Soviet Afghanistan war

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.

Was it common for the Spetsnaz to travel in such large formations?

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.

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.

Were thermobaric RPGs occasionally used in the war?

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.

@Mr.Kalasnjikov

Great pictures

Great pictures

x2

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

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.

These are from a folder on my computer called 66 recon.

@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!

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!

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...

Flattering comments about the Soviet Spetznas and Russian Army in general from a famous former Mujahedin commander

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

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.

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.

Soviet withdrawal

The Soviets withdrew from Afghanistan in a way that can only be described as expertly.

NATO was gathering as much information as it could over the last half decade to study exactly how they did it so they could emulate it themselves.

Previously in past invasions British forces paid heavily during their withdrawal from the region.

British, Soviets, now Americans have their troubles in Afghanistan. I think next, is China's turn to try

George1 wrote:British, Soviets, now Americans have their troubles in Afghanistan. I think next, is China's turn to try

Why should they give a f*ck about afghanistan? If they want to fight terrorism they should start by crushing petrodollar and next israel and the dictatorships like Qatar,Kuwait,Saudis who are financing on orders of USrael and sending terrorists to overthrow and destabilize the region. Fight the cancer not the symptoms.

Soviet Invasion Afghanistan Map