For the "Canadian Army Prize"

13
For the "Canadian Army Prize"


In the combat training system of the ground forces of the NATO countries, great importance is attached to the competitiveness factor, which is most pronounced in various competitions between crews tanks, calculations of guns, units, units, formations and even army groups.

According to Western military experts, in the context of reducing conventional armed forces and armaments, special attention should be paid to raising the level of training of military personnel, primarily personnel of tank units and formations - the striking force of ground forces.

The high professionalism of the tankers of the armed forces of the countries of the Alliance is achieved both through planned exercises in the combat training system and as a result of the preparation and conduct of competitions, the most important of which is the Canadian Army Trophy.


The official emblem of the 1963 competition of the year


Tank crews have been held since 1963, at the initiative of the Canadian Ground Forces Command. At the same time, a prize was established for awarding the winners - a silver model of the tank “Centurion”. It was not without reason that the organizers of the competition believed that they would serve to increase the level of fire training of tank crews of ground forces stationed in the Central European theater of operations, and to establish closer friendly relations between the military personnel of various NATO countries.


The main prize is a silver model of the tank "Centurion"


During the competition for the “prize of the Canadian army”, the fire training of tank crews is checked. In preparation for them among the drivers, competitions are held to replace the engines of tanks, the results of which are not included in the overall standings of the teams.



As for firing from tanks, teams compete for hit accuracy and rate of fire. The main goal is the destruction of targets from a cannon and a machine gun day and night from a standstill and in motion at distances from 800 to 2400 m in minimal time.

The prize was played in conditions of a gradual complication of the situation. Initially, the shooting is carried out from the scene by single crews at targets, the distance to which is known. Then, the crews of the units fire from the spot and from the go at fixed and moving targets appearing at various distances.

Competitions were held every two years. Before 1983, they represented a struggle for primacy between individual NATO-made tank platoons. In the competitions, teams of Northern and Central Army Groups were officially represented, each of which included 10-12 tank platoons from various countries, however, the crews fought not only for the victory of the army group, but for the honor of the ground forces of their countries. Therefore, according to the results of the competition is determined by the unofficial winner among the platoons.

Each competition presents its own surprises.
In 1987, the Cup was won by American tankers on the Abrams, the American tank platoon also took third place, the second was from participants who spoke at Leopard-2. The last place was taken by the British, who spoke on the Challenger tanks, severely undermining the prestige of British tank building in general, and Vickers in particular. As a result, Britain did not set up its crews for the 1989 competition.

In 1989, competitions were held in the period 9-23 of June in the Federal Republic of Germany on the basis of the Bergen-Hone training center (Hannover). Their organizers did their best to introduce elements of the real situation of the battlefield. If in the 1987, each platoon received the same number of targets in the same combination, in 1989, in different. At the last competitions night firing was held for the first time. Dimensions of targets installed at distances above 1500 m are reduced from 230X230 cm to 165X190 cm, and for shorter ones to 110X190 cm.

In the 1989 competition of the year, the 21 tank platoon participated in the battle for the trophy. The team of the Northern Army Group was represented by ten platoons (two for each from 1 ak of Belgium and 1 in the Netherlands, three for each - 1 ak of Germany and 2 United States BTR). For the command of the Central Army Group, 11 platoons acted (three for each from 2 ak of Germany, 5 and 7 ak of the USA, two - 4 of the IBRM of Canada).

In accordance with the conditions of the competition, tank crews as part of platoons fired from guns at 32 targets and machine guns at 80, which were lifting targets of tanks that appeared on 40 c, and human figures. The ammunition of each tank was 12 shells and 250 cartridges in the ratio of one tracer to three ordinary. In addition to the ammunition, four shells and 125 cartridges were issued, which could only be used with the permission of the judges.

Competitions included five stages. At the first shooting was carried out from a cannon, first at two, and then at four targets located at different distances. At the second stage, the crews fired from the machine gun at four targets that appeared 10 times, and from the cannon at two. The third stage - shooting from a cannon at eight targets set at the same range. The fourth stage included firing at a go at three targets from a cannon and at four 10 times appearing targets from a machine gun. At the fifth stage, the crews fired from the cannon, first at five, then at eight targets.



The results of the competitions were evaluated in points, which were summarized on the basis of the following indicators: 10 points were credited for defeating 32 targets from a cannon; 8,5 thousand - for the highest rate of fire with a scale of "target detection time - shot" from 1 to 40 with; 500 - additional bonus for losing 32 targets; 1600 - tank crew premium for hitting targets from 16 guns; 25 - for the defeat of each target with a machine gun (total points 2000). Thus, the maximum number of points that a platoon could theoretically score was 22 600.

Although the official winner among the tank platoons was not determined, the authoritative Austrian military magazine "Troup-Pendinst" gave their results, ten of which are shown in the table.

The official results of the competition: the first place was taken by the team of the Northern Army Group (the average number of points received by the tank platoon, 13 951), the second - the team of the Central Army Group (13 436).

The scoring system included not only the number of targets hit, but also the rate of fire. According to the last type of competition, the first five places were taken by platoons who acted on Leopard-2 tanks. The average time during which they detected and hit the target was 13 seconds, and the crews on these Leopard 2s performed these tasks approximately twice as fast as on the МХNUMXА1 Abrams. The best time was shown by a platoon of land forces of the Netherlands.

From the album of the Dutch tankman M. Hayman dedicated to the tank competition for the "Prize of the Army of Canada" in 1987.
In 1987, competitions took place from 16 to 19 in July at the Grafenvohr training center in Bavaria. The team of the Netherlands in this competition took fourth place, the third was taken by the Canadians, the second went to the Germans, and the first to the Americans.























Sources:
http://pentagonus.ru/publ/9-1-0-630
http://pentagonus.ru/publ/9-1-0-676
http://ru-armor.livejournal.com/231453.html
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13 comments
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  1. Asan Ata
    +5
    31 January 2014 09: 26
    Thanks for the stuff. This proves once again that it is ridiculous to close oneself within the boundaries of a unit; only teachings of all levels give real professionalism. You can not save on matches.
  2. +3
    31 January 2014 09: 28
    Thanks for the excursion into the history of the tank biathlon competition.
    However, it would be worth noting in the article that NATO is already 25 years old, as it no longer holds these competitions.
  3. de bouillon
    +6
    31 January 2014 10: 19
    The military departments of five states have announced their intention to participate in the World Championship in Tank Biathlon-2014 on their tanks, said today the head of the Main Directorate of Combat Training of the Russian Armed Forces Ivan Buvaltsev.
    Earlier, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu sent official invitations to participate in the championship for 41 states. Fifteen states have confirmed their participation and reported that they will compete in Russian technology - T-72B tanks.
    "Five states announced their intention to participate in Tank Biathlon-2014 on their own equipment. Ukraine, Greece, Czech Republic, Italy and China", - he said during a meeting with military attachés of foreign states in Moscow.

    According to him, the issue of delivering this armored vehicle to the territory of Russia is now being considered. According to the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, Ukrainian and Chinese tanks will be delivered to the competition site by rail. The estimated cost of round-trip transportation will be over 4,3 million rubles. And the tanks of the Czech Republic, Italy and Greece are supposed to be airlifted by the military transport aircraft. It remains to be decided whether these will be aircraft from Russia or from the countries participating in the Tank Biathlon-2014.
    The World Championship "Tank Biathlon-2014" will be held from July 26 to August 16, 2014 at the Alabino training ground in the Moscow region. Tank biathlon is held similar to cross-country skiing in the form of a relay and provides for three races with a route length of 20 kilometers. At the same time, the participants overcome several obstacles such as slalom (snake), ford, mound (steep climb), track bridge and escarp. Unlike classic biathlon, combat vehicle crews hit targets imitating tanks and low-flying helicopters at distances from 900 to 2,2 thousand meters.


    see Leopards 2 vs T-72 hi
    1. +1
      31 January 2014 15: 32
      I am surprised at the NATO members who cherish Soviet equipment as if they were old and they want to participate in it, things are more eloquent than words! laughing
      1. dmitrij.blyuz
        0
        31 January 2014 16: 10
        They respond very respectfully. Our potential ones also have brains and respect our technology.
  4. 0
    31 January 2014 11: 13
    Thank...
  5. Kovrovsky
    +3
    31 January 2014 11: 41
    Quote: Gamdlislyam
    Thanks for the excursion into the history of the tank biathlon competition.
    However, it would be worth noting in the article that NATO is already 25 years old, as it no longer holds these competitions.



    Americans do not want to disgrace themselves in front of the Leopards, especially when they are tolerant Dutch! wassat
  6. roller2
    +1
    31 January 2014 12: 04
    The high professionalism of the tank crews .. is achieved both due to the planned training in the combat training system, and as a result of the preparation and conduct of competitions between tank crews, gun crews, subunits, units, formations and even army groups.




    Not a television show


    Let's hope that the Defense Ministry took into account all the flaws and shortcomings, and we really see the competition and not the show.
  7. nnnnnn
    +3
    31 January 2014 13: 09
    [http://artofwar.ru/w/wechkanow_i_w/text_0030.shtml
    Author, tanker, officer, participant in hostilities in the Caucasus. that's what he writes.
    Today I watched the 1st stage of the "Masks show" ("Tank Biathlon") on TV.
    As usual, the "crap" that was advertised was supposed. If already the best crews from the spot cannot get through with the TP, and with the "US" it is generally a disgrace, then this says a lot (training of tankers) ... True, one crew just spat out the US, there are several reasons: - the US is faulty, - equipment, - BUT pressed the electric release key on the TP lifting mechanism, - etc.
    RANGE to the target from ATGM = 2km. (THIS says it all and stating that the US, depending on the type of shooting, note the keyword shoot, and do not hit at 4-5 km. - a complete myth. I tried to shoot with the T-80BV "US" at 3500 m. (pankrate) the sight is very poor, but you can hit. The untrained BUT has little chances to solve the OZ, at such a range. This means that it is time to change the belief (of tank builders) about the advantage (used in all calculations and simulations ...) of our tanks because they have "US".
    I'm wondering who prepared the weapons for firing a regular projectile. If not the crews (I met somewhere in the press, they are trained by specialists), then a small "sabotage" in favor of the Western Military District, the Southern Military District is possible, one or two clicks on the sight is enough to "shoot down" them. Why this is necessary, tankers will understand ...
    BUT if the crews themselves prepared the weapons, then the level of their training is even more crystal clear. The solution of the firing task (hitting the target with fire from the tank), when they beat from the spot by undershooting, without correcting (the initial settings of the sight were assigned by the "outsiders" incorrectly). Crews are poorly trained in shooting correction. The removal of the aiming point, the gap mark for them, is something, probably, supernatural. What catches your eye:
    - The construction of the crews behind the tank before loading the PSU, this is a relic of the past you need to leave it, as well as shots in the boxes. If in the boxes, then the charges should be in a cork, then there is a benefit from this, and so, they could also be placed on racks.
    - LOADING CHARGES during loading as well as incorrect (whoever) feeding of shells is the finish !! "! NOW everyone saw that they can be thrown up for speed of action (tankers will understand what I am talking about) and will repeat.
    - The gauge bridge, or rather its construction, gives the MV the right to overcome at high speed without small consequences during stalling (which some MVs did).
    - The device of the "vertical wall" - a ledge, crumbled after the first races.
  8. nnnnnn
    +6
    31 January 2014 13: 09
    CONCLUSION: the training of tankers in the RF Armed Forces is below the level of "urban sewage" It's not a secret for anyone that in the days of the USSR, tankmen officers were trained for all types of tanks, just in each school there were profiling ones. Once in the army, the officer tanker served on those types of tanks that were different in different military units. For this reason, the T-90 was not displayed. Undermining the "image" of the T-90 would be 100% ensured.
    There are KVBM, KS (even if fooled by some parameters), BSV, RTU, BTU, etc., if ALL of this was done at least 50%, it was EXACTLY performed, and not turned into a dumb window dress, ALL would be good. Although the roots are deeper ...

    As it happened in the troops.
    In the troops, tankers perform mainly (full-time artillery fire) 3UKS. If it was included in the biathlon, then something would already be. And then, given how badly tankers fired, the results would be even worse. I will dwell a little on the conditions of this exercise.

    3UKS
    - Shooting on the go on appearing and moving targets.
    OBJECTIVES:
    - tank (target 12), appearing for 1 min 10 sec;
    - a manual anti-tank grenade launcher (target 9), appearing for 1 min. 10 sec (* 50sec);
    - recoilless gun (ATGM) on a car (target 17a), moving at an angle of 60-90 degrees. to the firing plane at a speed of 15-20 km / h over 200 m
    Range to goals:
    - 125mm gun. BY TANK: 1700-1400;
    - 7,62mm machine gun. RPG software: 500-300;
    - BZO (ATGM) by car: 900-700;
    - When firing shells with an initial velocity of more than 1000 m / s (BPS): 2100-1800.
    AMOUNT OF AMMUNITION:
    - for firing at a tank of regular artillery shots - 3;
    - for firing at RPGs, BZO-35, (the old KS for the T-80 had 30 rounds) of them 12 with tracer bullets;
    - smoke grenades 3D6-1.
    TANK MOVEMENT: frontal. The distance from the opening line to the ceasefire line is 700m.
    TIME FOR SHOOTING: from the command "Forward" until the tank reaches the ceasefire line - 3 minutes. 20 sec. (for tanks with MSA and KUV - 3 minutes. According to the old KS for T-80 - 2,50).
    FIRE CONTROL SYSTEM (FCS) means the presence in the tank of a ballistic computer (TBV), ballistic corrector, TV stabilizer, range finder.
    * In brackets (50sec), for such tanks.
    MOTOR RESOURCES: 1,8 km.
    EVALUATION:
    - "excellent" - hit all targets, with the tank with at least two shells;
    - "good" - hit all targets or hit two targets, with the tank with at least two shells;
    - "satisfactory - hit two targets, including a tank.
    And ideally on biathlon it was necessary to perform 5UKS.
    Shooting in various ways at emerging and moving targets with the change of firing positions from an ATGM cannon with regular artillery shots and with a machine gun at emerging and moving targets.
    Ranges for ATGM range in this exercise is 4000-2500 m.

    Therefore, I am critical of this show.
    Simplicity is nowhere BELOW ...

    On the issue of firing an anti-aircraft machine gun.
    Also invented "Head & Sholders" SIMPLIFICATION!
    6UUS.
    Shooting from an anti-aircraft machine gun from a place on an air target.
    PURPOSE: helicopter (target 25) appearing for 60 sec. at a height of 10-20 m.
    RANGE TO GOAL: 1500-1300 m.
    At the biathlon they shot at 900 m.
    There is 7UUS. Shooting from an anti-aircraft machine gun from a place on a ground target.
    RANGE: 700-500 m.

    HERE AND THE "DEAR" ORGANIZERS TAKE THE AVERAGE FROM 2 EXERCISES.
    To make EVERYTHING "cheap and cheerful".
    And then there are no words about the preparation, I think the tankers will understand me ... [/ i]
    1. +4
      31 January 2014 17: 36
      With all the negativity about tank biathlon, you try to see the forest behind the trees. Were it not for this event, no one would eliminate anything, since there would be no poor results either hi
      1. +2
        31 January 2014 23: 13
        Quote: Firstvanguard
        With all the negativity about tank biathlon, you try to see the forest behind the trees. Were it not for this event, no one would eliminate anything, since there would be no poor results either hi

        That's right, dashing trouble began.
      2. The comment was deleted.
      3. M. Peter
        0
        1 February 2014 15: 19
        Quote: Firstvanguard
        Were it not for this event, no one would eliminate anything, since there would be no poor results either

        Our Buryats became profane, but as you rightly noticed, they began to "eliminate", the city could not sleep normally for a month. Day and night, our city seemed to be on the front line for a month, hooted and rumbled.
  9. +1
    1 February 2014 16: 32
    In these competitions, the Leopard star has risen!
  10. 0
    3 February 2014 00: 21
    I wonder at the 2nd biathlon whose star will rise? There are options))

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