At the fence: Leeuwarden Air Base [Weapons Instructor Course]

At the moment the Weapons Instructor Course is taking place at Leeuwarden Air Base. Pilots from Denmark, Norway and The Netherlands train to become weapons experts in their F-35 Lightning II jets. 

EOS 5DsR, EF 100-400mm f/3.5-5.6L II USM, ISO 200, 1/1250 sec, f/7.1

I was able to make it to the first phase of the exercise. Denmark deployed five F-35's to Leeuwarden. F-35's from Volkel and based F-35's from Leeuwarden also participated, as did a single MQ-9. On this day, the MQ-9 was the first to take off, followed by the Danish and Dutch F-35's.

EOS 5DsR, 100-400, ISO 200, 1/1000 sec, f/8

EOS 5DsR, 100-400, ISO 200, 1/1250 sec, f/7.1

EOS 5DsR, 100-400, ISO 200, 1/1250 sec, f/6.3

EOS 5DsR, 100-400, ISO 200, 1/1250 sec, f/5.6

EOS 5DsR, 100-400, ISO 200, 1/1250 sec, f/6.3

EOS 5DsR, 100-400, ISO 200, 1/1250 sec, f/6.3

I brought my GFX 100S II and EOS 5DsR to Leeuwarden. It was a sunny day and the flying was good, what more do you want?

EOS 5DsR, 100-400, ISO 200, 1/1250 sec, f/6.3

EOS 5DsR, 100-400, ISO 200, 1/1250 sec, f/6.3

EOS 5DsR, 100-400, ISO 200, 1/1250 sec, f/7.1

EOS 5DsR, 100-400, ISO 200, 1/1250 sec, f/6.3

EOS 5DsR, 100-400, ISO 200, 1/1250 sec, f/6.3

GFX 100S II, 500mm, ISO 200, 1/640 sec, f/6.4

GFX 100S II, 500mm, ISO 200, 1/640 sec, f/9

GFX 100S II, 500mm, ISO 200, 1/640 sec, f/9

GFX 100S II, 500mm, ISO 200, 1/1000 sec, f/8

GFX 100S II, 500mm, ISO 200, 1/640 sec, f/5.6

GFX 100S II, 500mm, ISO 200, 1/640 sec, f/6.4

Click on images to enlarge. 

Achtung Panzer - Remembrance

Today is the 4th of May. Remembrance Day in the Netherlands. So it is perhaps fitting that on this day we talk about a tank that represents the war in Ukraine, a conflict that has been raging for over four years now. No longer headline news but still being fought. Lest we forget.

The T-72 in Groenlo. Fuji GFX 100S II, 45-100mm f/4, Acros film simulation. 

The T-72

The topic of today's Achtung Panzer is the Soviet/Russian T-72 Main Battle Tank (MTB). Introduced in 1973, it was a further development of the T-64 MTB. Around 25,000 units were produced. Our version is a T-72B which entered production in 1985. I understand that this tank was knocked out during the battle for Kyiv in March, 2022. It ran on a French-supplied mine and was disabled.

The tank, together with an Ukrainian ambulance, is a travelling exhibit now in the care of the Vrijheidsmuseum (freedom museum) in Groesbeek. Its first appearance outside of Ukraine was in Berlin, parked in front of the Russian Embassy as a protest against the war. It has since been seen in Amsterdam, Groesbeek and now Groenlo where I caught sight of it.

Fuji GFX 100S II, 45-100mm f/4

Russian markings

The turret is marked MRVSP KN-TN-7455

According to Oryx, the Russians lost 365 T-72B's during the war until May 2026. Confirmed losses, that is.

The turret and fuselage are marked MRVSP KN-TN-7455 in Cyrillic. Anyone for its meaning? Let me know in the comments.

Achtung Panzer - Ede's liberator

The city of Ede in the Netherlands was liberated on April 17th, 1945. To commemorate this fact, a Sherman tank was placed at the outskirts of Ede as a memorial in 1990.

Cougar, shot with a Canon EOS-1 fitted with a 24-105mm f/4L IS USM lens and loaded with Agfaphoto APX 400 black and white film.

The war diary of the OKW (Oberkommandos der Wehrmacht) [Armed forces high command, the supreme German military command and control staff during World War Two] reports on Monday, the 16th of April 1945: "Fortgang der kämpfe um die "Festung Holland"... an der Rheinfront noch Rühe" [progress on the battle of the "Citadel Holland"... quiet on the Rhine front]. In fact, that day the first Canadian tanks of the 1st Canadian Tank Brigade, part of the British 49th 'Polar Bear' Infantry Division roll towards Ede.

In the early evening of the 16th of April, 1945 the 147th Brigade of the 49th Infantry Division is tasked to liberate Ede. The brigade consists of three batallions: The 11th battalion 'The Royal Scots Fusiliers', the 1st battalion 'The Leicestershire Regiment' and the 7th battalion 'The duke of Wellington's Regiment'. The 147th Brigade is supported by the 1st Canadian Tank Brigade and A and C Squadrons, the 11th Regiment 'The Ontario Regiment' and A and C Squadrons of the 14th Regiment 'The Calgary Regiment' are tasked to support the drive towards Ede. Every Squadron consists of twenty Sherman tanks.

Canon EOS-1, 24-105mm f/4L IS USM, Agfa APX 400

Ede is but one of several targets in the Veluwe area and the task of capturing Ede itself is given to the Royal Scots Fusiliers and the supporting Squadrons from the Calgary Regiment. They leave Arnhem at 18:00 hours, C Squadron with their Sherman tanks in the lead. After a few skirmishes they stop at dusk, around 21:00 hours. The advance along the N224 highway to Ede will continue tomorrow.

Fuji GFX 100S II, 45-100mm f/4, Acros film simulation

The next day the war diary of the OKB reports on the British-Canadian actions: "Bei Arnheim erweiterte der gegner seinen Brückenkopf und gelangte über die Strasse nach Appeldoorn [sic]" [The enemy extended their bridgehead at Arnhem and reached Apeldoorn over the (N224) highway]. At 05:00 hours the advance towards Ede continues, again with C Squadron in the lead. At around 06:00 hours a small battle erupts at the Drieberg hill which overlooks the N224. This needs to be taken before the Royal Scots Fusiliers can advance further. After an artillery barrage Shermans from C Squadron roll up the hill and capture two German anti-tank cannons with their crews, members of the 34. SS-Freiwilligen-Grenadier-Division "Landstorm Nederland "[34th SS volunteer Grenadier Division "Landstorm Nederland"], Dutchmen fighting for Germany. After taking the hill the allies advance over the Ginkelse Heide towards the Simon Stevin barracks just outside of Ede. Here they join battle with the 34th SS Division. C Squadron comes into action again, dispatching four Sherman tanks. Two of these are regular Sherman V tanks armed with a 75mm gun, the other two are Sherman IB tanks equipped with a 105mm howitzer gun. In the fighting at and around the barracks the Sherman IB's are in their element. 

After this engagement the tanks advance to Ede. As part of the N224 is blocked the tanks advance via the Arnhemseweg before they reach the N224 again. Now this part of the force splits up, one part follows the Arnhemseweg towards the centre of Ede, the other part follows the N224 before turning towards the centre of town. The first allied Sherman tanks roll into Ede.

Fujifilm GFX 100S II, 45-100mm f/4

It is at this location that we meet our Sherman tank 81 years later. Named Cougar, she looks brand new. She was fully restored in Delft in 2022-2024 and relocated from her old location at the roundabout on the N224 to her current location close by. 

This Sherman tank is displayed in the markings of a tank from C Squadron, 14th Regiment 'The Calgary Regiment'. It represents the tank used by Captain Davies and his crew. Davies and his crew drove a regular Sherman V tank. This tank however is an M4(105) 105mm howitzer equipped version. This tank was built by Chrysler with construction number 57562 and US Army serial number 30104244. The tank was part of the tank fleet of the Royal Dutch Army after the war and was stored at Soesterberg before it was donated to Ede. 

Fujifilm GFX 100S II, 45-100mm f/4

From 1990 to 2022 it was marked as T212125 with the number 13 in a green circle on the turret. It was however discovered that these markings were incorrect and it was decided to change her markings to 31 in a blue circle. It kept serial number T212125 and the name Cougar. Why Cougar? All tanks of C Squadron had a name beginning with a C, hence the choice for Cougar.

Click on the images to enlarge

Port visit: L-400 TCG Anadolu

The Turkish drone carrier TCG Anadolu was anchored in the harbour of Rotterdam this weekend. This was the perfect opportunity to pay the Anadolu a visit and learn more about its aviation assets.

The flight deck of TCG Anadolu

Steadfast Dart 2026

TCG Anadolu had just returned from NATO exercise Steadfast Dart 2026 in the Baltic Sea. With Türkiye in command of NATO's Amphibious Task Force and Landing Force in 2026 and 2027 it contributed four ships to the task force. In addition to TCG Anadolu, the flag ship of the task force, frigates TCG Istanbul and TCG Orucreis and fleet replenishment ship TCG Derya were part of the Turkish contribution.

Anadolu is the biggest ship in the Turkish navy and combines amphibious assault and light carrier functions. Built as a Juan Carlos I class amphibious assault ship it was commissioned in 2023. It is the first ship built from the start to operate a fleet of unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) from its flight deck and as such brought a new element to Steadfast Dart. 

Air Wing

The air wing of the Anadolu consists of four aircraft types. It is centered around the Bayraktar TB-3 Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle (UCAV), of which three operated from the Anadolu. Additional air power comes from three AH-1W Cobra helicopter gunships. Troop transport is handled by three Turkish Army AS.532UL Cougar helicopters and one S-70B Sea Hawk in support of naval operations.

AH-1W on deck

Flight line

Another AH-1W

During my visit two AH-1W Cobras and all three AS.532UL Cougars were on the flight deck. The rest of the fleet was tucked away in the hangar below deck.

A TB-3 in the ship's hangar

Another TB-3

An AH-1W below deck

The third TB-3 of the air wing

The sole S-70B Sea Hawk helicopter

TB-3 operations

The TB-3 made its operational debut during Steadfast Dart 2026. Baytar Technology, the manufacturer of the TB-3, supplied me with a couple of photos for publication. Shown is a TB-3 operating from the deck of Anadolu during Steadfast Dart on February 18th, 2026. Although not my photos, these shots are interesting enough to include them.

Click on photos to enlage.

Achtung Panzer - Breda's Polish tank

Nowadays it is unusual to see a World War Two German tank as a symbol of sacrifice and friendship, but when Polish soldiers presented the Dutch city of Breda with a captured tank in 1945 it was certainly meant as such.

The 'Polish Tank', in fact a German Pz.Kpfw.V Panther Ausf. D with hull number 534 black.

Breda was liberated by the 1st Polish Armoured Division under General Stanisław Maczek, attached to the First Canadian Army, on the 29th of October, 1944. To commemorate this, on the 29th of October, 1945 the 1st Polish Armoured Division presented the city of Breda with a captured German Panther tank. 

Known as the Poolse tank (Polish tank) in Breda this particular Panther tank was 'liberated' from the Krupp testing facility in Meppen, Germany, where it was used as a test vehicle during the war. It is quite a rare find these days, it is the only Panther Ausf. D tank in existence today. 

534 black partly hidden by the trees.

Another shot of 534 black, the only surviving Ausf. D.

This Pz.Kpfw.V Panther Ausf. D has hull number 534 black. Usually, the first digit (5) would mean the 5th company of the 2nd tank battalion (the 1st battalion of a Panzer division would have numbers 1-4, the 2nd numbers 5-8). The second digit (3) would mean the tank is from the 3rd platoon and the third digit (4) would mean the 4th tank within the platoon. But as said, this tank was captured as a test tank in Meppen. Had it seen frontline service before that? Sources differ on this matter. Its manufacturer serial number is KMY 212-583 according to one source. The D model of the Panther tank was the first production model and 842 were built between January and September 1943. 

Dit geschenk van de Polen wordt in de hoede van het publiek aanbevolen

Miastu Breda 1 Pol.Dyw.Panc 29.X.1945.R

There are two plaques on the tank and one sign in front of it. The first plaque reads Miastu Breda 1 Pol.Dyw.Panc 29.X.1945.R (City of Breda 1st Polish Armoured Division 29/10/1945) and was added by the Polish liberators. The second plaque was added by the city of Breda and reads Dit geschenk van de Polen wordt in de hoede van het publiek aanbevolen (This gift from the Poles is given in the care of the people). The same text is also written on the sign in front of the tank.

A good view of the thick frontal armor of 534 black. 

This Panther was given to Breda in full working order. Over the years several bits and bobs were removed by "private collectors" and the tank was in need of a proper restoration in the early 2000s. In exchange for the engine, gear box and the turret engine of 534 black to use in their restoration of Panther 158-134 the Wheatcroft Collection restored the Polish tank in 2003-2004.

Click on the photographs to enlarge