Task Force White Eagle

Task Force White Eagle (in Polish referred as Polskie Siły Zadaniowe (Polish Task Force)) is a brigade sized detachment of Polish Land Forces in Ghazni Province, Afghanistan. The brigade is under the command of the US 1st Cavalry Division.

Structures

Polish soldiers of Battle Group B in Afghanistan guarding Highway 1 connecting Kabul and Kandahar.

The brigade is divided into two major elements. The kinetic element consists of units that are going into direct contact with the enemy and the non-kinetic element consists of support and logistic units.

• Kinetic elements
  • Battle Group A (battalion sized) - FOB Ghazni, FB Four Corners
    • 1st Mechanized Infantry Company (five infantry platoons)
    • 2nd Mechanized Infantry Company (five infantry platoons)
    • Logistic Company
    • Engineering Group
  • Battle Group B (battalion sized) - FOB Warrior, FB Giro, COP Qarabagh
    • 1st Mechanized Infantry Company (five infantry platoons)
    • 2nd Mechanized Infantry Company (five infantry platoons)
    • Logistic Company
    • Engineering Group
  • Special Operations Group - FOB Ghazni (JW Komandosów TF50, JW Grom TF49)
  • Reconnaissance Group - COP Ajiristan
  • Independent Air Group - FOB Ghazni

Polish Army Cougars on Operation Passage

• Non-kinetic elements
  • Psychological Operations Group
  • Civil-Military Co-operation Group
    • 1st Tactical Support Group
    • 2nd Tactical Support Group
  • Operational Mentoring & Liaison Team no 1 (3rd Brigade, 203rd Corps ANA)
  • Operational Mentoring & Liaison Team no 2 (1st battalion, 3rd Brigade, 203rd Corps ANA)
  • Operational Mentoring & Liaison Team no 3 (2nd battalion, 3rd Brigade, 203rd Corps ANA)
  • Provincial Reconstruction Team Ghazni (USA/POL)
  • Agriculture Development Team Ghazni (USA)
  • Medical Support Group - FOB Ghazni
  • National Support Element - FOB Ghazni
    • Detached Logistic Support Group
  • Forward Surgical Teams (USA) - FOB Ghazni

Size

Turn	Time frame	Commander	Unit	Number of Soldiers
IV	30 October 2008 - 29 April 2009	płk Rajmund Andrzejczak	12th Mechanized Division	~1650 (POL ~1500, USA ~150)
V	29 April 2009 - 26 October 2009	płk Rajmund Andrzejczak	6th Air Assault Brigade	~2070 (POL ~1930, USA ~150)
VI	26 October 2009 - April 2010	Brig Gen Janusz Bronowicz	21st Tatra Highlanders Brigade	~2150 (POL ~2000, USA ~150)
VII	April 2010 - October 2010		10th Armored Cavalry Brigade
VIII	October 2010 - April 2011		17th Mechanized Brigade	~~3700 (POL ~2600, USA ~1100)

Equipment

Polish soldiers of CIMIC Group July 2008

The basic combat vehicle of Battle Groups is KTO Rosomak in various variants. Rosomak is complemented by Cougar H (MRAP) and HMMWV leased from the USA. Lightly armored HMMWVs are used only in situations that exclude use of heavier vehicles. Fire support is provided by 98mm M-98 mortars and 152mm Dana howitzers. Air support is provided by Independent Air Group using Mi-17 and Mi-24 helicopters as well as UAVs.

References