US Military in Poland receives 100 Bradley IFV variants

The US Army Field Support Brigade (AFSBn) Poland delivered 100 Bradleys from prepositioned stocks in Germany to soldiers from the 1st Armoured Brigade Combat Team (ABCT) in Poland and Lithuania between 20-31 May 2024.

The move was conducted to provide troops with advanced equipment during their 9-month rotation in Europe, and to support the army’s broader modernisation efforts.

The Bradleys were drawn from the Army’s Prepositioned Stocks-2 (APS-2) worksites in Mannheim, Germany. A release from the AFSB states that plans are ahead to move all Mannheim-based resources to a newly completed facility in Powidz, Poland, as part of a regional realignment strategy.  

APS-2 had previously received 120 Bradleys in September 2023, after divesting another division, 2nd ABCT’s 1st Cavalry division (1st Cav), in anticipation of its rotation out of Europe. 

The two Bradley variants delivered to the 1st Cav include the M2A3 Infantry fighting vehicle, capable of carrying six infantry, and the M3A3 Cavalry fighting vehicle, which is designed to carry two scouts and additional ammunition and communications equipment. 

“We worked long hours, six to seven days a week getting these Bradleys ready,” said Maj. Steven Waugh, the support operations officer at AFSBn-Poland, “and the Cav soldiers said they are the best Bradleys they’ve ever used.”

Bradley armoured fighting vehicles are manufactured by BAE Systems Land & Armaments. Their intended battlefield roles cover infantry transport, providing covering fires for dismounted troops, and suppressing armoured platforms including opposing tanks and fighting vehicles. The main armament is an ATK Ammunition Systems 25mm M242 Bushmaster chain gun. 

After 1st ABCT 1st Cav completes its rotation in support of US operations Europe and Africa, it will redeploy to Fort Cavazos, Texas, where the division will receive the newest M4A2 variant of the Bradley.