Training in Germany has made for more confident and proficient Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) Armoured soldiers, not just because of the ample training space available, but also the wealth of experience gained from training with the German forces.

When the first Exercise Panzer Strike was held in 2009 in the NATO-Bergen training area of northern Germany, the SAF troops training there used Leopard 2A4 Main Battle Tanks (MBTs). Then, the soldiers of 48th Battalion, Singapore Armoured Regiment's (48 SAR's) 1st Company earned the honour of being the SAF s first operationally-ready Leopard Company when they executed battle manoeuvres with the 55-tonne tanks and fired 120mm rounds at their targets.

Four years later, Exercise Panzer Strike has grown in scale and complexity. From an average of about 200 Armoured personnel participants a year, the number of troops and assets involved in the annual exercise jumped to more than 1,300 Armoured personnel, 14 Leopard 2SG MBTs and 11 Bionix I Infantry Fighting Vehicles (IFVs). This is also the first year that Bionix I IFVs are involved in the exercise.

Immense benefits

Brigadier-General (BG) Siew Kum Wong, Chief Armour Officer and this year's Exercise Director, said the milestones achieved at Exercise Panzer Strike over the last five years have provided the SAF Armour with a big leap in capability. Noting that the SAF had started from scratch in this area, he said: "We have operationalised our MBTs and, at the same time, built up a very strong rapport with the German Army."

Training overseas in places such as the NATO-Bergen training area allows Armoured troops to practise drills and manoeuvres that are not possible in land-scarce Singapore.

The wide expanse of land there - where live-firing ranges provide three times the maximum firing distance of ranges in Singapore - allows SAF troops to fire at targets up to 3km away, compared to Singapore s maximum training range of 800m.

Also, while the Leopards typically move in columns in Singapore, they can practise formations such as "bounding-over-watch" in the much larger German training area. This means that while a tank is advancing, another tank covers its back - a move that requires multiple firing lanes.

Another benefit is the target system that the NATO-Bergen firing ranges offer. SAF troops get to practise shooting at moving targets while on the move, which increases battlefield realism as it trains them to communicate and coordinate their movements in detail.

Aside from these tangible benefits, BG Siew said that the opportunities to train together with the German armed forces had helped the SAF Armour improve much faster.

"We have a constant high reference point to pitch our competencies against and learn from each time we have a bilateral exercise with them.

"After the three weeks that the typical soldier spends here, he would walk away with a higher level of confidence in the combat systems and in his ability to work in a team as part of the platoon and company They would have realised that they can manoeuvre as aggressively, fire as accurately and as far, and fight as competently as any other professional Armoured force," he said.

Greater confidence

This year's exercise saw 48 SAR achieving yet another milestone with the SAF's first Leopard night live-firing using the Armour Live Fire System (ALFS) - a set of qualification exercises that prepares troops for the live-firing exercise.

Major (MAJ) Lim Han Yong, the Commanding Officer (CO) of the battalion, explained that with the ALFS, tank crews no longer need to conduct rehearsals during the day using blanks. Instead, they undergo a series of preparation exercises and qualification phases before the night live-firing - activities similar to what they would do when preparing for real operations.

This enhanced training realism and operational effectiveness helped troops to sharpen their gunnery competencies and confidence in operating and firing at night, added MAJ Lim.

"It's a good step towards subsequent training in the next few years as it's a progressive approach towards including more night live firings up to the platoon level and beyond."

For Lance Corporal (LCP) Jayme Lim, this year s Exercise Panzer Strike was the first time he set foot in Europe. Not only did the gunner from 48 SAR s platoon 5 leave with a great experience, he also left with a haul of awards, which included an individual award for Best Gunner and a group award for being part of the best crew during the three-week exercise.

"After firing the 120mm round, I really felt the power of the gun and its recoil... As the exercise went on, I became more used to it and was more confident about firing," he said.

2nd Lieutenant (2LT) Ryan Goh, who was the 2nd-In-Charge of 48 SAR's platoon 6, saw the confidence of the men in his platoon grow with each live-firing experience. "(At first) my loader was scared of the recoil path; my gunner was not sure if he could shoot and wanted to confirm if the order to fire was given.

"But now, once the order to fire is given, all they are thinking about is whether they can engage fast and whether they can kill the enemy. We are a lot more confident operating as a team and as a platoon."

Increased training complexity

In another first, 158 Armoured Infantry (AI) troops, who operate the Bionix I IFVs, trained at Exercise Panzer Strike this year. Led by Wing Commander Master Warrant Officer (MWO) Lim Siang Yam, the group comprised instructors and 3rd Sergeants (3SGs) who had recently graduated from the 05/12 Specialist Cadet Course. The Armoured specialists capped their training with a live-firing exercise.

Besides firing at both the section and platoon levels, the trainees also practised firing at the tactical team level. The increased complexity of the training helped the specialists to better understand their roles as junior warfighters and leaders, said MWO Lim.

Before he came for this exercise, AI trainee 3SG Joel Oh had a checklist of goals he wanted to accomplish: to be a confident vehicle commander, to operate the Bionix I IFV effectively, and to fire live rounds from the 25mm Bushmaster cannon accurately so that he could share the experience with the men he would lead in future.

All the AI trainees had the opportunity to try their hand at being a vehicle commander, trooper, gunner and driver during the exercise. 3SG Oh achieved all his goals and said that the experience had enhanced his weapon-handling skills. "In Sungei Gedong camp, we fire on the simulators so it's not so realistic. Here, we get to fire live rounds."

When asked how it felt when he shot the targets down, the 22-year-old said: "Shiok (incredible)!"

Armour Live Fire System

Implemented in 2010, the Armour Live Fire System consists of five qualification phases.

Dr Ng stepping into the shoes of a tank commander for a ride in the Leopard 2SG MBT. He is accompanied by LTA Lee.

Dr Ng visits troops at Exercise Panzer Strike

As part of his introductory visit to Germany, Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen visited Exercise Panzer Strike on 23 Apr. He was accompanied by Permanent Secretary (Defence Development) Chan Yeng Kit and State Secretary of the German Federal Ministry of Defence Mr R diger Wolf.

"The German Army has a very strong and rich tradition of tank tactics and it's very useful to learn from them," said Dr Ng after observing the bilateral live-firing exercise.

He added that the Singapore Armed Forces is also looking at more opportunities to interact with the German Army.

Read Dr Ng's thoughts about his visit to Exercise Panzer Strike at mindef.sg/dm24apr13.

"This is quite crucial training ground for us and (we have to) optimise these precious training resources.

(After training at Exercise Panzer Strike, the participants) are very confident that they can fire accurately on the move. That s something that cannot be taken away from them."
- Dr Ng