The Strong Europe Tank Challenge was an annual, multinational tank platoon competition held from 2016 to 2018 at Grafenwöhr Training Area, Germany, and hosted by the U.S. Army Europe and the German Army. In February 2025 the competition was held again after a 7 year hiatus, although renamed to the U.S. Army Europe and Africa International Tank Challenge.
Description Crews from NATO and non-NATO partners compete in defensive/offensive mounted and dismounted operations. Platoons rotate throughout 12 events with 1,500 possible points in total. The first challenge was held in 2016, with Germany taking first place. The 2017 challenge saw Austria placing first, with Germany and the U.S. taking second and third, respectively.
Results 2016 The 2016 competition was the first SETC competition. Denmark, Germany, Italy, Poland, Slovenia sent one platoon; the United States sent two. The Czech Republic planned to send a platoon, but the unit failed to arrive. No official place list for team behind the third place was published.
PlaceNationUnitTank1stC/ 3. Kompanie, GebirgsPanzerbataillon 8Leopard 2A62nd1/ 1st Squadron, 1st PanserbataljonLeopard 2A5 DK3rd1/ 1st Company, 1st Tank BattalionLeopard 2A54th 1/ 2nd Company, 8th Tank BattalionC1 Ariete5th1/ D Company, 2-7 InfantryM1A2 SEP v26th3/ C Company, 2-7 InfantryM1A2 SEP v27thWolf/ 45th Center for Tracked Combat VehiclesM-84
2017 The second annual competition included three newcomers, Austria, Ukraine and France. Italy, Denmark and Slovenia did not appear. PlaceNationUnitTank1stPanzerbataillon 14Leopard 2A42nd2. Kompanie, Panzerbataillon 203Leopard 2A63rd1st Battalion, 66th Armor Regiment "Iron Knights", 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division (Iron Brigade) M1A2 SEP v24th501e régiment de chars de combat, 3e escadronLeclerc5thT-64BV6thLeopard 2A5
2018 The third annual competition took place from June 3 to the 8th and included two newcomers: Sweden and the United Kingdom.
PlaceNationUnitTankPoints1st3. Kompanie, Panzerbataillon 393Leopard 2A614502ndWartofta Tank Company, Skaraborg RegimentStrv 122 (Leopard 2A5)14113rd KPE/PzB14Leopard 2A413214th1er régiment de chasseurs Leclerc11865th34th Armoured Cavalry Brigade Leopard 2A511516thThe Queen's Royal Hussars (The Queen's Own and Royal Irish)Challenger 211407th2-70 Armor, 2nd Brigade, 1st Infantry DivisionM1A2 SEP v211108th14th Mechanized BrigadeT-84 Oplot950
2025 The fourth competition took place in February 2025, with an American team taking first place. Tank crews from Denmark, Italy, Slovenia and Switzerland also attended the competition.
Gallery
See also Military exercise Canadian Army Trophy Worthington Trophy Tank biathlon
References
External links
Strong Europe Tank Competition 2017 • Video Of All 6 Nations