We salute the soldiers who named their tank 'Big Man Blastoise'

Add it to the list: There’s another good tank name.

This time, it’s an M1A2 Abrams tank called“Big Man Blastoise.” The Abrams is named for a short rap song referencing the large water-type Pokémon Blastoise, was spotted in a Defense Visual Information Distribution Service photo. The Abrams, assigned to Bravo Company, 2nd Battalion, 37th Armor Regiment, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, sports the rap song and meme’s name stenciled across the barrel. It was one of several tanks training late last month near Boleslawiec, Poland.

It’s not clear why the soldiers decided to name their Abrams that, but the name comes from a 2023 meme song by Genwunner that, well, celebrates the Pokémon. As the lyrics note, it is a big Pokémon, which sports two water cannons on its back. Beyond one verse, the lyrics are just the hook of “Big Man Blastoise” over and over at the beginning and the end.

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2nd Battalion, 37th Armor Regiment is currently in Poland on a nine-month rotation, in support of the ongoing American mission working with NATO partners in central and eastern Europe. The soldiers deployed shortly after the start of the year, following a rotation at the National Training Center in California in late 2025.

“Big Man Blastoise” is the latest in the many excellent tanks names spotted in the Army over the years. Those include “Divine Intervention,” “ASVAP Waiver” and “Bye Felicia.” This one is much more Internet-meme focused.

Since 2022, the United States has rotated additional troops into central and eastern Europe under Operation Atlantic Resolve. Poland, home to a U.S. Garrison, has been a major focus of operations and seen soldiers train extensively with NATO partners. The number of forces in Europe for that operation has drawn down somewhat since the beginning of 2025.

U.S. Soldiers from Alpha Company, 2nd Battalion, 37th Armor Regiment, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, transition to offensive fighting maneuvers using the main cannon while advancing on the objective, near Boleslawiec, Poland, July 23, 2026. U.S. Army V Corps, headquartered in Fort Knox, Kentucky, is the Army’s only forward-deployed corps in Europe, providing command and control of rotational forces in support of NATO allies and partners. V Corps enhances regional security, strengthens interoperability, and supports deterrence efforts across the European theater. (U.S. Army Reserve photo by Staff Sgt. Logan Ubaldo Lechuga) — A tank from Alpha Company, 2nd Battalion, 37th Armor Regiment, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division fires its main cannon near Boleslawiec, Poland. Army Reserve photo by Staff Sgt. Logan Ubaldo Lechuga.

In May of this year, some of those rotations were canceled, as the Trump administration clashed with European leaders over the war with Iran. Two planned deployments, including one of nearly 4,000 soldiers from 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division were suddenly canceled, even as some were already on the ground. In July, Poland’s defense minister said that “paused” deployments was resuming.

Last week, the Department of Defense launched a planned six-month review of its military presence in Europe. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced the review in June in a meeting with his NATO counterparts. The review could lead to changes in the size of the deployments to the continent and where troops are sent.