EUBG 2014 II or EUBG 2014-2 is an EU Battlegroup consisting of around 3,000 troops from Belgium, Germany, Luxembourg, Spain, the Netherlands and North Macedonia. It was on standby from 1 July until 31 December 2014.[2][3]
| EUBG 2014 II EUBG 2014-2 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Active | 1 July 2014 – 31 December 2014 |
| Country |  Belgium Germany Netherlands Luxembourg Spain North Macedonia |
| Allegiance |  European Union |
| Branch | EU Battlegroup |
| Size | Estimates vary: 2,500;[1] 3,000;[2] 3,500;[3] 3,700.[4] |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander | Colonel Philippe Boucké[5] |
Composition and equipment
editEUBG 2014 II included approximately 745 Dutch soldiers:[2]
- 14 CV90s with 220 infantry troops;
- 14 Bushmasters with 180 Airmobile Brigade troops;
- 2 Helicopter detachments (Chinooks) with 180 troops;
- 65 members of staff for the Belgian Force Headquarters and Infantry Task Force;
- 100 National Support Element detachment (logistics and field medics).
Belgium provided most troops: 1,800 soldiers.[1] It formed a binational Infantry Task Force with the Netherlands, consisting of 4 infantry combat units. The 2 Dutch units were one heavy infantry company and one air-assault company; the 2 Belgian units were one light infantry company on Dingo 2s and a company of Piranha IIICs with DF90 (Direct Fire capability 90mm cannon).[5][4] The Belgian helicopter group consisted of 6 Agusta 109s.[5]
Germany provided CH-53 “Stallion” transport helicopters.[5]
Spain provided field artillery (155mm cannon[4]), a Signal Intelligence (SIGINT) unit and an air-defence platoon.[5] There was also a team of Belgian and Spanish engineers, and psy ops capabilities.[4]
Luxembourg provided a reconnaissance company.[5]
North Macedonia was an exceptional participant, as the country was, at the time neither an EU nor NATO member.[1]
Exercises
edit
In late February 2014, EUBG 2014 II held an exercise codenamed "Rampant Lion" in Grafenwöhr, Germany.[5][4] In June 2014, EUBG 2014 II conducted a training exercise in the Ardennes, codenamed "Quick Lion", to prevent ethnic violence between the "Greys" and the "Whites" in the imaginary country of "Blueland".[6][1]
References
edit- ^ a b c d "3.000 Europese militairen oefenen in Wallonië". Het Laatste Nieuws (in Dutch). 4 June 2014. Retrieved 8 July 2015.
- ^ a b c "Infographic EU-Battlegroup en Nederlandse deelname". Defensie.nl (in Dutch). Ministry of Defence of the Netherlands. 27 June 2014. Retrieved 8 July 2015.
- ^ a b "EUBG". Mil.be (in Dutch). Ministry of Defence of Belgium. 2014. Retrieved 8 July 2015.
- ^ a b c d e Alain Servaes (10 March 2014). "EUBG European Union Battle Group live firing training exercises training camp Grafenwoehr Germany". Army Recognition. Defense & Security News Web TV. Retrieved 8 July 2015.
- ^ a b c d e f g "European Union Battle Group led by Belgian army trains in Germany to prepare EU certification". Army Recognition website. 28 February 2014. Retrieved 8 July 2015.
- ^ Roland Duong & Teun van de Keuken (15 September 2014). "De Slag om Europa: Een Europees leger". De slag om Europa (in Dutch). NPO. Retrieved 7 July 2015.