The Exercise “Puma“ as the main training event of for the current rotation, crowned the two-month effort invested by the 2nd HRVCON members into planning and training and showcased successful integration of all components and operational readiness of the Contingent. Five participating forces with 3,100 soldiers, 44 artillery weapons, 272 combat vehicles, 30 helicopters and six fighter aircraft – the impressive statistics on the strength of the U.S- led NATO EFP Battlegroup demonstrated in the Exercise conducted in the ”Bemowo Piskie“ Training Range in  Poland.

“Puma“ was a part of the larger international exercise – “Saber Strike 18“, conducted in multiple locations in the Baltics and in Poland. The objective of the Exercise, conducted by the armed forces of Poland, Romania, the United Kingdom, the United States and Croatia, was  to showcase the joint operational capability of the allied forces to deter enemy attacks. The Croatian Armed Forces were represented by the “Vulkan“ Self-propelled MRL Battery of the Artillery and Rocket Battalion of the Guards Armoured Mechanised Brigade, which tested the individual and joint fire support capabilities. The three-phase Exercise tested the individual and joint fire support capabilities. In the first phase the Croatian Contingent took part in several training events featuring the practice and coordination of  of  key capabilities for the Exercise. The Croatian artillery elements took part in river crossing  deploying a pontoon and an amphibious vehicle, and the forward artillery observers co-ordinated procedures of calling for joint fire support. The alert kicked off the second phase of the Exercise and the main activities. The Croatian Contingent successfully deployed its forces and equipment from the training range to an area ​​80 kilometers away, camouflaged the assets and established local force protection and communication with the higher command. In the second phase they showcased the trainedness in responding to various threats (infantry attack, hybrid warfare, NBC attack etc.). The third phase, lasting for two days, was attended by the Deputy Commander of the USAREUR  Major General Timothy McGuire and the General Commander of the Polish Armed Forces Major General Jarosław Mika, as well as the Croatian Ambassador to the Republic of Poland, H.E. and the Croatian Defence Attache to the Baltic States and the Republic of Poland, Colonel Jugoslav Jozić.

On the first day the Croatian artillery elements showcased the fire power in nighttime conditions, followed by the fire support provided to manoeuvre units of the 15^th Mechanised Brigade of the Polish Armed Forces and to the Battlegroup the next day . The successful conduct of the assignments all units within the Battlegroup demonstrated the required level of readiness and interoperability. The members of the Croatian Armed Forces received commendations from other participating nations.The Commander of the 2^nd HRVCON, Captain Dario Bilješković was proud of the excellent shooting score, the hard work, professionalism and conduct of the Croatian Contingent members. ”We have demonstrated full operational capability and integration with our NATO allies; we have profited from the opportunity to operate jointly with other nations within the Battlegroup and upgraded the trainedness of all components of the Battery and in particular of the forward artillery controllers“. Captain Bilješković also said the Exercise was a success thanks to the cohesion among the Battlegroup units. The Exercise “Puma“ was the main training event for the current rotation, which crowned the two-month effort invested by the 2^nd HRVCON members into planning and training