the gate at the barracks.<\/p>\n<\/a>Through the village.<\/p>\n<\/a>Some of these roads are very narrow.<\/p>\n<\/a>There were also other military vehicles involved. In fact it was a complete exercise, where multiple countries collaborated.<\/p>\n<\/a>Taking a stand in a field.<\/p>\n<\/a>A moment of rest, parking in a small town by the side of the road.<\/p>\n<\/a>Getting supplies like fuel (jerrycans) in the late evening.<\/p>\n<\/a>Loader in action. He is in charge of the flashlight.<\/p>\n