Great expectations and after half a year great satisfaction. This is how we can summarize the 131st Artillery Detachment's performance in the eFP mission in Lithuania. For the first time since World War II, the Artillery Regiment deployed the heavy equipment with which the unit is armed - self-propelled gun howitzers type 77 DANA. The allies were also impressed by the TITUS MKPP (fire support coordination point) vehicles. "Thanks to them, we were able to conduct fire on a target in the data network for the first time, which made our work incredibly fast," says Staff Sergeant Aleš Studecký, who serves with the 13th Artillery Regiment (13th AR).

The 3rd Task Force of the Army of the Czech Republic went to Lithuania, where the main task of the soldiers was to provide fire support to the allies, after a year of careful preparation. "We were all very happy to be able to take our equipment to a foreign operation and, as they say, showcase everything we have been learning, training, and, most importantly, mastering for years. We were looking forward to an international and different environment, to working with foreign partners, and we were also curious about shooting in completely different conditions than we do here," said Staff Sergeant Filip Baranec.

The howitzer driver, Sergeant Tomáš Černý, sees the biggest differences in the terrain and environment where he and his colleagues worked for six months: "In Lithuania, it was all flat land and mainly sand. It took us a while to get used to it, because at home we shoot mainly on the Doupov, where there are hills and clay, hard ground, which we also have tires for. It's easier to get stuck in the sand, but thanks to that we tried self-recovery a few times," he recalls with a smile. Camouflaging the howitzers on sandy terrain and in coniferous vegetation was also different, he says.

Along with several DANA howitzers, which have been in service with the army since the 1980s, the workshop workers carried spare parts with them. "We had to be prepared for any repairs throughout the deployment. The breakdowns and repairs were not too different from those we do at home on exercises, but the weather was different. We arrived in January and were caught in a big frost, which we then had to adapt our work to. However, there were minimal faults," says Sergeant Daniel Mařan, gunnery foreman in the repair platoon. "We cooperated with our foreign colleagues in minor repairs or in providing spare parts. Of course, we are not so familiar with their equipment and they are not so familiar with ours, but the agreement and willingness to help each other was great," Mařan adds.

Czech Artillery Regiment also brought to Lithuania the most modern vehicles that were introduced to the army relatively recently - TITUS in the version of the fire support coordination point. "We have had them with the unit since the second half of 2023 and it was necessary to configure them and train the operators before departure. The vehicles have proven themselves to be excellent - thanks to them, we were able to conduct fire on a target in a data network for the first time, which made our work easier and faster overall," says Staff Sergeant Aleš Studecký, who serves with the regiment as a junior staff member of the communications and information systems staff. In his experience, TITUS vehicles are highly versatile and can be adapted to the needs of the Czech Army as well as to international requirements. "Many times other countries have envied our equipment," Studecký says.

Major Jaromír Evan, commander of the 3rd Task Force, also positively assessed the six-month deployment to the Baltic States, where the 132nd Artillery Regiment is now serving. "It has shown us that even with equipment that has its best years behind it, we are able to accomplish all tasks and be a full partner in the international environment."