Major NATO exercise Saber Junction 25” draws 3,720 soldiers to the Upper Palatinate

Major NATO exercise Saber Junction 25” draws 3,720 soldiers to the Upper Palatinate

Things get really lively in Upper Palatinate from August 21st to September 21st. The reason? The major NATO exercise “Saber Junction 25”, organized by the 7th Army Training Command from Grafenwöhr, brings into play an international contingent of 3,720 soldiers from the USA, Germany, Great Britain and the Netherlands. Seven districts are particularly affected, with a focus on the Amberg-Sulzbach district. Not only do many soldiers come together here, but also an impressive amount of military equipment.

There are 1,200 wheeled and tracked vehicles and 21 helicopters, with the movements of the troops being placed under the watchful eye of artillery units. The area affected by the maneuver extends over 21 municipalities, including Ammerthal, Auerbach, Birgland and many more. Convoy traffic and changing positions are to be expected throughout the entire period, which means that the civilian population should be prepared for a high level of traffic and noise pollution.

Relocations and tactical operations

The tactical relocation, which takes place from August 21st to 30th, is particularly exciting. Here troops move from Grafenwöhr to Hohenfels. The British contingent consists of around 100 soldiers who use light artillery east of Hohenfels. The Dutch armed forces are even bringing around 600 soldiers with Leopard 2 tanks, which will travel between the Parsberg loading station and Hohenfels using 118 wheeled vehicles.

The Bundeswehr will be active in the area west of Hohenfels with its “Marder” tracked vehicles. After the transfer, between 600 and 900 soldiers will continue to be present in the open area. Along with this, all-day helicopter operations are to be expected, which can be noticeable both during the day and at night.

Current situation and further exercises

The “Saber Junction 25” exercise is not the only one currently taking place in the region. The Bundeswehr, the US Army and NATO are currently practicing around the Grafenwöhr military training area. There have already been various exercises in recent weeks, such as an exemption for firing times from July 21st to August 2nd, which allowed the US military to practice with large-caliber weapon systems outside of regular times. Shooting hours are scheduled from 8 a.m. to 1:30 a.m. in August, while ammunition under 20 millimeters can be used around the clock. This can also lead to increased noise during the exercises, which residents in the area will certainly notice.

In addition, there was recently the Dutch exercise “301 Mayhem” from August 4th to 8th, in which 43 soldiers, 12 wheeled vehicles and 5 helicopters were deployed. Some of the helicopter reconnaissance flights took place at night and had to adapt to the changeable weather.

It is important for the affected communities to be informed about the upcoming exercises. The local authorities therefore recommend that you contact the federal damage control agency if damage occurs during the exercises.

In summary, the Upper Palatinate will be the scene of intense military activity in the next few weeks. Residents should prepare for changes, and whether in daily life or noise levels, the Saber Junction 25 era will certainly not go unnoticed. For more detailed information on the activities and the maneuver, interested citizens can view the expanded reporting on the websites of Oberpfalz Aktuell and NN.