WARSAW --- On November 21 this year, on Poland's Tank and Automobile Service Day, a ship carrying M1A1 Abrams tanks, HIMARS multiple rocket launchers and M88A2 HERCULES technical support vehicles entered the port of Świnoujście.
This is the second tranche of M1A1 Abrams tanks, purchased in January this year. for the needs of the Polish Armed Forces, which reached the Polish port by sea, this time to Świnoujście. The delivery includes 26 tanks and associated equipment, including nine M88A2 HERCULES technical support vehicles, and a supply of consumable parts. After unloading, the tanks will be transported to their destination in the country.
Kolejne #Abrams’y już w 🇵🇱!
🔜Niedługa trafią na wyposażenie czołgistów z #JEDYNApancerna🫡
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🎥@IWsp_SZ 🖥️ SKS @1WBPanc pic.twitter.com/lx8BAPj1ga— 1. Warszawska Brygada Pancerna (@1WBPanc) November 24, 2023
Together with the tanks, the third group of M142 HIMARS multiple rocket launchers, purchased in 2019, arrived in Poland, including 11 launchers in the "American configuration".
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On June 28 this year, the first batch of 14 M1A1 Abrams main battle tanks for the Armed Forces of the Republic of Poland was accepted. The sea transport also included three M88A2 HERCULES technical support vehicles.
On May 15, at the 1st Transport Aviation Base, the first five M142 HIMARS multiple rocket launchers for the Armed Forces of the Republic of Poland were accepted. In the second half of the month, two more launchers arrived in Poland.
On January 4, on the premises of the 1st Warsaw Armored Brigade in Wesoła, a contract was signed for the supply of M1A1 Abrams main battle tanks for the Armed Forces of the Republic of Poland.
The subject of the contract concluded with the American side is the delivery of 116 M1A1 Abrams tanks, which will be adapted to the requirements of the Polish Armed Forces, along with accompanying equipment, including 12 M88A2 HERCULES technical support vehicles, eight M1074 Joint Assault Bridges, six M577 command vehicles and 26 NG SECM workshops on the HMMWV chassis, as well as a training and logistics package.
US-made M-1 Abrams tanks and HIMARS rocket launchers in the hold of the ship that transported them to the Polish port of Świnoujście,
where they began unloading on Wednesday. (Polish MoD photo)
The above contract is the first stage of the project, which also includes significant numbers of modern types of combat ammunition, as well as training ammunition, in accordance with the maximum scope of the order approved by the United States Congress. The above orders, including sub-caliber anti-tank ammunition and multi-role programmable ammunition, will be implemented successively, in accordance with the needs of the Polish Armed Forces.
The total value of the contract is approximately USD 1.4 billion net, of which nearly USD 200 million is financed by the American side as part of the aid funds granted to Poland, while deliveries of tanks and other military equipment will start this year and will be completed by the end of 2024.
The logistics package includes a stock of spare and consumable parts and equipment for tank maintenance, as well as mobile container weapons repair workshops and diagnostic devices.
The training package includes comprehensive training for instructors, crews and technical staff.
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On February 13, 2019, a contract worth USD 414 million net was concluded between the governments of the Republic of Poland and the United States of America for the delivery of the first division fire module of Homar multi-launch rocket launchers (DMO WWR Homar) for the Polish Armed Forces.
Since last year, other elements included in the squadron's equipment have been successively delivered, including technical security vehicles, as well as combat assets. According to the contract, the Polish Armed Forces will receive a total of 18 combat launchers and two M142 HIMARS training launchers, along with a supply of GMLRS and ATACMS missiles and training ammunition (LCRRPR), as well as command vehicles and technical support vehicles. The agreement also provides logistical, training and technical support.
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The acquired M1A1 Abrams tanks will become part of the equipment of the 18th Mechanized Division, in addition to the 250 M1A2 SEP v.3 Abrams tanks contracted in April 2022, which were acquired for the amount of USD 4.75 billion along with associated equipment, including 26 M88A2 HERCULES technical support vehicles and 17 M1074 Joint Assault Bridge, as well as a training and logistics package and ammunition supplies.
Deliveries of the M1A2 SEP v.3 tanks are scheduled for 2025-2026, however, whenever possible, the delivery dates of the first vehicles will be accelerated. Moreover, in 2022, based on a separate agreement, the United States Army transferred 28 M1A2 SEP v.2 Abrams tanks to the territory of Poland, along with instructors, to train Polish crews as part of the Abrams Academy, launched at the Land Forces Training Center in Poznań.
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M142 HIMARS rocket launchers will provide the necessary fire support to the Land Forces units by performing deep fire strikes. The system will use rocket ammunition (guided using inertial and satellite navigation systems) capable of precisely hitting targets at distances of several dozen kilometers, using GMLRS ammunition, and in the area of operational operations at distances of up to several hundred kilometers, using ATACMS missiles.
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