Chinese tanks appear in international tank competition

he picture shows the organizer presents a "tank ballet" performance for spectators at the Alabino Firing Range in Moscow, Russia on August 4, 2014. (Xinhua /Jia Yuchen)

The Russian "Tank Biathlon-2014" International Competition kicked off at the Alabino Firing Range in the outskirt of Moscow on August 4, 2014. The Chinese team participated in the competition for the first time, and hit all targets in the single-tank shooting event that day.

The Chinese team hit all the targets in the shooting event held at noon on August 4, which included targeting the tank, the helicopter and the anti-tank grenade launcher.

It is verified by an official of the Chinese participating troops that the Chinese team was the only one of the 12 participating teams that hit all the targets that day. It is also learnt that the Chinese team consists of 12 tankmen with the average age of 26 years old.

The opening ceremony is another highlight of the competition held on August 4. Accompanied by ballet performance, a formation comprised of several tanks also put on a brilliant "tank ballet". In addition, the Russian side also displayed land attack operations by fighters and helicopters.

According to the Russian military, the 13-day-long "Tank Biathlon-2014" will be carried out in four stages. The first stage is single-tank competition, including crossing such barriers as water, mine field, soil ridge and cliff while completing various shooting subjects on the way. The second stage is short-distance and speed competition, and the third stage is physical competition, a new event this year.

The fourth stage is relay race, in which the four best-performing teams from the previous three stages will compete with each other. It will be the fiercest section of this year's competition and the group winner will come out of this stage.

Compared with the first Tank Biathlon competition in 2013 that was participated by four countries, 12 countries participated in the Tank Biathlon this year, including Russia, China, Armenia, Venezuela, Kazakhstan, Mongolia and Serbia. Each team consists of three main tank groups and one backup group.