Tank biathlon

Four T-72B tanks of the participants, 2013
Russian T-72B, 2013
T-80U tanks waltzing at the show, 2013

A tank biathlon is a mechanised military sport developed by the Russian military with some similarities to the winter sport of biathlon. It utilizes the complex training of tank crews including their rough terrain passing skills combined with the ability to provide accurate and rapid fire while performing maneuvers.[1]

Description

One of the shooting targets used in tank biathlon (dimensions in centimeters)

Participating tanks drive a three-lap route of 6–10 km. During the first lap, crews fire at targets positioned at distances of 1,800, 1,700 and 1,500 m. In the second lap, different targets imitating an anti-tank mortar (RPG) squad and an infantry unit are fired upon. These targets are at a distance of 600–700 m, and must be engaged with a 7.62 mm coaxial machine gun. In the third lap the tank crews targets a target shaped like an anti-tank gun and ATGM unit by use of the turret-mounted heavy machine gun at a distance of 1,200 m. One or more misses leads to an extra penalty lap of 500 m long. On the final lap tanks have to go through various terrain obstacles; an obstacle missed or improperly traversed adds 10 seconds to the crew's final timing.

Events

Received an official invitation to the United States in 2013, and unofficial in 2017.[2] In 2014, 41 countries received the invitation.[3]

International Competition, 2013

The first international tank biathlon competition was held at the Alabino proving ground in the Moscow Oblast, on 12–17 August 2013. Four teams took part in the competition: Russia, Armenia, Belarus and Kazakhstan.

Place Team Range 1 Range 2 Range 3 Total time
H P H P H P
1  Russia 1 0 0 0 2 0 23:44
2  Kazakhstan 0 1 1 0 1 2 24:36
3  Belarus 0 0 1 0 2 1 25:25
4  Armenia 0 1 1 0 1 2 29:48

1st Tank Biathlon World Championship, 2014

The 1st Tank Biathlon World Championship took place at the Alabino proving ground on 4–16 August 2014. Out of 41 nations that received invitation to the tournament, 12 sent their representatives. Every competitor (except Teams China and Russia) received a T-72B tank in the biathlon color scheme. Team Russia piloted the newest modification, T-72B3, and Team China brought their own Type 96A.

Russian preliminaries for the event ran in several of military districts of Russia. Each district sent its top crews to compete for the Cup of Russia, and 3 finalists from that event formed the national Team Russia for the World Championship.

Participating nations also held preliminaries on their own, sending 3 top crews and a reserve crew accompanied by maintenance and repair personnel to Russia.

Random selection placed teams under following colors:

Color Team
1  Russia
2  Mongolia
3  Venezuela
4  Kazakhstan
5  Belarus
6  Armenia
7  China
8  Serbia
9  Kyrgyzstan
10  India
11  Angola
12  Kuwait

First legs of the tournament consisted of:

Final

The final competition was a relay race, the top 4 teams fielded all their crews taking turns.

Total time Team
75:14  Russia
80:03  Armenia
90:56  China
94:11  Kazakhstan

2nd Tank Biathlon World Championship, 2015

A Chinese Type 96A at the 2015 tank biathlon

The second event of the series took part on 1–15 August 2015 at the same venue in Alabino. This year the Tank Biathlon was held as a headliner of the 2015 International Army Games that included similar competitions for all things military, from artillery (Masters of Fire) and air force (Aviadarts) to field kitchens.

The athletic stage for the crews was removed from schedule.

Veteran of both previous events, Team Belarus decided to participate in the Army Games "only in the disciplines where we are absolutely ready" and thus didn't apply for the Tank Biathlon (after finishing only 5th last year). Consequently, Belarus won 3 gold, 50 silver and 249 bronze awards and finished 3rd in the total medal score of the Army Games, being surpassed only by Russia and China.

The Nicaragua and Tajikistan national teams joined the event for the first time.

All teams were piloting upgraded T-72B3 tanks, excluding Team China which continued to field its own Type 96A.

List of participants with color scheme:

Color Team
1  Russia
2  Venezuela
3  Armenia
4  Kyrgyzstan
5  Nicaragua
6  Angola
7  China
8  Tajikistan
9  Mongolia
10  Kazakhstan
11  India
12  Serbia
13  Kuwait

1/2 final

Total time Team
73:30  Russia
77:32  China
78:18  Kazakhstan
83:23  Serbia
94:12  India
97:06  Kyrgyzstan
122:24  Tajikistan
DSQ  Armenia

Final

Total time Team
72:09  Russia
79:21  China
84:56  Serbia
86:16  Kazakhstan

3rd Tank Biathlon World Championship, 2016

Took place in Alabino as part of the 2nd International Army Games on 30 July–13 August.[4]

Place Team
1  Russia
2  China
3  Kazakhstan
4  Belarus
5  Serbia
6  India
7  Azerbaijan
8  Mongolia
9  Armenia
10  Kyrgyzstan
11  Angola
12  Iran

Medalist table

Year Gold Silver Bronze
2014  Russia  Armenia  China
2015  Russia  China  Serbia
2016  Russia  China  Kazakhstan

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Сергей Шойгу сделает танковый биатлон новым видом спорта". Vesti.Ru (in Russian). August 10, 2013. Retrieved August 12, 2017.
  2. ↑ Rogoway, Tyler (June 7, 2017). "Russia Challenges U.S. Tankers To Compete In Its Annual "Tank Biathlon"". TheDrive.com. Retrieved August 12, 2017.
  3. ↑ Kramnik, Ilya (May 19, 2016). "Гонка танковых чемпионатов". Defence.Ru (in Russian). Retrieved August 12, 2017.
  4. ↑ Ptichkin, Sergey (August 13, 2016). "Международные армейские игры завершились победой России". Rossiyskaya Gazeta (in Russian). Retrieved August 12, 2017.
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