Spetsnaz soldier's experience in Afghanistan.

**Eagle9294** · 04-26-2012, 10:25 AM

This is a thread on another site with some interesting info. It is a little dated, however, alot of interesting info there especially from the Spetsnaz soldier. His handle is 16 OBr SpN.

http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums...summer-of-1986

**z0phi3l** · 04-26-2012, 12:44 PM

Damn good information there, and a damn long ass read

**Eagle9294** · 04-26-2012, 12:58 PM

Originally Posted by z0phi3l

Damn good information there, and a damn long ass read

Did you notice the various SOF that they encountered out there? USA, Britian, French, Pakistan, Saudi, Iran, and even Chinese. I also always assumed the significance of the Stinger was bullshit. I knew there was more going on than that.

**z0phi3l** · 04-27-2012, 12:25 PM

Originally Posted by Eagle9294

Did you notice the various SOF that they encountered out there? USA, Britian, French, Pakistan, Saudi, Iran, and even Chinese. I also always assumed the significance of the Stinger was bullshit. I knew there was more going on than that.

Yeah that was very interesting to read, I knew we were involved, but at that time China was still "closed", the other countries involved had their reasons too, too abd it was mostly for religious reasons and not freedom for the Afghans

**Gato Rojo** · 04-28-2012, 12:34 PM

That was an interesting read, Eagle. Thanks for it!

No good deed goes unpunished, ergo it the "Rep" stick for you! Take that!

(whack, whack, whackety-whack, whack, whack...)

Seriously, good stuff!

**Eagle9294** · 04-30-2012, 07:27 AM

Glad you guys enjoyed the info.

**Sgt.Raven** · 04-30-2012, 08:44 AM

Great read, Brother!

I'm glad Soviets are getting well-deserved recognition for fighting the same decease generation ago.

Over the years there was a lot of BS propaganda and media whoring on both sides of the "Iron Curtain".
The bottom line: whatever the reason and politics behind, it's a "boots on the ground" who left to do their job, and doing it to their best.
And they did it, with much heroism and self-sacrifice, lead by the examples of their Grandfathers in WWII.

Speaking of Stingers: Soviets were well pass the point of breaking the douchebags' back by 1986.
Raids were on the rise and losses on decline.
But I spoke to many vetted chopper pilots and they all told me that Stingers were a crack in the spine of the Soviet warfare strategy.
Not a back breaking, but a noticeable and painful crack.

Going back to that era, I'm still grimming about the "Gorby": he's a hero to the West, and traitor to x-USSR.
Despite the good deeds, ultimate failures leading to catastrophic meltdown of the USSR and following despair and civil wars, are seen as result of his bentover at any cost to the West.

Don't get me wrong: I am an American by choice.
And I believe if Reagan's line was intact after his departure from White House, USSR meltdown would be much more civilized and controlled.

"Gorbie" whored to the West, and West dumped him right after his dismissal and foillowing fallout of the USSR.

Salute to Warriors, then and now!

**Gato Rojo** · 04-30-2012, 10:55 AM

I'm with you on the salute to all warriors, then and now.

That's a tradition that knows no nationality and extends back into the mists of time as far as there has been a warrior class, ungrudging respect for those fallen in battle.

That respect by no means implies the same, or even approval, of those who sent them into battle in the first place.

I'm just glad that you and I are on the same side, Paul; and that there is no danger that either of us will ever have to embody that sentiment concerning the other.

**zuluzerosix** · 04-30-2012, 05:53 PM

I had always been under this impression that the Soviets kicked the shit out of the Muj.

**Eagle9294** · 04-30-2012, 06:48 PM

Originally Posted by zuluzerosix

I had always been under this impression that the Soviets kicked the shit out of the Muj.

The Spetsnaz units did. The regular units not so much. The Soviets made alot of mistakes taking armor columns into the mountains. They would get shot up in the process. Besides, if you absorbed all the information, it is clear there were other SOF units there that made life difficult for the Soviets.

**Sgt.Raven** · 04-30-2012, 07:14 PM

Not to diminish the contribution of Spetsnaz, but ask anyone: ANY Airborne unit was feared by Mujis, but Recon units ("Razvedchiki") stood alone, spearheading the major assaults and "clearings".
Most of Spetsnaz units of early-mid Afghan war units were wearing Airborne uniforms, adding to confusion.
Not until the dissolution of USSR (1991) and well after pullout in 1989, individual insignia started to appear within separate Armies of x-USSR/CIS.

My Airborne Brother and best friend, Spetsnaz Platoon SGT, wore the same uniform as I did in recon unit.
We both graduated from the same Airborne Training Center, then 44th Airborne (now, 242-nd Airborne Center).
He was dispatched to Spetsnaz Brigade, which was reporting directly to GRU in Moscow, unlike my Recon Company ("Razvedrota"), which still under the Army Airborne command.
Go figure...

Motorized Infantry (non-Airborne) took on some serious load, but no massive assaults were conducted without the Airborne (a.k.a. "VDV").
There was just not enough Spetsnaz around; therefore, Airborne units often were attached to Spetsnaz GRU for reinforcement.

Just my subjective .02

**Eagle9294** · 04-30-2012, 07:27 PM

Originally Posted by Sgt.Raven

Not to diminish the contribution of Spetsnaz, but ask anyone: ANY Airborne unit was feared by Mujis, but Recon units ("Razvedchiki") stood alone, spearheading the major assaults and "clearings".
Most of Spetsnaz units of early-mid Afghan war units were wearing Airborne uniforms, adding to confusion.
Not until the dissolution of USSR (1991) and well after pullout in 1989, individual insignia started to appear within separated Armies of x-USSR.

My Airborne Brother and best friend, Spetsnaz Platoon SGT, wore the same uniform as I did in recon unit.
We both graduated from the same Airborne Training Center, then 44th Airborne (now, 242-nd Airborne Center).
He was dispatched to Spetsnaz Brigade, which was reporting directly to GRU in Moscow, unlike my Recon Company ("Razvedrota"), which still under the Army Airborne command.
Go figure...

Motorized Infantry (non-Airborne) took on some serious load, but no massive assaults were conducted without the Airborne.
There was just not enough Spetsnaz around; therefore, Airborne units often were attached to Spetsnaz GRU for reinforcement.

Just my subjective .02

I had read that the Soviet Airborne performed many joint missions with Spetsnaz units. That is not surprising really. Thanks for everything you add to this discussion. I am very interested in this subject.

**Sgt.Raven** · 05-02-2012, 05:26 AM

Add-on: often Airborne Reconnaissance Companies ("Razvedrota") were referred to as "Spetsnaz" by non-SF and ABN, and civilians (mostly media and "experts"/writers).
While their tactics and purpose were similar (mostly "search and termination"), their structures and chain of command were very different.

Few more raw compilations on Soviet Afghan war topic:
http://englishrussia.com/2009/02/24/...t-afghanistan/

http://englishrussia.com/2008/02/18/1778/

http://englishrussia.com/2007/06/05/russian-pilot-in-afghanistan/#more-972

http://englishrussia.com/2006/10/20/afghanistan-1983/

Quality of most pictures is subpar, mostly because photography during deployment was strictly prohibited, unless authorized by the HQ (and even then it was useless PR BS).
Therefore, 99% of those pictures were taken illegaly and in a hurry, and developed in makeshift labs back at the base, in the middle of the night with subpar equipment and supplies.