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Watch the NATO tank competition where the US lost to Germany, Denmark, and Poland

Watch the NATO tank competition where the US lost to Germany, Denmark, and Poland

Here is the German Leopard 2A6 at the competition.

Here's the Danish entry into the competition, also a Leopard but a 2A5 model.

Crew: 4 soldiers

Platoon size: 4 tanks

Armament: 120 mm smoothbore, 2x 7.62 mm

Speed: 45 mph

Range: 310 miles

Length: 32 feet

Weight: 62.5 tons

Here we see the Polish Leopard 2A5.

Crew: 4 soldiers

Platoon size: 4 tanks

Armament: 120 mm smoothbore, 2x 7.62 mm

Speed: 45 mph

Range: 310 miles

Length: 32 feet

Weight: 62.5 tons

Here is the M1A2 Abrams SEP, the US's entry into the contest.

Crew: 4 soldiers

Platoon size: 4 tanks

Armament: 120 mm smoothbore, 12.7 mm, 2x 7.62 mm

Speed: 41/25 mph on road / off road

Range: 240 miles

Length: 32 feet

Weight: 62 tons

Here international troops inspect Slovenia's M-84 tank. Troops from all countries performed inspections of each other's armor to improve interoperability.

Crew: 3 soldiers

Platoon size: 4 tanks

Armament: 120 mm smoothbore, 12.7 mm, 7.62 mm

Speed: 42 mph

Range: 435 miles

Length: 31 feet

Weight: 41.5 tons

This is Italy's Ariete tank firing off a round in the competition.

Crew: 4 soldiers

Platoon size: 4 tanks

Armament: 120 mm smoothbore, 2x 7.62 mm

Speed: 30/18 mph on road / off road

Range: 310 miles

Length: 31 feet

Weight: 54 tons

Crews had to compete in an obstacle course and carry heavy tank rounds.

They also had to identify 25 friendly and threatening vehicles while going through the course.

Tank crews competed in offensive drills, like hitting moving targets.

Many rounds were fired.

As well as defensive operations, like towing a tank during a simulated gas attack.

Crew members also had to get out and fire 10 rounds from three different locations in a shooting test...

... but they weren't all using pistols.

Lastly, crews had to respond to a simulated IED strike, where they had to treat and evacuate casualties.

Though the US lost to Germany, Denmark, and Poland, the real winners were NATO forces at large, as the competition helped to strengthen the bonds between foreign militaries and increase interoperability.

Watch the NATO tank competition where the US lost to Germany, Denmark, and Poland

Here is the German Leopard 2A6 at the competition.

Here's the Danish entry into the competition, also a Leopard but a 2A5 model.

Here we see the Polish Leopard 2A5.

Here is the M1A2 Abrams SEP, the US's entry into the contest.

Here international troops inspect Slovenia's M-84 tank. Troops from all countries performed inspections of each other's armor to improve interoperability.

This is Italy's Ariete tank firing off a round in the competition.

Crews had to compete in an obstacle course and carry heavy tank rounds.

They also had to identify 25 friendly and threatening vehicles while going through the course.

Tank crews competed in offensive drills, like hitting moving targets.

Many rounds were fired.

As well as defensive operations, like towing a tank during a simulated gas attack.

Crew members also had to get out and fire 10 rounds from three different locations in a shooting test...

... but they weren't all using pistols.

Lastly, crews had to respond to a simulated IED strike, where they had to treat and evacuate casualties.

Though the US lost to Germany, Denmark, and Poland, the real winners were NATO forces at large, as the competition helped to strengthen the bonds between foreign militaries and increase interoperability.

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