Preparation for “Tank Biathlon”
Thursday, 4.7.2019 | Training
Minister of Defence Aleksandar Vulin and Chief of General Staff of the Serbian Armed Forces General Milan Mojsilović attended the final phase of preparation of tank crews of the Serbian Armed Forces held on Pasuljanske livade, for the participation in the 6th International Military Games in Russia and fort the competition in “Tank Biathlon” event.
After the demonstration, Minister Vulin stated that he was pleased with the seriousness and dedication showed by Serbian tankmen and that he hoped that they would achieve better results this year at military games than in the previous years.
– The Serbian Armed Forces have to and can match the best armed forces of the world. Sometimes our equipment is outdated, but the quality of our men cannot fall behind the others at any cost. At the “Alabin” we will show the progress which we have made, what we have learnt and prove once again that there is something to be learnt from us as well. All the members of the Serbian Armed Forces are very proud of their competitors and we are very grateful for every opportunity where we can compete with the best in the world and show that we belong among the best – Minister Vulin said.
The seventh in the row “Tank Biathlon”, which will open the International Military Games, is going to be held from 3rd to 17th August at the training area “Alabino” in Moscow district in the Russian Federation.
Nine tank crews have been practicing for the competition in the Russian Federation, but the evaluation and selection of the best four (three competing and one reserve) that will represent the Serbian Armed Forces was done by the management in charge of the preparation led by Commander of the 17th Mechanised Battalion of the First Army Brigade Lieutenant Colonel Rade Adamović.
According to Lieutenant Colonel Adamović, just one segment of tankman training for the participation in “Tank Biathlon” was demonstrated today.
– We have demonstrated the firing in individual race from tank gun 125mm, antiaircraft machine gun 12.7mm and coupled machinegun 7.62mm and crossing the track without obstacles – Lieutenant Colonel Adamović pointed out and added that he hoped for as good as possible placement in the Russian Federation.
Second Lieutenant Dušan Stevančev, a member of the team preparing for the participation in this year’s “Tank Biathlon” underlines that our team is highly motivated to participate in the International Military Games.
– Today we have demonstrated two races in accordance with the propositions for ralay and individual race. The individual race is driven in semi-finals qualifications while tha ralay race is driven in the semi-finals and finals of the “Tank Biathlon” - Second Lieutenant Stevančev explained.
The preparation for the “Tank Biathlon” started on 21st May and it will last until 19th July. The first phase of the preparation was held at the training area “Međa” where the team practiced driving on a track with all obstacles with which the competitors will be faced in the Russian Federation. It is expected that 24 countries will participate in this year’s competition and the tank crew of the Serbian Armed Forces will depart for the Russian Federation on the 25th July.
Today’s practice of the tankman was attended by the Army Commander Lieutenant General Milosav Simović, Commander of the Second Army Brigade Brigadier General Željko Kuzmanović and Head of Private Office of the Minister of Defence Brigadier General Siniša Kresović.
