 Britain prepares for conflict with Putin, hundreds of army vehicles head to Poland. Hundreds of British army vehicles are heading to Poland as NATO forces stage their biggest operation since the Cold War in preparation for a possible conflict with Russia according to the Daily Mail. It is noted that in total around 600 trucks were packed onto two vast cargo vessels at Marchwood Sea mounting centre near Southampton bound for Eastern Europe. Around 1,500 troops will head out to Poland in the coming days as part of NATO's exercise steadfast defender, forming part of a force of 90,000 soldiers from the Alliance who will conduct drills until May. The unparalleled operation comes as it emerged that Vladimir Putin's forces have lost more 3,000 tanks during their illegal war in Ukraine more than their entire pre-war inventory. While Russia has not been explicitly named in reference to the operation, NATO considers it the most significant direct threat to its members' security and peace in Europe. Pictures show armoured support vehicles rolling onto a 23,000-ton cargo vessel as they prepared to sail to Germany before travelling on to Poland for the operation. Vehicles belonging to seven light mechanised brigade, also known as the Desert Rats alongside Land Rover's engineers' tractors and support vehicles were loaded for the journey from Anvil Point near Southampton. The British warship will be at the centre of NATO exercises involving more than 20,000 UK military personnel across Scandinavia and Northern Europe.