Marines took tanks out of secret caves to do military exercises near Russia's northern border for the first time
Tensions between Russia and other countries in Europe have been elevated since early 2014, when Russia intervened in Ukraine and annexed Crimea.
In the years since, NATO has reassessed its security posture in Europe, deploying more forces to eastern Europe and seeking to streamline operations.
The initiative, designated Operation Atlantic Resolve, has seen multinational forces stationed in rotations in Poland, Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia. The US has also sought to rebuild its armored presence on the continent after withdrawing the last of its tanks in 2013.
The US Army's 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, from the 1st Cavalry Division, known as the Ironhorse Brigade, recently arrived in Antwerp, Belgium, using the trip from the port to its base in Germany as a chance to practice the overland movements that a military mobilization would require.
Niether Finland nor Sweden are NATO members, but both countries have worked more closely with each other and the defense alliance to develop military capabilities and maintain readiness.
Russia singled out those moves closer to NATO by Finland and Sweden as a matter of "special concern." Russia has also criticized neighboring Norway for allowing a US Marine rotational force to be stationed in the country — the first time a foreign force has been posted on Norwegian soil since World War II.
Source: Reuters, Business Insider
The Marines deployed to Finland with M1A1 tanks for the exercise, where they were joined by soldiers from the Army's 2nd Cavalry Regiment using Stryker armored vehicles. US personnel and a Finnish mechanized infantry brigade took part in a mock battle in woods and marshland in the western part of the country.
Source: Stars and Stripes
The exercise saw Marines working with Finnish soldiers to attack the enemy, a role filled by other Finnish troops. "We would punch holes through the enemy lines and the conscripts would come in and give us support," Anderson, the tank commander, told Stars and Stripes.
Finnish army cooks also supplied troops in the field with hot meals every day, sparing soldiers and Marines from having to eat Meals, Ready to Eat. "It doesn't get any better than that," Anderson said.
The territory presented a new challenge for the Marines.
"We're used to operating in open terrain," Anderson told Stars and Stripes. "This is very different. It is very forested, and we've had to adjust to the way Finnish tankers fight, more closely together."
Source: Stars and Stripes
One of Finland's Leopard 2 tanks got stuck in a swamp during the training, giving Marines a chance to show off. "That was a lot of fun for my crew," Sgt. Jonathan Hess, a recovery-vehicle mechanic, told Stars and Strips. "We showed the conscripts how to do recovering with our vehicle, because they have nothing like what we have."
Source: Stars and Stripes
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