Tajikistan has finished third in the second division of the Tank Biathlon World Championship 2020, yielding to tank crews from Vietnam, who were first, and Laos, who were second, according to the press center of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation. .
The awarding ceremony for winner of the second division of the Tank Biathlon World Championship 2020 was held at the “Patriot” congress and exhibition center on September 4.
Tank crews from Vietnam have won the right to participate in the next Tank Biathlon World Championship 2021 in the first division.
Recall, four Tajik top tank crews participated in the Tank Biathlon World Championship 2020 that took place at the Alyabino Firing Range in Moscow oblast from August 23 to September 5.
Tajik delegation reportedly was led by Colonel Mahmadali Ashourov, Deputy Commander of Ground Forces of Tajikistan.
The tank biathlon is a mechanized military sport event promoted 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.
Participating tanks drive a three-lap route of 6–10 kilometers. 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 fire at targets shaped like an anti-tank gun and ATGM unit using the turret-mounted heavy machine gun at a distance of 1,200 m. One or more misses leads to an extra penalty lap 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.
The international tank biathlon competition has been held since 2014.
