Strong Europe Tank Challenge
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The Strong Europe Tank Challenge was an annual, multinational tank platoon competition held from 2016 to 2018 at Grafenwöhr Training Area, Germany, and hosted by the U.S. Army Europe and the German Army.[1] In February 2025 the competition was held again after a 7 year hiatus, although renamed to the U.S. Army Europe and Africa International Tank Challenge.[2]
Description
[edit | edit source]Crews from NATO and non-NATO partners compete in defensive/offensive mounted and dismounted operations. Platoons rotate throughout 12 events with 1,500 possible points in total. The first challenge was held in 2016, with Germany taking first place.[3] The 2017 challenge saw Austria placing first, with Germany and the U.S. taking second and third, respectively.[4]
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Results
[edit | edit source]2016
[edit | edit source]The 2016 competition was the first SETC competition. Denmark, Germany, Italy, Poland, Slovenia sent one platoon; the United States sent two. The Czech Republic planned to send a platoon, but the unit failed to arrive. No official place list for team behind the third place was published.[3]
| Place | Nation | Unit | Tank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | File:Flag of Germany.svg GER | C/ 3. Kompanie, GebirgsPanzerbataillon 8 | Leopard 2A6 |
| 2nd | File:Flag of Denmark.svg DEN | 1/ 1st Squadron, 1st Panserbataljon | Leopard 2A5 DK |
| 3rd | File:Flag of Poland.svg POL | 1/ 1st Company, 1st Tank Battalion | Leopard 2A5 |
| 4th | File:Flag of Italy.svg ITA | 1/ 2nd Company, 8th Tank Battalion | C1 Ariete |
| 5th | File:Flag of the United States.svg USA | 1/ D Company, 2-7 Infantry | M1A2 SEP v2 |
| 6th | File:Flag of the United States.svg USA | 3/ C Company, 2-7 Infantry | M1A2 SEP v2 |
| 7th | File:Flag of Slovenia.svg SLO | Wolf/ 45th Center for Tracked Combat Vehicles | M-84 |
2017
[edit | edit source]The second annual competition included three newcomers, Austria, Ukraine and France. Italy, Denmark and Slovenia did not appear.[5]
| Place | Nation | Unit | Tank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | File:Flag of Austria.svg AUT | Panzerbataillon 14 | Leopard 2A4 |
| 2nd | File:Flag of Germany.svg GER | 2. Kompanie, Panzerbataillon 203 | Leopard 2A6 |
| 3rd | File:Flag of the United States.svg USA | 1st Battalion, 66th Armor Regiment "Iron Knights", 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division (Iron Brigade) | M1A2 SEP v2 |
| 4th | File:Flag of France.svg FRA | 501e régiment de chars de combat, 3e escadron | Leclerc |
| 5th | File:Flag of Ukraine.svg UKR | T-64BV | |
| 6th | File:Flag of Poland.svg POL | Leopard 2A5 |
2018
[edit | edit source]The third annual competition took place from June 3 to the 8th and included two newcomers: Sweden and the United Kingdom.[6][better source needed]
| Place | Nation | Unit | Tank | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | File:Flag of Germany.svg GER | 3. Kompanie, Panzerbataillon 393 | Leopard 2A6 | 1450 |
| 2nd | File:Flag of Sweden.svg SWE | Wartofta Tank Company, Skaraborg Regiment | Strv 122 (Leopard 2A5) | 1411 |
| 3rd | File:Flag of Austria.svg AUT | KPE/PzB14 | Leopard 2A4 | 1321 |
| 4th | File:Flag of France.svg FRA | 1er régiment de chasseurs | Leclerc | 1186 |
| 5th | File:Flag of Poland.svg POL | 34th Armoured Cavalry Brigade | Leopard 2A5 | 1151 |
| 6th | File:Flag of the United Kingdom.svg UK | The Queen's Royal Hussars (The Queen's Own and Royal Irish) | Challenger 2 | 1140 |
| 7th | File:Flag of the United States.svg USA | 2-70 Armor, 2nd Brigade, 1st Infantry Division | M1A2 SEP v2 | 1110 |
| 8th | File:Flag of Ukraine.svg UKR | 14th Mechanized Brigade | T-84 Oplot | 950[7] |
2025
[edit | edit source]The fourth competition took place in February 2025, with an American team taking first place. Tank crews from Denmark, Italy, Slovenia and Switzerland also attended the competition.[8]
Gallery
[edit | edit source]File:USAREUR-AF International Tank Challenge Culminating Event (8873884).jpg File:USAREUR-AF International Tank Challenge - Tanker Olympics (8865465).jpg File:USAREUR-AF International Tank Challenge mystery event (8873896).jpg
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See also
[edit | edit source]References
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