Reservists from The Royal Wessex Yeomanry teamed up with US counterparts for stateside tank drills as part of an ongoing military exchange programme.
Three crews – a total of 14 troops – trained alongside the 1-163rd Cavalry Regiment, Montana Army Reserve National Guard at Fort Harrison, Helena.
Exercise Wessex Alliance saw the UK personnel live firing the M1A2 Abrams tank – useful experience for their scheduled transition to Challenger 3 in 2027 due to the platforms’ similarities in armament and ammunition. Lt Tom Lyons (RWxY) quipped: “There is really nothing like firing 120 millimetres of pure freedom.” The Americans will cross the pond for more joint training in September.
