The last exercise with a so-called ‘bridge strike’ took place five years ago. Several units have to work together and, moreover, an entire battalion has to be deployed. This time it is 45 Mechanized Infantry Battalion of the 43 Mechanized Brigade from Havelte.
It is also quite difficult to organize in the Netherlands. It is not possible to close off part of the Meuse or the Rhine for hours. According to Defense, there are too many economic interests at play for that. In the east of Germany it is easier. Only pleasure boats pass by the Havel at the training area.
A lot has changed in recent years. Mainly since the invasion of Crimea in 2014, eyes have turned back to Russia. Where Defense previously put a lot of energy into the enemy in the Middle East, that enemy has now come closer. “The world has been changing for some time now,” explains Brigadier General of 43 Mechanized Brigade, Roland de Jong. The mission in Afghanistan was directed against the Taliban and had to bring security there. That is different from an equal opponent. The Taliban worked with improvised means where, if we look now, the Soviet Union has really high-tech equipment.”
Is the brigade ready for an equal opponent? “The basics are in order. Only specifically for that training and complicated combat operations, we had to take a good look at that, because that has gone backwards in recent years. Simply because there was simply no time for it.”
