Review

Reinforcements for the US units on the German “Frontline“

Tankograd has released another series of images from the military exercises that occurred in Germany after WW2. On this occasion we return to the time just prior to the end of the Vietnam War with REFORGER 74 Certain Pledge, Reinforcements for the US units on the German “Frontline“. If you are not familiar with Tankograd book cover military exercises you need to take a look here as it is sure to impress.

This offering from Tankograd is a duel language offering in German and English, German on the left and English on the right of each page. The caption for each of the images is also provided in  both languages. The written text in this offering is provided over 11 of the 64 pages. The cover of the book is a nice glossy card with gloss paper pages within. The text is provided under the following sub- titles:

New concepts and experience from the Yom Kippur War

Establishment of two new US brigades

Other exercises in West Germany during the autumn 1974

REFORGER 74 Certain Pledge exercise objectives

Training area

REFORGER 74 Schedule

Units taking part in the Certain Pledge field training exercise

Exercise management

Umpire service

Phase 1: from 30 September to 9 October 1974

CONUS-based units at REFORGER 74

Issue of equipment at POMICUS depots and deployment

Phase 2: Corps training exercise Certain Pledge from 10-20 October 1974

Phase 3: Redeployment from 21 October to 22 November 1974

Summary

From 30 September to 22 November 1974, US armed forces conducted a REFORGER manoeuvre for the sixth time. In addition to the REFORGER deployment exercise, the corps exercise Certain Pledge (the field training part) was carried out under the direction of VII (US) Corps in Stuttgart, with the participation of soldiers from American, Canadian and West German armed forces. Based on the scenario of previous REFORGER exercises, “REFORGER VI” also involved practising the reinforcement of American land forces stationed in Germany and NATO. The field training exercise Certain Pledge was a large-scale corps-level event in which 28 combat battalions and 17 artillery battalions took part, with around 45,000 soldiers, 8,000 wheeled and 4,000 tracked vehicles, and around 250 helicopters in the field. Among them were units of 4 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group and, as the only large unit of the Bundeswehr, the reinforced Panzer brigade 30 from Ellwangen.

There was a new concept in play in this exercise which was the idea that whoever won the first battle would ultimately win the War and so units were placed near the zone of conflict for quick deployment. The method was refined using results seen by Israeli experience in the Yom Kippur War and so Artillery and infantry support was placed around armoured forces in order to support each other as needed.

The images in the book are superb considering the age of them. The black & white photographs are excellent in regards the ability to pick out details on the specified subjects. The colour photographs do not suffer the fuzzy quality often seen in images from the 1980’s and so are a great addition here. The subjects of this release cover warriors of the past for the part with Centurion tanks and support vehicles being seen with the M109A1 which had only gone into service in the previous year. The M113 in all its various entities shows its face well here and I was surprised to see so many M551 Sheridan’s going into the fray and finally the M60 is present. There are of course other vehicles within for you to find when reading your way through the title.

This is yet another excellent title from Tankograd covering military exercise in Germany, a subject that has great appeal amongst our membership. Well done Tankograd and may your success continue.