Waiting for Ivan (Photo : US Army)
It might not appear like much, but the firepower brought to Russia's front door by the newly deployed U.S. Army 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, U.S. 4th Infantry Division (3-4 ABCT) from Fort Carson, Colorado now in Poland diminishes the likelihood Russia will push through with its threat to invade NATO.
The deployment of 3-4 ABCT, also known as the "Iron Brigade," also means any European war might well become World War III, an outcome Russia is incapable of winning on the battlefield.
3-4 ABCT is one of the best trained frontline units in the U.S. Army. Over the next few months, 3,500 men of 3-4 ABCT; 87 M1A2SEPv2 Abrams main battle tanks (the latest version); 144 M2A3 Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicles (IFVs), 18 M109A6 Paladin self-propelled howitzers and 2,500 other vehicles will be deployed to Poland.
The move of the U.S. Army to Russia's very doorstep seeks to deter wanton Russian aggression in Eastern Europe as part of Operation Atlantic Resolve. The deployment of 3-4 ABCT is the largest U.S. military deployment in Europe since the end of the Cold War in 1991.
Most of the men and equipment of 3-4 ABCT will be deployed across Poland. Others will go to Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, Romania, Bulgaria and Hungary to train with local troops.
Armed with a 120 mm gun, the M1A2 SEPv2 is also protected by improved front and side depleted uranium armor. It comes with a Tank Urban Survival Kit (TUSK) and a Common Remotely Operated Weapon Station (CROWS) with an M2 .50-caliber remote-controlled machine gun as standard.
The tank is powered by a 1500 horsepower turbine engine and now has an upgraded transmission for better durability.
The M2A3 Bradley IFV, which is an upgraded version of the original M2 Bradley, is totally digital and improves target acquisition and fire control and situational awareness. The survivability of the M2A3 has been upgraded with a number of armor improvements, both passive and reactive.
The M2A3 is armed with a 30 mm Bushmaster autocannon and two TOW anti-tank missiles in the ready position, It can carry seven infantrymen.
3-4 ABCT's Bradleys have the new Commander's Independent Thermal Viewer (CITV) that's a thermal viewer separate from the gunner's. CITV allows the commander to search for threats, and maintain situational awareness while the gunner engages targets.
The M109A6 Paladin supports armored and mechanized infantry forces with indirect fire from its huge 155 mm L39 howitzer. This Paladin is an upgrade with new armor to protect its crew of six and an inertial navigation system that allows the crew to travel to a new firing location and be ready to fire within 30 seconds.
