Operation UNIFIER’s Leopard Training Element successfully completes its task

November 1, 2023 – Defence Stories

By: Major Christopher Daniel, Senior Public Affairs Officer, Joint Task Force-Ukraine

Operation UNIFIER’s Leopard Training Element (LTE) wrapped up its efforts in the southwest of Poland on October 31, 2023 as it successfully completed its task of training Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) tank crews to operate the Leopard 2A4 Main Battle Tank (MBT) in battle.

“We are proud of the Leopard Training Element’s accomplishments during its deployment to Poland. Its members’ professionalism and dedication produced outstanding tank crews to fight in Ukraine’s war against the Russian Federation’s illegal and unprovoked invasion of its sovereign territory,” said Lieutenant-Colonel (LCol) James Boddy, Commander Joint Task Force-Ukraine. “Our instructors integrated new information from the front lines into our training to ensure it met the Armed Forces of Ukraine’s evolving needs on the battlefield.”

Operation UNIFIER’s training constantly evolves to ensure it remains relevant and effective. This ensures the CAF remains a value-added training provider by preparing the AFU’s personnel to the highest levels within the timeframe of each course.

“Although Canada is no longer delivering Leopard training, Op UNIFIER remains committed to training AFU personnel on basic infantry skills, combat engineering, life-saving combat medicine, staff planning, instructor training and more. These efforts, in combination with the  over $1.6 billion in lethal and non-lethal aid Canada has donated Ukraine, will help AFU defend Ukraine’s independence,” said LCol Boddy.

From February to October 2023, the LTE saw three monthrotations of personnel from Lord Strathcona’s Horse (Royal Canadians) and The Royal Canadian Dragoons C Squadron deploy to Poland to deliver tank training. They worked closely with Polish and Norwegian counterparts to deliver training specifically designed by the AFU General Staff. The LTE’s personnel trained Ukrainian tankers on all four positions within the Leopard 2A4 MBT. This includes sharing best practices and techniques to effectively operate the tank as a driver, a loader, a gunner, and a crew commander. They trained approximately 190 Ukrainian tankers during the LTE’s three rotations.

“The training we provided created fully trained crews of four needed for the operation of a Leopard 2A4 MBT,” said Lieutenant (Lt) Adam Paulhus, the LTE Commander and an armoured officer from The Royal Canadian Dragoons’ C Squadron. “Drivers learned maintenance skills and practices driving the sixty-ton tanks, while their three crewmates learned gunnery skills, moving from theory of armoured gunnery to practicing drills and conducting simulator engagements before confirming their abilities on a live range. By the end of the training, each crew was a fully-formed team capable of working seamlessly together and with their tank.”

The Ukrainian trainees were highly motivated and approached the training with a lot of excellent questions to make their Leopards perform better on the frontlines.

“I’m so impressed by the armoured training here in Poland,” said a Ukrainian trainee who identified himself as “The Smith.” “The training is extremely effective and the instructors are real masters of their profession. Everything that they taught us is necessary and we will use it in combat. The CAF instructors are very professional, good people who wanted to teach us.”

Sharing his key takeaway, Lt Paulhus said, “What I would bring home to my squadron is that a crew can never know too much about maintaining their tank. On the battlefield, tankers have to know as much as the best maintainers to keep them and their tank moving.”