Frag Out! Magazine
Issue link: https://fragout.uberflip.com/i/713424
was officially presented at the Eurosatory 2014 expo. Bundeswehr participated in tests of the new armored vehicle for several years. Germans adopted an approach that they will, first of all, thoroughly check the vehicle and develop the tactics concerning its usage, norms of exploita- tion, and procedures of soldier training before the vehicle will be introduced to the line. That approach will help avoid a negative surprise when a larger number of Pumas will become a part of the troops. The vehicle will not require improvements that could postpone the com- pletion of the full combat capacity. That is why the first military user, already in relation to the implementation batch of the new armored vehicle, was the special training center of ar- mored troops Ausbildungszentrum in Munster (AusbZ Munster). The town is also the location of the 9th Panzerlehrbrigade HQ, the part of which is the 92nd training battalion of armored grenadiers, so the training battalion of mecha- nized infantry. That sub-unit also participated in the extensive tests of vehicles, including elaboration of tactics concerning their use on a battlefield. The final formal approval for the use of vehicles by Bundeswehr was issued on 13th April 2015. According to the plan, the first sub-unit facilitated with Pumas will be the 33rd battalion of panzer grenadiers from Neustadt. It was established in 2015 on the basis of the 33rd training panzer battalion, which was fa- cilitated with Leopard 2 tanks. Currently, the battalion of panzer grenadiers assumes three companies of mechanized infantry, each with 14 infantry fighting vehicles and two additional vehicles in the commanding company. It gives 44 vehicles in total. Deliveries of Pumas are to be completed in 2020. The structural form and surviva- bility Puma presents a classic layout typical for in- fantry fighting vehicles. The front part of the hull is taken by the drive compartment. Behind it, there is space forming the combat-assault www.fragoutmag.com