The first 14 Abrams tanks arrived at the port of Szczecin on Wednesday and are being unloaded. The strength of the Polish army is growing day by day; The PiS government means credibility, we keep our word, we keep our promises, Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said on Wednesday.
Abrams tanks in the port of Szczecin
Today the first elements of our “armour curtain” arrived at the port of Szczecin – 14 Abrams tanks are unloaded. The strength of the Polish army is growing day by day
This has been announced by Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki.
The rule of law means credibility. We keep our word! We keep our promises! We defend Poland!
emphasized the head of government. Mateusz Morawiecki recalled in this regard that in April – during his visit to the US – he said that the most modern Abrams tanks would soon be delivered to Poland.
An impenetrable barrier
Our crews responsible for the security of eastern Poland have already been trained, they will take over the Abrams tanks, which will go to their equipment and form an impenetrable barrier; they will close the Brzeska Gate – said the head of the Ministry of National Defense Mariusz Błaszczak in Szczecin.
Our crews of the 1st Armored Brigade of Warsaw, which are part of the 18th Mechanized Division, the iron division responsible for the security of eastern Poland, have already been trained. So they are about to take over these tanks, they will be equipped and an impenetrable barrier. They will close the Brzeska gate
he said.
He recalled that it is the Polish task to close this gate, deter the aggressor and prevent him from entering Polish soil.
The head of the Ministry of National Defense also stressed that Poland is the first country outside the US to have Abrams tanks in the latest version.
An alliance that serves the security of Poland and the eastern flank
I want to emphasize that it is (…) the first company, these 14 tanks. This year we will have more tanks that will make up the Abrams tank battalion
– emphasized Mariusz Blaszczak.
The head of the Ministry of National Defense commented that “these are the best tanks in the world”; he also pointed out that “Poland is the first country – apart from the United States – to have Abrams tanks in the latest version.”
The first delivery of these tanks in the latest version will take place next year
Blaszczak said.
Today shows the strength of the Polish-American alliance, (…) which serves the security of Poland, but also the entire eastern flank of the North Atlantic Alliance, which serves the security of the entire free world
– noted the head of the Ministry of National Defense. He also said that “we are aware of the threats posed by Russian imperial policies.”
Reinforcement of the Polish army
On Monday, the head of the Ministry of National Defense Mariusz Błaszczak announced on TVP Info that the transport of the first Abrams tanks ordered in January this year will reach the port of Szczecin-Świnoujście. These are tanks of the US Marine Corps, which Poland bought in January of this year. The head of the Ministry of National Defense then added that the first delivery will include 14 tanks – one company, two more will be delivered this year, which will complete the tank battalion, and another will be delivered next year.
Błaszczak recalled that next year the first tanks of 250 brand new vehicles in the latest version, ordered in 2022, will also arrive. In April last year, Poland ordered for $ 4.7 billion. 250 Abrams in the most modern M1A21 SEPv3 version, to be delivered in 2024-2026.
In January this year, the Ministry of National Defense signed a contract for the supply of 116 M1A1 Abrams tanks and associated equipment, including 12 M88 Hercules recovery vehicles, assault bridges and command vehicles. The value of the contract is approximately $1.4 billion. net, of which nearly $200 million is covered by the US side as part of the relief funds allocated to Poland. The US also agreed to sell munitions to Poland, including lower caliber bullets with a depleted uranium core.
Deliveries of tanks and other equipment are scheduled for 2023-2024. The tanks, previously used by the US Marine Corps, are undergoing a major overhaul and will come with a mileage reset.
The purchase of 116 Abrams retired from the Marine Corps was made to accelerate the replenishment of equipment following donations to Ukraine.
Poland was the first European country and the first NATO country outside the United States to buy Abrams.
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wkt/PAP
Source: wPolityce