An M1A2 Abrams tank fires during a live-fire exercise at Grafenwoehr, Germany, Wednesday, March 28, 2018. (Martin Egnash/Stars and Stripes)
An M1A2 Abrams tank fires during a live-fire exercise at Grafenwoehr, Germany, Wednesday, March 28, 2018. (Martin Egnash/Stars and Stripes)
M1A2 Abrams tanks and Bradley Fighting Vehicles converge on a smoke signal during a live-fire exercise at Grafenwoehr, Germany, Wednesday, March 28, 2018. (Martin Egnash/Stars and Stripes)
An M1A2 Abrams tank fires during a live-fire exercise at Grafenwoehr, Germany, Wednesday, March 28, 2018. (Martin Egnash/Stars and Stripes)
M1A2 Abrams tanks and an AH-64 Apache helicopter ready to attack the enemy position during a live-fire exercise at Grafenwoehr, Germany, Wednesday, March 28, 2018. (Martin Egnash/Stars and Stripes)
The view from the gunner's turret of an uparmored Humvee during a live-fire exercise at Grafenwoehr, Germany, Wednesday, March 28, 2018. (Martin Egnash/Stars and Stripes)
Soldiers with the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team in their Bradley Fighting Vehicle during a live-fire exercise at Grafenwoehr, Germany, Wednesday, March 28, 2018. (Martin Egnash/Stars and Stripes)
GRAFENWOEHR, Germany — It sounded like the beginning of Ragnarok. Tanks sped up to engage enemy targets while mortars and artillery rounds were lobbed overhead and helicopter gunships launched missiles during a high-speed, live-fire exercise.
More than a dozen M1A2 Abrams tanks and M2 Bradley Fighting Vehicles from the 1st Infantry Division’s 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team joined forces Wednesday with several AH-64 Apache helicopters from the 12th Combat Aviation Brigade and conducted the combined-arms exercise, to prepare them for Combined Resolve 10, a major multinational drill next month.
The exercise gave many of the troops on rotation to Europe from Fort Riley, Kan., the opportunity to work closely with soldiers from different jobs.
“It was amazing. I’ve never been that close to tanks firing before,” said Spc. Seva Eagle, a combat engineer who helped clear obstacles during the exercise. “I’m really proud of how my team performed today.”
Combined Resolve 10 is set to begin April 9, when more than 3,700 soldiers from 13 nations will conduct massive war games in Germany.
egnash.martin@stripes.com Twitter: @Marty_Stripes
