On Friday, May 8, 2026, the 2026 Sullivan Cup International Best Armor Crew Competition concluded at the U.S. military base Fort Benning in Georgia, home to the United States Army Armor School (USAARMS). Tank crews from the 1st Warsaw Armored Brigade (1. WBPanc.) took 2nd place, ahead of five American teams and one British team, yielding only to one U.S. team.
Image: US Army Maneuver Center of Excellence
The Sullivan Cup was named in honor of retired Gen. Gordon R. Sullivan, who served as a U.S. Army officer for more than 36 years, commanding numerous units and ultimately serving as the 32nd Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army and a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The competition is held in the spring of even-numbered years. This year’s edition ran from April 30 to May 8.
This year, the only team to perform better was the tank crew from the U.S. Army’s 4th Infantry Division at Fort Carson, Colorado, which scored 811 out of 1,000 points, while the Polish team scored 699 points.
Photo: 1st Warsaw Armored Brigade
Third place went to the crew representing the 1st Battalion, 163rd Cavalry Regiment of the U.S. Army from Belgrade, Montana, with 686 points. They were followed by the U.S. Army’s 1st Armored Division from Fort Bliss, Texas (562 points); the U.S. Army’s 3rd Infantry Division from Fort Stewart, Georgia (522 points); the U.S. Army’s 1st Cavalry Division from Fort Hood, Texas (433 points); the British Army team, also with 433 points; and the U.S. Army’s 1st Infantry Division from Fort Riley, Kansas (200 points). All crews competed on M1 Abrams tanks.
Infantry fighting vehicle crews also competed in parallel on M2 Bradley vehicles; interestingly, the Irish team won.
Polish M1A1FEP Abrams tankers made their debut in the competition in 2024, when they took 7th place overall and 2nd among international, non-U.S. teams.
