Serpo
12th August 2013, 03:39 PM
http://static2.stuff.co.nz/1376337544/060/9034060.jpg
Think of it as a new twist on war games.
The Russian army this week launched the world's first tank biathlon. The event involves Russian-made T-72 tanks racing around a 20-kilometre track trying to hit five firing targets in the competition, which was invented by Russian defence chiefs.
For every miss there was a penalty loop of 500 metres.
Army chiefs were clearly delighted by the new games - so much so that they invited the US Defence Ministry last week to join in the contest.
The chief of Russian army's main department of combat preparation, Lieutenant General Ivan Buvaltsev, said it was not merely a game.
"Spectators who come to visit us can watch not just a show, but a competition between real men on real tanks."
So far, only tanks from four countries, including the former Soviet republics of Armenia and Kazakhstan, have taken part in the competition.
- Reuters
vid...............http://www.stuff.co.nz/oddstuff/9034040/Its-like-athletics-for-army-tanks/
Think of it as a new twist on war games.
The Russian army this week launched the world's first tank biathlon. The event involves Russian-made T-72 tanks racing around a 20-kilometre track trying to hit five firing targets in the competition, which was invented by Russian defence chiefs.
For every miss there was a penalty loop of 500 metres.
Army chiefs were clearly delighted by the new games - so much so that they invited the US Defence Ministry last week to join in the contest.
The chief of Russian army's main department of combat preparation, Lieutenant General Ivan Buvaltsev, said it was not merely a game.
"Spectators who come to visit us can watch not just a show, but a competition between real men on real tanks."
So far, only tanks from four countries, including the former Soviet republics of Armenia and Kazakhstan, have taken part in the competition.
- Reuters
vid...............http://www.stuff.co.nz/oddstuff/9034040/Its-like-athletics-for-army-tanks/