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Exactly, the thing is many Western examples of weapons are overrated. The success of Stinger was, it was the right weapon for the occasion. It didn't mean Soviet Army had worse one. Stinger was the ideal weapon for a guerilla army, like RPG-7 against tanks before inventing reactive armours. It was ideal because of efficiency and easy way of use - very important factor as for arabic usersKomissarBojanchev wrote:If any russophobe would see this he would emmidiately say that this is faulty soviet propaganda that doesnt deserve even a closer look
+23
KoTeMoRe
Osobist
max steel
nastle77
BlackArrow
marcinko
Inetwarrior
Morpheus Eberhardt
DTA
Battalion0415
Giulio
Werewolf
Cpt Caz
Cyberspec
Viktor
KomissarBojanchev
Pyrrus
George1
Russian Patriot
GarryB
TR1
gloriousfatherland
Mr.Kalishnikov47
27 posters
Soviet Afghanistan war
Pyrrus- Posts : 76
Points : 79
Join date : 2011-09-21
Age : 54
Location : Gloucester, UK
GarryB- Posts : 40538
Points : 41038
Join date : 2010-03-30
Location : New Zealand
The fact that Stinger and Igla are such effective weapons has greatly restricted their sales and deployment... the most amusing thing is that the west likes to criticise the Soviets and Russians for handing out all sorts of weapons to anyone that wanted them, but it was often Western supported "freedom fighters" that got Milan ATGMs and Stingers and sophisticated night vision and communications equipment.
The myth that the Afghans used the Soviet weapons against them is just that... the vast majority of weapons the Afghans used were Chinese made and supplied by the Pakistani ISI paid for by the CIA. If you look at the photos taken during the war at the start the vast majority of weapons used were 303 bolt action rifles left behind the last time the British tried to invade, and then AKs start appearing, but they are not Russian issue AK-74s but Chinese made AKM knockoffs and also eastern european AKs captured by Israel from Arab armies.
The myth that the Afghans used the Soviet weapons against them is just that... the vast majority of weapons the Afghans used were Chinese made and supplied by the Pakistani ISI paid for by the CIA. If you look at the photos taken during the war at the start the vast majority of weapons used were 303 bolt action rifles left behind the last time the British tried to invade, and then AKs start appearing, but they are not Russian issue AK-74s but Chinese made AKM knockoffs and also eastern european AKs captured by Israel from Arab armies.
Mr.Kalishnikov47- Posts : 293
Points : 336
Join date : 2012-02-26
Age : 36
Location : U.S.A
Spetsnaz and VDV
Mr.Kalishnikov47- Posts : 293
Points : 336
Join date : 2012-02-26
Age : 36
Location : U.S.A
TR1- Posts : 5435
Points : 5433
Join date : 2011-12-07
Seeing BMP-2D is always infuriating.
Working armor package, used and acquired en-masse by the military in the 80s, was it anywhere to be seen in Chechnya? Nooooope.
Working armor package, used and acquired en-masse by the military in the 80s, was it anywhere to be seen in Chechnya? Nooooope.
Mr.Kalishnikov47- Posts : 293
Points : 336
Join date : 2012-02-26
Age : 36
Location : U.S.A
Mr.Kalishnikov47- Posts : 293
Points : 336
Join date : 2012-02-26
Age : 36
Location : U.S.A
Mr.Kalishnikov47- Posts : 293
Points : 336
Join date : 2012-02-26
Age : 36
Location : U.S.A
It's funny, some of these men couldn't be any older than 20, but at the same time, many of them look old enough to be my father.
Mr.Kalishnikov47- Posts : 293
Points : 336
Join date : 2012-02-26
Age : 36
Location : U.S.A
Was it common for the Spetsnaz to travel in such large formations?
GarryB- Posts : 40538
Points : 41038
Join date : 2010-03-30
Location : New Zealand
They don't look like they are carrying enough equipment to be special forces.
The second photo where they are wearing caps you can see the blue and white striped T shirts of the VDV.
Real Spetsnaz units often had odd weapon combinations like night scopes on PKMS or SVDs.
The second photo where they are wearing caps you can see the blue and white striped T shirts of the VDV.
Real Spetsnaz units often had odd weapon combinations like night scopes on PKMS or SVDs.
Mr.Kalishnikov47- Posts : 293
Points : 336
Join date : 2012-02-26
Age : 36
Location : U.S.A
GarryB wrote:They don't look like they are carrying enough equipment to be special forces.
The second photo where they are wearing caps you can see the blue and white striped T shirts of the VDV.
They say that members of the Spetsnaz wore VDV uniforms to blend in. They certainly wouldn't want the Mujahideen to know that there were special forces operating in the area, otherwise they'd make an escape before the Spetsnaz had a chance to eliminate them.
Of course they could just be VDV. There's really no way to tell for sure.
Real Spetsnaz units often had odd weapon combinations like night scopes on PKMS or SVDs.
Anyways, the equipment used depended on the operation.
KomissarBojanchev- Posts : 1429
Points : 1584
Join date : 2012-08-05
Age : 27
Location : Varna, Bulgaria
Were thermobaric RPGs occasionally used in the war?
GarryB- Posts : 40538
Points : 41038
Join date : 2010-03-30
Location : New Zealand
They didn't have the thermobaric warheads for the RPGs that they do have now, but they did have the RPO-A thermobaric rocket launcher... very potent.
Viktor- Posts : 5796
Points : 6429
Join date : 2009-08-26
Age : 44
Location : Croatia
@Mr.Kalasnjikov
Great pictures
Great pictures
GarryB- Posts : 40538
Points : 41038
Join date : 2010-03-30
Location : New Zealand
x2Great pictures
Pyrrus- Posts : 76
Points : 79
Join date : 2011-09-21
Age : 54
Location : Gloucester, UK
Garry is right, part of photos are with the soldiers of the well known 345 VDV regiment. Anyway, amazing set of pictures, mate! Thank you
Mr.Kalishnikov47- Posts : 293
Points : 336
Join date : 2012-02-26
Age : 36
Location : U.S.A
Pyrrus wrote:Garry is right, part of photos are with the soldiers of the well known 345 VDV regiment. Anyway, amazing set of pictures, mate! Thank you
Thank you Pyrrus, your info is much appreciated.
Would you happen to know who these men belong to? Are they part of the 345th as well?
Great pictures
x2
No problem guys, if I find any more pics like those I'll be sure to post them.
GarryB- Posts : 40538
Points : 41038
Join date : 2010-03-30
Location : New Zealand
These are from a folder on my computer called 66 recon.
Pyrrus- Posts : 76
Points : 79
Join date : 2011-09-21
Age : 54
Location : Gloucester, UK
@Kalishnkov: I can't help you in this matter. Instead I propose some soldiers' songs. Take notice of the pictures included.
First the song about 345 VDV regiment:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mbvNwdN4n2g&list=PL9E054D80E2EA7898&index=31
about Mi 8 pilots:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D7Mau_D_JJg&list=PL9E054D80E2EA7898&index=32
and Kamaz lorries' drivers:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKQEDBedQrI&list=PL9E054D80E2EA7898&index=40
enjoy!
First the song about 345 VDV regiment:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mbvNwdN4n2g&list=PL9E054D80E2EA7898&index=31
about Mi 8 pilots:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D7Mau_D_JJg&list=PL9E054D80E2EA7898&index=32
and Kamaz lorries' drivers:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKQEDBedQrI&list=PL9E054D80E2EA7898&index=40
enjoy!
Mr.Kalishnikov47- Posts : 293
Points : 336
Join date : 2012-02-26
Age : 36
Location : U.S.A
Thank you for the excellent pictures and music GarryB and Pyrrus.
I've heard many times of the Spetsnaz in Afghanistan disguising themselves as the local populace to aid in their operations, but this is the first time I've actually seen it in action. Very much appreciated!
I've heard many times of the Spetsnaz in Afghanistan disguising themselves as the local populace to aid in their operations, but this is the first time I've actually seen it in action. Very much appreciated!
GarryB- Posts : 40538
Points : 41038
Join date : 2010-03-30
Location : New Zealand
Even the Soviets admit it wasn't as effective as it might appear because most muj groups included a range of people from young men to boys and old men, while the special forces units consisted only of young fit men.
Sometimes a delay in recognition is as good as completely fooling the enemy...
Sometimes a delay in recognition is as good as completely fooling the enemy...
Cyberspec- Posts : 2904
Points : 3057
Join date : 2011-08-08
Location : Terra Australis
Flattering comments about the Soviet Spetznas and Russian Army in general from a famous former Mujahedin commander
Cpt Caz- Posts : 86
Points : 95
Join date : 2013-09-08
I think some of you here may find this interesting:
Guns of the Spetsnaz - Accounts From a Spetsnaz Veteran of the Soviet-Afghan War
Part One - Rifles: http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Guns+o.....-a0243718822
Part Two - Sniper Rifles: http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Guns+o.....-a0247740939
Part Three - Machine Guns: http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Guns+o.....-a0252741284
Part Four - Pistols: http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Guns+o.....-a0255603146
Guns of the Spetsnaz - Accounts From a Spetsnaz Veteran of the Soviet-Afghan War
Part One - Rifles: http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Guns+o.....-a0243718822
Part Two - Sniper Rifles: http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Guns+o.....-a0247740939
Part Three - Machine Guns: http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Guns+o.....-a0252741284
Part Four - Pistols: http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Guns+o.....-a0255603146
George1- Posts : 18519
Points : 19024
Join date : 2011-12-23
Location : Greece
A Soviet tank in the Hindu Kush Mountains of Afghanistan during the Soviet Invasion, 1980. Afghan civilians stand in the foreground
Troopers of the 5th airborne company 350th airborne regiment on the march, moving aboard their BMPs and BTRs along the Afghani mountain road.
Soviet troops on the move in Afghanistan, mid-1980s
Aftermath in a village located along the Salang Highway, shelled and destroyed during fights between Mujahideen guerrillas and Afghan soldiers in Salang, Afghanistan.
Troopers of the 5th airborne company 350th airborne regiment on the march, moving aboard their BMPs and BTRs along the Afghani mountain road.
Soviet troops on the move in Afghanistan, mid-1980s
Aftermath in a village located along the Salang Highway, shelled and destroyed during fights between Mujahideen guerrillas and Afghan soldiers in Salang, Afghanistan.
George1- Posts : 18519
Points : 19024
Join date : 2011-12-23
Location : Greece
Two Soviet Army soldiers emerge from an Afghan shop in downtown Kabul on April 24, 1988.
A Soviet soldier smokes a cigarette at a checkpoint of the Soviet military airport in Kabul on February 10, 1989 as the other one forbids pictures.
Red Army soldiers stand for review on October 19, 1986, in downtown Kabul during a parade, shortly before they returned to the Soviet Union.
Afghanistan's president Mohammed Najibullah (center) smiles as he meets Red Army soldiers on October 19, 1986, in downtown Kabul during a parade.
A Soviet soldier smokes a cigarette at a checkpoint of the Soviet military airport in Kabul on February 10, 1989 as the other one forbids pictures.
Red Army soldiers stand for review on October 19, 1986, in downtown Kabul during a parade, shortly before they returned to the Soviet Union.
Afghanistan's president Mohammed Najibullah (center) smiles as he meets Red Army soldiers on October 19, 1986, in downtown Kabul during a parade.