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Hammer Through the Fall: U.S. and Finnish Forces Conduct Combined Exercise
NIINISALO, Finland – U.S. Soldiers assigned to 6th Squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division (3-1 ABCT), operationally assigned to the 1st Infantry Division, participated in exercise Hammer 22, near Niinisalo, Finland, which occurred between Oct. 31 and Nov. 13, 2022. Hammer 22 is a two-week training operational exercise conducted alongside soldiers of Finland’s Army Headquarters, Armored Brigade, Pori Brigade, Karelia Brigade, Uti Jaeger Regiment and Logistics Department of the Defense Forces.
This exercise was held as part of an ongoing effort by United States and Finnish military counterparts to train alongside one another and improve operational tactics, techniques and procedures (TTPs) between the two forces. Over the course of two weeks, combined forces performed numerous training scenarios that focused on international support procedures geared towards developing more cohesive joint fire operations.
“This has been a huge learning opportunity for Fins,” said Col. Rainer Kuosmanen, commander of the Finnish Armored Brigade. "I suppose it has been for the [United States Army] as well.”
Over 4,000 Finnish soldiers including 2,500 Reserve soldiers and about 200 U.S. Soldiers from the 3-1 ABCT trained shoulder to shoulder operating numerous M2 Bradley Fighting Vehicles and Abrams tanks throughout the duration of exercise Hammer 22.
During a ceremony held at the end of the first week, Kuosmanen, alongside other officers of Finland’s Armored Brigade, presented traditional Finnish knives to select U.S. Soldiers who excelled throughout the first week of the exercise.
“I am truly happy that the U.S. Army is a part of this exercise,” said Kuosmanen. “This is the main exercise to make sure our mechanized troops and our operational reserves are ready. Hopefully, during this week and next week you will see that Finland is ready to defend itself.”
Lt. Col. Levi Thomas, commander of the 6-9 Cavalry Regiment, gifted the cavalry unit’s signature Stetson to members of Finland’s Armored Brigade who performed alongside U.S. Soldiers in similar fashion.
“I am truly honored,” said Finnish Capt. Mikael Hanninen, leader of the Host Nation Support team, after he was awarded a Stetson. “We can and we will.”
U.S. and Finnish forces worked together through numerous field problems and conducted battle drills using the Multiple Integrated Laser Engagement System to create realistic situations that allow for each unit to learn from one another in real-time simulated combat scenarios.
Capt. Joseph M. Browne, a fire support officer with the 3-1 ABCT stated that U.S. Soldiers were attached to a Finnish battle group to learn TTPs and fight more fluidly as an armored cavalry troop.
In addition to multiple laps run through a simulated combat arena, forward observers with the 3-1 ABCT set up an observation point. While they gathered grid coordinates, Finnish tanker and mortar crews fired live ordnance at targets down range. Soldiers used this opportunity to train their Finnish counterparts to communicate more efficiently and effectively using common nomenclature used by the United States.
“The Finnish army is very professional,” said Browne. “There are a few things that they do differently, but we all understand the same language when it comes to fire support.”
Throughout the exercise, inclement weather enveloped Soldiers in new environments. Between bouts of rain and snow, the flat dense wooded terrain introduced many Soldiers of the 3-1 ABCT to different methods of combat. While cavalry scouts engaged simulated enemy units in a constantly changing environment, Abrams and Bradley crew members worked to navigate the muddy trails that snaked through the pine trees and surrounding fens that were heavily mined with large mossy granite rocks.
“U.S. Soldiers are getting an awesome opportunity to train in an environment they’ve never trained in before,” said Browne. “Specifically for our troop, I think this is the first time these Soldiers have operated in a wood and muddy environment, we’re used to a sandy type of environment, so this is a brand-new concept for them. Overall, it presents a challenge for them to test their skills.”
U.S. and Finnish soldiers left the exercise feeling more confident in their ability to operate more effectively alongside one another.
“I know we have a team here we can fight alongside with,” said Thomas.
Jutussa sanotaan että kuuluvat 1st Infantry Division, vaikka kuuluvat 1st Cavalry Division. EDIT. Silmä käteen, siinähän se lukee että alistettu 1st Infantry Division, kuten ultimateidiot alempana ystävällisesti korjaa.Katso liite: 70640
Linkin takana lisää kuvia.
Hammer Through the Fall: U.S. and Finnish Forces Conduct Combined Exercise
NIINISALO, Finland – U.S. Soldiers assigned to 6th Squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division (3-1 ABCT), operationally assigned to the 1st Infantry Division, participated in exercise Hammer 22, near Niinisalo, Finland, which occurred between Oct. 31...www.dvidshub.net
Jutussa sanotaan että kuuluvat 1st Infantry Division, vaikka kuuluvat 1st Cavalry Division.
Kääntyy suurinpiirtein muotoon "1. Ratsuväkidivisioonan 3. ABCT:n 9. Ratsuväkirykmentti, joka on alistettu 1. JV-divisioonalle."... 9th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division (3-1 ABCT), operationally assigned to the 1st Infantry Division
Kyllä tuossa paistaa läpi se vähäisen harjoittelun määrä organisoitua joukkoa vastaan sekä tämä Suomen erityispiirre eli metsä.Kavereita ollu kertaamassa tuolla. Pst-partiot sanoivat, että Nato kumppanit olivat helppoja maaleja.
Mutta eihän se kotonakaan kumppani ole paras kaikessa. Joskus joutuu pikkujouluissa kysymään naapurin Tiinaa avuksi.
Ei ole ihan paras asia että läntiset armeijat joutuvat uudelleen opettelemaan sodankäyntiä vakavasti otettavaa vastustajaa vastaan.Kyllä tuossa paistaa läpi se vähäisen harjoittelun määrä organisoitua joukkoa vastaan sekä tämä Suomen erityispiirre eli metsä.
Ensi vuonna harjoitellaan varmasti jo pataljoona kokoonpanoilla siitä kielii ilmoitus, että Arrow-23 järjestetään Etelä-Suomessa. Pohjankangas jää pieneksi.
No, meillä on paljon hyvää tarjottavaa sitten liittolaisille, tulkaa tänne harjoittelemaan ja oppimaan.Ei ole ihan paras asia että läntiset armeijat joutuvat uudelleen opettelemaan sodankäyntiä vakavasti otettavaa vastustajaa vastaan.
Suomi taitaa olla ainoita läntisiä valtioita joka ei valinnut helppoa tietä vaan ylläpiti todellista sodankäyntivoimaa Puolan lisäksi...
Varmasti pääosa järjestetään Pohjankankaalla, ei ole muuta paikkaa missä järjestäisi mekanisoidun harjoituksen noin laajamittaisesti, toki Kaakonkulmalla jotenkin mutta Pohjankangas on se the place mekkisodankäynnin harjoitteluun. Noissa mekeissä on tyypillisesti ollut kaksi pataljoonaa/taisteluosastoa vastakkain, sen verran mahtuu Pohjankankaalle, en tiedä kuinka järkevästi mutta mahtuu kuitenkin. Tänä vuonnahan osa Arrowista järjestettiin Säkylässä ja toisaalta nyt syksyn Hammer poikkeuksellisesti kaksi viikkoisena kun ei olisi kaikki mahtunut enää järkevästi harjoittelemaan. Noteerasin että lukee Etelä-Suomi mutta lähjden silti oletuksesta että Arrow23 on Pohjankankaalla. No vajaa 6 kk niin ollaan viimeistään viisaampia...Kyllä tuossa paistaa läpi se vähäisen harjoittelun määrä organisoitua joukkoa vastaan sekä tämä Suomen erityispiirre eli metsä.
Ensi vuonna harjoitellaan varmasti jo pataljoona kokoonpanoilla siitä kielii ilmoitus, että Arrow-23 järjestetään Etelä-Suomessa. Pohjankangas jää pieneksi.