The U.S. Army partnered with Lithuanian troops on Tuesday for the Savage Wolf military exercise as a part of Operation Atlantic Resolve.

Soldiers from Company B, 1st Battalion, 68th Armor Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division worked with two Lithuanian platoons for the exercise, according to the Army’s 7th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment.

The exercise — carried out on a range near Rukla, Lithuania — involved members of the U.S. infantry working with a Lithuanian platoon to capture an airfield. The airfield was defended by a U.S. tank platoon alongside the other Lithuanian platoon.

The day prior, on April 3, each company moved into the area and had 12 hours to prepare the offensive and defensive strategies, using maps to rehearse plans.  

The goal of the exercise is to integrate U.S. forces and equipment into Lithuanian defense plans, as well as integrating platoons into the company level with subsequent evaluation of the platoons capabilities.

Army Spc. Curtis Lichter with 3rd platoon, Barbarian Company was in a fire support role in a dismounted element.

"It's unknown territory, everything's new," said Lichter. "You don't get a chance to oversee the area, you're hidden before you hit it. You get your graphics and whatnot, but once you're on the ground, it's your first time. That's nice."

The exercise commenced in the early morning hours, with fog blanketing the range.

A Lithuanian soldier assigned to the Grand Duke Algirdas Mechanized Infantry Battalion steps cautiously through the forest during the combined forces exercise Savage Wolf with U.S. Soldiers on a range outside Rukla, Lithuania, April 4, 2017.

A Lithuanian soldier assigned to the Grand Duke Algirdas Mechanized Infantry Battalion steps cautiously through the forest during the combined forces exercise Savage Wolf with U.S. Soldiers on a range outside Rukla, Lithuania, April 4, 2017.
Photo Credit: Sgt. Shiloh Capers/U.S. Army

"One main advantage in Lithuania and all Baltic countries is the fog," said Lithuanian 1st Lt. Mykolas Rutkauskas, the battalion executive officer for 2nd Company, Grand Duke Algirdas Mechanized Infantry Battalion.

The exercise involved Bradley Fighting Vehicles, Abrams tanks, M113 armored personnel carriers, the portable anti-tank weapon Javelin and .50-caliber machine guns, among other equipment used for the training.

"They are the host nation, we're here under their roof," Lichter said. "It's good that we need to get closer relations to see how they fight and in tandem, show them how we do it."

Savage Wolf ia part of Operation Atlantic Resolve, a NATO program created to demonstrate allied strength in Europe following Russia’s involvement in Ukraine.

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