# 414 Tank Battalion > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/414_Tank_Battalion > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/414_Tank_Battalion.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/414_Tank_Battalion > Source revision: 1318899668 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) 414 Tank Battalion Panzerbataillon 414 414 Tankbataljon Coat of arms Active Operational Country Netherlands Germany Branch Royal Netherlands Army German Army Type Tank Size around 400 Garrison/HQ Bergen-Lohheide Insignia NATO Map Symbol 414 43 Military unit **414 Tank Battalion** ([German](/source/German_language): *Panzerbataillon 414*; [Dutch](/source/Dutch_language): *414 Tankbataljon*) is a mixed German and Dutch [tank](/source/Main_battle_tank) battalion, consisting of around 100 Dutch and 300 German soldiers.[1] ## History The battalion was founded in 2016,[2] and became fully operational in 2019.[3] Previously the German battalion, part of the [41st Panzergrenadier Brigade](/source/41st_Panzergrenadier_Brigade_(Bundeswehr)) was active from 1991 to 2006 at [Spechtberg](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Spechtberg&action=edit&redlink=1). It was established on the basis of the 22nd and 23rd Panzer Regiments, 9th Panzer Division, of the [Land Forces of the National People's Army](/source/Land_Forces_of_the_National_People's_Army), the former East German Army.[4] On 17 March 2016, the battalion was attached to the Dutch [43rd Mechanized Brigade](/source/43rd_Mechanized_Brigade_(Netherlands)) which is in turn a part of the German [1st Panzer Division](/source/1st_Panzer_Division_(Bundeswehr)).[5] The barracks of 414 Panzerbattalion are in [Bergen-Lohheide](/source/Bergen%2C_Lower_Saxony), [Lower Saxony](/source/Lower_Saxony). It has been described as a step towards a "[European army](/source/European_army)".[3] ## Structure 414 Tank Battalion consists of the following elements:[6] - Staff (German, few Dutch) - 1st staff company (staff and supply, mostly German, few Dutch) - 2nd tank company (German) - 3rd tank company (German) - [4th tank company](/source/Regiment_Huzaren_Prinses_Catharina-Amalia) (Dutch - from [Regiment Huzaren Prinses Catharina-Amalia](/source/Regiment_Huzaren_Prinses_Catharina-Amalia)) - 5th tank company (German and Dutch, reserve)[7] Out of the 100 Dutch soldiers, 72 are tank crew. The other 28 are staff members, maintenance and support crew. Commander since 2022 is Luitenant-kolonel ([Oberstleutnant](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Luitenant-kolonel&action=edit&redlink=1)) Sebastiaan Schillemans (NL) ## Equipment Klietz, Germany, exercise Peacock Supremacy, February 15, 2018. A German Leopard 2 tank and a Dutch [CV9035NL](/source/CV90) from the Dutch 43rd Mechanized Brigade. The battalion's main armament is the [Leopard 2 A6](/source/Leopard_2)MA2 main battle tank. The unit has 49 or 50 tanks of these upgraded MBTs. The tank is modified with the Dutch [battlefield management system](/source/Battlefield_management_system) ELIAS (Essential Land-based Information Application & Services). This was done anticipating the fact that 414 Tank Battalion would join the [Very High Readiness Joint Task Force (VJTF)](/source/NATO_Response_Force#Very_High_Readiness_Joint_Task_Force_(VJTF)) of the [NATO Response Force](/source/NATO_Response_Force) in 2019.[8][9] Additionally the German [C3I](/source/C4ISTAR) *Führungs und Informationssystem des Heeres* and the SEM 80/90 VHF radio system can be installed.[10] The Leopard 2A6MA2s, 50 in total, were upgraded to 2A6MA3 to match the 2A7V standard starting sometime in March-April 2019.[11][12][13] Insignia of previous Panzerbataillon 414 ## References 1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** [Improved Leopards for German-Dutch tank battalion](https://www.defensie.nl/actueel/nieuws/2018/04/12/verbeterde-leopards-voor-duits-nederlandse-pantserbataljon) Dutch Ministry of Defence 1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Fiorenza, Nicholas (18 September 2015). ["Dutch mechanized brigade to be integrated into German panzer division"](https://web.archive.org/web/20160322031908/http://www.janes.com/article/54636/dutch-mechanized-brigade-to-be-integrated-into-german-panzer-division). *[Jane's Defence Weekly](/source/Jane's_Defence_Weekly)*. Archived from [the original](http://www.janes.com/article/54636/dutch-mechanized-brigade-to-be-integrated-into-german-panzer-division) on 22 March 2016. Retrieved 10 November 2016. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-nyt_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-nyt_3-1) Bennhold, Katrin (20 February 2019). ["A European Army? The Germans and Dutch Take a Small Step"](https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/20/world/europe/germany-defense-spending-european-army.html). *The New York Times*. Retrieved 7 May 2020. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Panzerbataillon 414 n.A."](https://web.archive.org/web/20160405144645/http://www.panzerbataillon184.de/pzbtl_414_n_a_.html) *Panzerbataillon184.de* (in German). Archived from [the original](http://www.panzerbataillon184.de/pzbtl_414_n_a_.html) on 5 April 2016. Retrieved 10 November 2016. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["Geschichte"](https://web.archive.org/web/20160701042058/http://www.deutschesheer.de/portal/a/heer/!ut/p/c4/TY3BDoIwEET_aNsiJugNwsWrF8VboZuySWmbZcGE-PHCwcSZ5B3mHUa91N5oV_JWKEUb1FN1A137N4yIDI4wzjILmLw5WsEHQoe8RA_lacJh7Jn8_5pt3JB7K5ZCSLE0pXocHw5hSBHloGAU2unZSmLIiSUcZmHeDZBTnTZto8_6F_Opq-JSdFWl21tzV3ma6i85w6-N/). *German Army official website* (in German). [Bundeswehr](/source/Bundeswehr). 25 August 2016. Archived from [the original](http://www.deutschesheer.de/portal/a/heer/!ut/p/c4/TY3BDoIwEET_aNsiJugNwsWrF8VboZuySWmbZcGE-PHCwcSZ5B3mHUa91N5oV_JWKEUb1FN1A137N4yIDI4wzjILmLw5WsEHQoe8RA_lacJh7Jn8_5pt3JB7K5ZCSLE0pXocHw5hSBHloGAU2unZSmLIiSUcZmHeDZBTnTZto8_6F_Opq-JSdFWl21tzV3ma6i85w6-N/) on 1 July 2016. Retrieved 10 November 2016. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Gliederung"](https://web.archive.org/web/20160322091545/http://www.deutschesheer.de/portal/a/heer/!ut/p/c4/TY27DoMwEAT_yMYElEcHokmZNAnpDD6Zk8zZOg4ioXx8oIiUXWmKnWL1S28lu6C3gpFs0E_d9njp3moAYOUQaJJJlEmrw0X5gOCAZ_KqOIzQDx2j_1-TpRW4s2IxhEiFKfRj_3Cg-kggOwVIcKNnK5FViixhNzPzZhQ63WamqbMy-8V8qlN-zm-lOTbX-q7TOFZfRjSS0A!!). *German Army official website* (in German). [Bundeswehr](/source/Bundeswehr). 25 August 2016. Archived from [the original](http://www.deutschesheer.de/portal/a/heer/!ut/p/c4/TY27DoMwEAT_yMYElEcHokmZNAnpDD6Zk8zZOg4ioXx8oIiUXWmKnWL1S28lu6C3gpFs0E_d9njp3moAYOUQaJJJlEmrw0X5gOCAZ_KqOIzQDx2j_1-TpRW4s2IxhEiFKfRj_3Cg-kggOwVIcKNnK5FViixhNzPzZhQ63WamqbMy-8V8qlN-zm-lOTbX-q7TOFZfRjSS0A!!/) on 22 March 2016. Retrieved 10 November 2016. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["Panzerbataillon 414 in Lohheide"](https://web.archive.org/web/20180614195309/http://www.deutschesheer.de/portal/a/heer/start/dienstst/1pzdiv/gliederung/43mechbrig/gliederung/panzerbataillon414/). 13 March 2018. Archived from [the original](http://www.deutschesheer.de/portal/a/heer/start/dienstst/1pzdiv/gliederung/43mechbrig/gliederung/panzerbataillon414/) on 14 June 2018. Retrieved 14 June 2018. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["Digitale revolutie op rupsbanden"](https://magazines.defensie.nl/defensiekrant/2018/08/01_leopard2_08). *magazines.defensie.nl* (in Dutch). Retrieved 14 June 2018. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["Grote sprong voorwaarts"](https://magazines.defensie.nl/materieelgezien/2018/03/05_leopard). *magazines.defensie.nl* (in Dutch). Retrieved 14 June 2018. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["BW – Kampfpanzer Leopard 2A6MA2"](https://web.archive.org/web/20250326110123/http://tank-masters.de/?page_id=6790). Archived from [the original](http://tank-masters.de/?page_id=6790) on 26 March 2025. Retrieved 26 October 2025. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** Fiorenza, Nicholas (9 April 2019). ["Bundeswehr awards Leopard 2 upgrade contract"](https://www.janes.com/osint-insights/defence-news/bundeswehr-awards-leopard-2-upgrade-contract). *[Janes Information Services](/source/Janes_Information_Services)*. Retrieved 26 October 2025. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** ["Bundeswehr Leopard 2 MBT At 40 ~ Part 5"](https://www.joint-forces.com/features/31402-bundeswehr-leopard-2-mbt-at-40-part-5). *Local Forces News*. 20 April 2020. Retrieved 26 October 2025. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** ["Verbesserungen am Leopard 2 und Geschosse für Panzerhaubitze"](https://www.bmvg.de/de/aktuelles/428-millionen-verbesserung-leopard-2-geschosse-panzerhaubitze-35514) [Improvements to Leopard 2 and projectiles for armored howitzers]. *[Federal Ministry of Defence (Germany)](/source/Federal_Ministry_of_Defence_(Germany))* (in German). 20 March 2019. Retrieved 26 October 2025. --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [414 Tank Battalion](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/414_Tank_Battalion) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/414_Tank_Battalion?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.