First unit with RCH 155

Russia's war of aggression has fundamentally changed the security situation in Europe – including for Tank Brigade 21. Since 2022, no two years have been the same: support for the training of Ukrainian armed forces, reorganisation into the first brigade of medium forces and numerous deployments to Lithuania have shaped the picture.

Now the next significant step has followed: Artillery Battalion 215 was officially established in Augustdorf – a milestone in the brigade's further development. "The reorganisation of a unit is undoubtedly a very significant event and an expression of the changing times.

As the first brigade of the Medium Forces, we are very pleased to soon be able to rely on artillery support from our own ranks," explained Brigadier General Marco Eggert, commander of Tank Brigade 21, during the formation ceremony in Augustdorf. The new troop flag of Artillery Battalion 215 was unveiled for the first time at the ceremonial parade, marking the unit's entry into service. “With the highly mobile wheeled howitzers and modern unmanned weapons, the brigade gains the ability to engage targets deep in enemy territory – flexibly, precisely and organically anchored in our structure,” explains Eggert. Until now, such fire support was only possible via higher-level artillery units.
With the formation, Lieutenant Colonel Fabian Kolbe takes command of the new unit. Together with his 26-member formation staff, he is now taking up his duties. “We will lay the groundwork, formulate principles of engagement, and test procedures – so that our successors can take over a battalion that is ready for action. The goal is to have a well-coordinated and well-trained force even before the new weapon system is introduced,” Kolbe emphasized in his speech at the reception that followed.

The designation “215” deliberately ties in with a rich tradition: From 1958 to 2015, Tank Artillery Battalion 215 was stationed at the Generalfeldmarschall-Rommel Barracks in Augustdorf – once the backbone of the brigade's steep-angle fire support. The re-assignment of the designation serves to preserve tradition, but the new battalion follows a completely new tactical approach.

“In line with our focus on medium forces, we are relying entirely on wheeled mobility and unmanned systems. The new Artillery Battalion 215 will be equipped with the RCH 155 wheeled howitzer, among other things,” said Eggert.
With this system, the unit fits seamlessly into the brigade's mobile combat operations. In the future, the wheeled howitzer's capabilities will be supplemented by modern unmanned aerial weapon systems that can be deployed flexibly in combat – another building block in the technology-open capability development of the medium forces.