[RPG] Afghan War (1984)

Kabul (capital): The country's main political center. In 1984, the city itself was the site of an ongoing mine and sabotage war. The mujahideen regularly shelled the Kabul airfield and Soviet military camps with rockets. In Kabul province and on the outskirts of the capital (including the strategic hub of Surobi), major military operations were conducted from January to March 1984 to eliminate opposition bases.

Kandahar: The second largest city in southern Afghanistan, the Soviet military considered one of the hottest spots. The city was effectively divided: the center and the military airfield were under the nominal control of the Shuravi, while the ancient mud-brick neighborhoods (the "green area" and outskirts) were controlled by the mujahideen. In early 1984, the 3rd Separate GRU Spetsnaz Battalion was urgently deployed to Kandahar to reverse the situation. Fierce street fighting and combing of the suburbs continued year-round.

Herat: A major historic city in the west of the country, near the Iranian border. In 1984, the heaviest fighting took place here. The vast old part of Herat, with its labyrinthine duvals, was converted by the mujahideen into a powerful fortified area. Soviet artillery and aircraft struck the very outskirts of the city, and motorized infantry suffered enormous losses during protracted urban cleansing operations.

Jalalabad: A strategic city in the east, a key junction on the Kabul-Peshawar (Pakistan) highway. The surrounding greenery (dense subtropical gardens) provided an ideal location for the Mujahideen to ambush Soviet convoys. In 1984, the 1st Spetsnaz Battalion of the GRU (154th Special Forces Battalion) was deployed to Jalalabad to block caravan routes from Pakistan.

Ghazni: An ancient city on the strategic Kabul-Kandahar highway, the outskirts of Ghazni were constantly under attack by insurgents. In 1984, the 2nd GRU Spetsnaz Battalion (177th Special Forces Battalion) was deployed to the area to combat local groups and secure the roads.

ARMORED VEHICLES:
The BTR-70 is a wheeled armored personnel carrier, widely used for road patrol. However, due to the high mine hazard, soldiers categorically refuse to ride inside the troop compartment, which, if blown up, turns into a mass grave. Riding "on top of the armor" (from above) has become commonplace.
BMP-1 - heavy support, second line
BMP-2 - used to clear heights and gorges

ARMAMENT:
AK-74 - the main assault rifle
AKM - mainly used by reconnaissance units
RMB
RPK-74
Underbarrel GP-25
SVD
RPG-18 - disposable "tubes" were issued to almost every second soldier when leaving for an operation - they were used to destroy clay-brick fire points.
The RPG-7 is a heavier alternative to the RPG-18.

CLOTH:
Transition to the "Afghanka": the mass and widespread supply of troops with the new field uniform (officially the OKZK-D or TU-82, popularly known as the "Afghanka") began. It features a comfortable cut, numerous patch pockets, and a protective sand-colored finish.
Footwear: Officially, soldiers were required to wear boots or the new high lace-up shoes (bertsy). In practice, for combat missions in the mountains, motorized riflemen would, by hook or by crook, obtain civilian sneakers (Soviet blue Kimry or Luzhniki Adidas). These gripped the rock securely, didn't slip, and were much lighter than boots.
6B3 body armor: In 1984, this protective gear became the standard for field trips. This heavy (approximately 8-10 kg) vest with titanium plates and magazine pockets protected against mine fragments (the main source of injury) and machine gun bullets, although wearing it in 40-degree heat was a physical challenge.
Captured Chikoms: The Soviet standard ammunition carrying system (a canvas pouch on a waist belt) was unbearably awkward in the mountains—the belt slipped, and there weren't enough rounds. Soldiers repurposed the pouches, creating makeshift "bras," or used captured Chinese Chikom chest protectors taken from dead mujahideen.

Instead of regiments and divisions, the basic combat units were reinforced battalions, companies, and temporary maneuver groups. A motorized rifle platoon or company was always accompanied by sappers, mortarmen with Vasilek automatic mortar crews, and air controllers.

Armored Groups (BRG): The infantry was completely separated from the vehicles during the battle. BMPs and APCs do not attack in the same formation as the soldiers. The vehicles form an "armored group," which supports the infantry from below with on-board fire, blocks exits from ravines, or secures roads while the airborne troops assault the heights on foot.

Fighting for commanding heights: Before the armored column penetrates deep into the territory, infantry groups of motorized riflemen (often at night and stealthily) climb the cliffs to dislodge the mujahideen ambushes and ensure the passage of the vehicles.
• Service at checkpoints and outposts: the entire key infrastructure of the DRA (roads, bridges, airfields, power plants) was entangled in a network of guard posts (SP) and checkpoints. Motorized riflemen serve there around the clock, living in conditions of semi-autonomous survival.

1. Composition and secrecy of the advancement

A reinforced platoon (20–30 men) usually set out for an ambush. The main requirement was absolute secrecy.
Advance: The group never approached the ambush site in vehicles. Infantry fighting vehicles or armored personnel carriers would drop off the soldiers several kilometers away in the dark and then ostentatiously drive away, simulating a routine patrol. The motorized infantrymen traveled the rest of the way on foot through the mountains, without headlights, maintaining complete silence.
Time: Positions were occupied strictly at night, several hours before dawn, in order to have time to carefully camouflage themselves.

2. Battle formation of a group in ambush

The group was divided into three subgroups, creating a “fire bag”:
Observation and capture subgroup: Positioned in the center. Their mission was to be the first to spot the enemy, allow them to approach as close as possible (20-30 meters), and, on command, destroy the core of the squad.
Fire Subgroup (Support Group): Positioned on the flanks and commanding heights, it included PKM machine gunners, SVD snipers, and AGS-17 "Plamya" automatic grenade launcher crews. They cut off escape routes and eliminated anyone attempting to hide behind rocks.
Cover group (Reserve): Guarded the rear and flanks of the ambush in case the caravan had a large combat outpost that tried to outflank the motorized riflemen.

3. Conducting the fight

Mine barrier: Controlled mines (MON-50, MON-90 or OZM-72) were secretly installed in front of the positions on the trail.
A barrage of fire: The ambushers opened fire simultaneously. The signal was often the commander detonating mines from the control panel or the first shot from a PKM machine gun. In the first few seconds, the maximum amount of lead was released on the caravan.
Armor on the line: A few kilometers from the ambush, in cover, there was always an armored group (infantry fighting vehicles/armored personnel carriers of the platoon). If heavy fighting with superior forces ensued, the armored group would radio for reinforcements and rush to the battlefield at high speed to evacuate or suppress the enemy with 30mm cannons.

1. Blocking (Outer Ring)

The first thing the village was surrounded.
Armored groups in infantry fighting vehicles and armored personnel carriers occupied all roads, heights, and paths around the settlement to prevent the mujahideen from escaping into the mountains or receiving reinforcements from neighboring areas.
If there was a “green zone” (dense thickets of gardens and vineyards) nearby, its exits were mined or blocked by separate posts.

2. Fire training

If intelligence confirmed that a village had been converted into a fortified area, a massive artillery strike (D-30 howitzers, mortars) was launched, or Su-25 attack aircraft were called in. Fire was directed at identified pillboxes and machine gun nests on the outskirts.

3. Work of assault and bypass groups

Assault groups (foot detachments of motorized riflemen, reinforced by sappers and flamethrowers with RPO Rys or Shmel rocket flamethrowers) entered the village.
Movement not on the streets: Motorized riflemen avoided walking on the roads.
Passing through walls: Sappers used TNT blocks or explosive charges to create breaches in the clay walls of the duvals. The infantry advanced through courtyards and houses, literally breaking through step by step.
Clearing premises: Before entering any room or basement, a defensive F-1 grenade or an offensive RGD-5 grenade was thrown in, after which a burst of machine gun fire was fired.
The qanat problem: The qanats—ancient underground water supply and canal systems—were a major nightmare. The mujahideen used them as underground passages, allowing them to shoot at motorized infantrymen from behind from a well they had just passed. By 1984, sappers had learned to block the qanats by dousing them with flammable liquid, throwing smoke bombs, or blowing up the entrances with heavy explosives.

4. Coordination and "cleaning up"

Filtration teams (in collaboration with the Afghan security service KHAD) worked alongside the assault teams. They checked all remaining local residents for "bruises on the shoulder" (a mark caused by the recoil of a weapon) and hidden weapons caches (often hidden under haystacks).

ARMORED VEHICLES:
BMD-1
BTR-D
The problem with light armor: The BMD was designed for parachute drops, so its hull was made of lightweight aluminum alloy. In Afghanistan, this proved disastrous. When struck by a mine or an RPG-7, the BMD-1's aluminum armor was completely penetrated, often catching fire and emitting toxic smoke.
Riding "on armor": Due to the vulnerability of the vehicle, paratroopers, like motorized infantry, categorically refused to sit inside. All personnel rode on top of the hull. If an explosion occurred, the soldiers were simply thrown to the ground by the blast wave, which gave them a chance to survive (with a concussion), whereas inside the vehicle there was no chance.
Firepower Deficit: The BMD-1's 2A28 "Grom" cannon didn't have the elevation needed to fire at mountains. Because of this, paratroopers adored the BTR-D, welding ZU-23-2 automatic anti-aircraft cannons onto them in their workshops. The result was a fearsome "gun truck" for the mujahideen, capable of raining 23mm shells down on cliffs in seconds.

ARMAMENT:
AKS-74 - main assault rifle
RPKS-74 - the main machine gun of paratroopers
GP-25
The paratroopers carried the AGS-17 disassembled high into the mountains. Its high-angle fire allowed them to engage mujahideen in cover on the reverse slopes.

EQUIPMENT:
Sailor's vest and beret: Of course, the light blue beret wasn't worn into battle (panama hats, caps, or helmets were worn), but under the Afghanka field jacket or KZS (mesh camouflage suit), everyone always wore a blue and white sailor's vest. It was a source of immense pride and a symbol of the troop's caste system.
Jumpsuits and KZS: In addition to the "Afghanka," paratroopers often went on missions in light camouflage suits KZS or KLMN (they made it easier to bear the heat) and in special paratrooper suits.
"RD-54" instead of duffel bags: While motorized infantrymen often struggled with old canvas duffel bags, paratroopers had the standard RD-54 paratrooper backpack. It had comfortable straps, side pockets for magazines and grenades, and fit snugly on the back, allowing for easy running.

Helicopter landing (Tactical airborne assault): In 1984, the Airborne Forces perfected this tactic. While motorized infantry blocked the gorge from below, helicopters dropped paratroopers onto the most inaccessible mountain peaks (at altitudes of up to 3,500–4,000 meters). Landings were often accomplished "on one wheel" on the edge of a precipice or by jumping from a hovering helicopter.
Assaulting fortified areas "from the top down": Having secured the commanding heights, the paratroopers began descending the slopes, squeezing the mujahideen and destroying their firing positions. This broke the mujahideen's defenses, which were always expecting an attack from below, from the roads.
Night raids: The paratroopers were extensively trained in night combat. Airborne forces groups would stealthily advance into the mountains in the dark, take up positions above the mujahideen camp, and launch a surprise attack at dawn.

Su-25:
SU-25 armament and its use:
Unguided rockets (S-8, S-24), aerial bombs (FAB-250/500), 30mm GSh-30-2 cannon, incendiary mixture tanks. The main striking force. Used for direct troop support. Possessed extreme survivability and excellent maneuverability in ravines.

Su-17 (M3 and M4):
Armament and use of the SU-17:
Free-fall bombs, unguided rockets, disposable cluster bombs (RBK), and reconnaissance pods (KKR). High-speed strike and reconnaissance. Conducted area strikes, fortified areas, and convoys. Due to its high speed and wide wing sweep, it was less maneuverable in mountainous terrain than the Su-25.

MiG-23 (ML / MLD):
MiG-23 armament and use:
Air-to-air missiles (for patrols), bombs, and unguided rockets (for strikes). Border protection and bombing. Patrolled areas near the Pakistani border (to interdict attacks by Pakistani F-16s) and was involved in high-altitude bombing raids.

Mi-24 (V, P - “Crocodile”):
Armament and use of the Mi-24:
A 12.7mm machine gun or 30mm cannon, S-8 unguided rockets, Shturm-V ATGMs, and bombs. "Flying tank." It was used for hunting caravans, providing fire support for columns, and landing assault teams. It had powerful armor, but suffered from loss of propulsion in the thin mountain air.

Mi-8 (MT):
Armament and application:
Machine guns (PKT), unguided rockets in UB-32 pods. The "workhorse" of the special forces. The Mi-8MT modification with more powerful TV3-117 engines became the mainstay in 1984. The helicopter provided airlift for troops, evacuation of the wounded, and resupply of outposts.

1. Actions of attack and bomber aircraft (Su-25, Su-17)

Retreat to safe altitudes: Due to the widespread availability of DShK and ZGU machine guns among the mujahideen, aircraft were prohibited from descending below 3,500–4,000 meters during planned strikes. Only Su-25s were permitted to operate from low altitudes for emergency support of hard-pressed infantry.
Free Hunt: Pairs or flights of Su-25/Su-17 fighters flew into designated areas (especially along the Pakistani border) to independently search for and destroy weapons convoys. Strikes were carried out on any suspicious nighttime movements.
Strikes using Forward Air Controllers (FAC): The effectiveness of air strikes in the mountains in 1984 was dramatically increased by the deployment of FACs directly to infantry and special forces formations. The FACs radioed pilots to specific firing points using terrain markers or flares.
The "Vertushka" (Daisy) Tactic: When attacking targets in ravines, the aircraft formed a closed circle. While one aircraft dived on the target and dropped its bombs, the second provided cover from above, while the third approached the attack course. This ensured continuous firepower on the enemy.

2. Tactics of helicopter units (Mi-24, Mi-8)

Caravan countermeasures (Operation "Curtain"): In 1984, this became a priority. Helicopters worked closely with GRU special forces:

1. The cover group (a pair of Mi-24) patrolled at altitude, ready to suppress air defense.
2. The inspection group (consisting of Mi-8s under the cover of another pair of Mi-24s) suddenly landed in front of the caravan.
3. Special forces eliminated the guards and inspected the cargo. If the caravan departed, it was destroyed from the air.
   Column escort: No ground supply column was allowed onto the highway (for example, Hairatan-Kabul via Salang) without air cover. Pairs of Mi-24s would fly overhead, sweeping the commanding heights and the greenery along the roads. If an ambush was detected, the helicopters would immediately destroy it with unguided rockets.

AKS-74 / AKS-74U: 5.45mm assault rifles with folding stocks. For special forces, the AKS-74 was often equipped with a GP-25 "Koster" underbarrel grenade launcher or a PBS-4 suppressor.
AKM / AKMS: Many scouts in 1984 consciously returned to the older 7.62mm caliber. The AKM bullet penetrated mud walls (village walls) better and ricocheted less off branches and rocks in the greenery than the lightweight 5.45mm bullet. They were used with PBS-1 suppressors.
RPK-74 and PKM: The PKM machine gun (7.62x54mm caliber) was a favorite weapon of special forces for its firepower and reliability. A group could carry two or three PKMs.
SVD: Dragunov sniper rifle.
PB (silent pistol) and APB automatic pistol - for silently removing sentries.
NRS (Scout shooting knife).
AGS-17 "Plamya": Automatic grenade launcher. Special forces soldiers managed to lug these heavy 30-kg weapons around on their backs while on foot, or mounted them on the armor of armored personnel carriers/infantry fighting vehicles, and even in the doorways of Mi-8 helicopters.
RPG-7V and RPO "Rys" (rocket-propelled flamethrower): Flamethrowers effectively burned out the dushmans in caves and adobe buildings.
Captured DShKs and "Chinese Boers" (Lee-Enfield rifles): Captured DShK heavy machine guns were often used by special forces to defend their temporary bases and posts.
Mines and explosives: Mines were the basis of a successful ambush. Directional fragmentation mines, such as the MON-50 and MON-90 (Soviet equivalents of the American Claymore), were widely used, as were radio- or wire-controlled detonation systems.

Ambush operations: The primary method of operation. Groups of 10 to 30 men would advance covertly on foot at night or be dropped by helicopter deep behind enemy lines. Ambushes were set up along caravan routes, near water sources, or in narrow gorges ("green areas"). The special forces would allow the caravan to approach at point-blank range, after which they would destroy it with dagger fire and the detonation of directional mines.
Raids on fortified areas and transit bases were carried out with the support of armored vehicles and aircraft. Special forces stormed caves and villages where weapons were stored, capturing prisoners and documents.
Airborne Search and Assault Operations (ASAO): Close coordination with aviation. A special forces team was on standby duty aboard Mi-8 helicopters. Upon detection of the convoy from the air by a pair of Mi-24 escorts, the "eights" would suddenly drop troops to inspect and seize the cargo.
Night Operations: The mujahideen preferred to move at night, believing that Soviet troops were inactive at that time. GRU Spetsnaz broke this stereotype by switching to a predominantly nocturnal combat schedule, using night vision devices.

Afghan uniform
Mabuta (jump suit): Originally designed for cadets of the Ryazan Airborne and Special Forces School, this suit, made of dense fabric, was incredibly popular with the GRU for its comfort, durability, and light weight.
Captured uniforms and camouflage: For camouflage in the mountains and dense vegetation, a mesh protective suit (KZS) was often worn over regular clothing. Sometimes, special forces soldiers used elements of commercial or captured Pakistani camouflage.
Footwear: Regulation tarpaulin and yuft boots, as well as heavy army combat boots, led to sore feet and rapid fatigue in the mountains. Spetsnaz troops largely switched to regular athletic shoes or sneakers (Soviet "Kimry," "Dva Myacha," or captured Adidas/Puma). Sneakers provided excellent traction on rocks and a quieter walk.
Equipment and unloading:
"Bras": The standard Soviet light infantry gear (belt pouches) was useless in an ambush. GRU special forces began mass-producing homemade chest-mounted load-bearing vests—"bras." They were made from cut-up groundsheets or tarpaulins. They could hold four to six AK magazines and grenades.
Chinese vests: Chinese chest plates "Type 56" (for AK magazines) and "Type 63" taken from killed mujahideen were actively used.
Body armor: The 6B2 and 6B3 series were used. However, when hiking for many kilometers in the mountains, scouts often forwent them in favor of extra ammunition or water, as the extra 8-10 kg of weight at an altitude of 3,000 meters could cost them their lives due to fatigue.
RD-54 (Paratrooper Backpack): The special forces soldier's primary backpack, modernized with additional pockets. Yarovsky hiking backpacks, which held more supplies, were also used.

Mortars: 2B9 Vasilek (82-mm automatic)
2S12 "Sani" (120mm) "First Line Weapon." Due to their steep trajectory, these mines were indispensable in the mountains (for engaging enemy forces on reverse slopes and in ravines). The automatic "Vasilek" was prized for its ability to deliver a furious density of fire in seconds.
Towed artillery: D-30 (122mm howitzer) The most widely produced and beloved weapon. It featured a unique trail that allowed for 360-degree fire without moving the gun itself. Ideal for fortified outposts.
Self-propelled artillery (SPG): 2S1 Gvozdika (122 mm)
2S3 Akatsiya (152mm) - A mobile armored force. It was actively used to accompany infantry and airborne columns. The heavy 152mm Akatsiya was used to destroy stone fortresses (kalay) and mujahideen caves.
Rocket systems (MLRS): BM-21 "Grad" (122 mm) Psychological and area weapons. Used to cover large areas, base camps in the mountains, and suppress ambushes on distant approaches.
Heavy systems: 2S4 Tyulpan (240mm self-propelled mortar) "Fortress Destroyer." In 1984, these giants were actively used to destroy the most complex fortified areas. Their heavy mortars flew almost vertically and penetrated multi-meter stone cave walls.
Missile systems: 9K52 Luna-M / 9K72 Elbrus. Limited use. Used to strike major supply bases and mujahideen headquarters deep in the rear (near the Pakistani border) without Soviet troops crossing the border.

Defense of checkpoints and outposts (Protection of communications)

Hundreds of guard posts were deployed along the main roads (especially the Hairatan-Kabul route), each manned by fire platoons (usually D-30 howitzers and mortars).
Terrain reference: Every inch of ground around the checkpoint was pre-targeted. Artillerymen had "fire maps" with numbered squares.
Instant opening fire: If the mujahideen attacked a checkpoint or convoy at night, the artillerymen needed no time to calculate their attacks. They simply transmitted the target's number over the radio, and within 30–40 seconds, shells were flying toward it.

Artillery support for columns

Supply columns were the primary target for ambushes. Conventional guns couldn't deploy quickly enough after the march, so Soviet troops began literally mounting their artillery on wheels and armor:
"Nomadic" mortars: "Vasilek" automatic mortars were mounted directly on the back of Ural-375 or KamAZ trucks, while 120mm mortars were mounted on MT-LB tractors. This allowed for firing directly from the road without unloading the weapons.
Armored support groups: Gvozdika self-propelled guns were distributed within the transport column and fired direct fire at firing points on the mountain slopes during the battle.

Peculiarities of shooting in the mountains

Classic firing tables in Afghanistan were ineffective due to the thin air, elevation changes, and sudden wind shifts. Reconnaissance and calculations were done manually, with significant adjustments:
Ricochet Fire: To destroy mujahideen hiding behind the reverse slopes of ridges or in crevices, artillerymen used ricochet tactics. The shell was fired along a flat trajectory so that it would hit the opposite cliff and explode in the air above the enemy, showering the ravine with shrapnel.
Shooting at extreme elevation angles: To throw a projectile to the top of a high mountain, the guns were literally dug into the ground with their rear ends, artificially increasing the elevation angle of the barrel.

T-62 (modifications T-62M, T-62D): The most widely produced tank in the Afghan War. By 1984, the "M" modifications, modified based on combat experience, were widely deployed. They were equipped with "Brezhnev eyebrows" (additional metal-polymer armor on the turret), reinforced mine protection for the driver's underbody, and rubber-fabric side skirts for protection against RPG shaped-charge grenades.
T-55 (T-55AM modifications): They were actively used alongside the T-62, especially in road protection units and at checkpoints. They had a similar set of protection modifications.
Primary ammunition: High-explosive fragmentation shells were the primary weapon. Given the lack of enemy armor, tank crews rarely used sub-caliber rounds. However, guided missiles launched through the gun barrel (the Sheksna system on the T-62M and the Bastion system on the T-55AM) were extremely valuable, allowing sniper fire to destroy enemy firing positions in the mountains at a range of up to 4 km. All these tanks were manually loaded.

Armored support groups and "nomadic tanks"

During large-scale operations in 1984 (for example, in Panjshir), tanks were included in the so-called armored groups.
The tanks advanced ahead of or within the columns of infantry fighting vehicles and armored personnel carriers. Their armor protected the lighter vehicles from RPG fire.
High-Angle Firing: The main problem for tanks in the mountains was the low gun elevation angle (only +16° for the T-62). Mujahideen often occupied higher positions, on the slopes of ravines, where the gun couldn't reach. Tankers solved this tactically: the tank would drive one track onto a boulder, embankment, or mountainside, artificially tilting the nose upward, and engage targets with direct fire.

Protection of communications and checkpoints

A significant portion of the 40th Army's tanks were spread across key roads and the Salang Pass in 1984. A tank at a checkpoint was the main defense:
Its 115mm or 100mm cannon could destroy a clay wall with one shot or seal off the entrance to a cave from which fire was being fired.
At night, the tanks used their powerful searchlights (OU-3GKU or "Luna") to illuminate the terrain and blind attacking groups of mujahideen.

Column escort and mine sweep

In 1984, Afghanistan's roads were completely mined. Tanks bore the brunt:
Tanks equipped with KMT-5 or KMT-7 track mine trawls moved at the head of the columns, detonating mines and land mines in front of supply vehicles.
Even without a trawl, the modernized T-62M, when blown up by a standard anti-tank mine, most often lost only a roller and a track, while for an armored personnel carrier or truck such an explosion was fatal.

IMR-1 / IMR-2 (Engineering Obstruction Vehicles): Based on the T-54 and T-72 tanks, they were equipped with a powerful bulldozer blade and a massive telescopic boom with a grappling hook. They were indispensable in Afghanistan: they cleared rubble in gorges after explosions and landslides, and removed burned-out equipment blocking the path of convoys, all while facing heavy mujahideen fire, thanks to their tank-like armor.
BAT-M / BAT-2 (Tracklayers): Tracked vehicles capable of cutting roads (column paths) in rock or desert dunes in a matter of hours.
BMR-1 (Armored Mine Clearance Vehicle): Based on the chassis of the old SU-122-54 self-propelled gun or tank. It had reinforced underbody armor and was equipped with a heavy KMT-7 roller-blade mine plow. It led the column, absorbing all mine explosions.
MTU-20 (Bridgelayers): Tank chassis with a folding metal bridge. They could build a 20-meter bridge across a mountain river or chasm in three minutes to accommodate heavy vehicles.

Mine detection equipment and special weapons

IMP and IMP-2 mine detectors: Standard induction devices. Their main drawback in Afghanistan was that they only responded to metal. When the mujahideen began to widely use Italian plastic TS-50 and SH-55 mines (where the only metal component was the tiny, needle-sized striker), these mine detectors became useless.
RVM-2 (Radio wave mine detectors): A new product of the time, capable of detecting plastic and wooden mine casings in the ground by changes in the density of the environment.
Korshun (NR-900): An advanced non-linear locator (by 1984 it was being tested in Afghanistan), which made it possible to detect electronic fuses, wires and radio-controlled land mines hidden in rocks or walls.
Mine detection dogs (MDD): Four-legged "sappers" proved more effective than many devices. The dogs unerringly sniffed out the scent of TNT through the plastic casings of mines.
UR-67 / UR-77 ("Zmey Gorynych"): Mine clearing units.

Not a single motorcade or armored group moved from its place without the work of the IRD (engineering reconnaissance patrol).
Movement tactics: A BMR-1 with a mine-clearing trawl moved ahead of the IRD. Sappers with mine detectors, probes, and mine-detection dogs followed on foot, checking roadsides, bridges, culverts, and sharp turns—favorite places for planting mines.
Countering guided bombs: Mujahideen often planted heavy aerial bombs or boxes of TNT deep under the asphalt (by digging tunnels from the side) and ran wires to a commanding height 500-800 meters away, where an operator with a battery sat. Sappers learned to look not for the mine itself, but for the thin wires ("whiskers") running from the road into the mountains, cutting them with grappling hooks or special knives.
Jamming Radio Signals: In 1984, the first homemade and military-grade radio interference generators began to be used to protect columns. These jammed the signals from radio detonators, preventing the dushmans from detonating a landmine from the control panel.

Construction of outposts and checkpoints

In 1984, the "Zavesa" system and road security required the construction of hundreds of fortified points. Engineers built them from scratch:
They erected stone and earthen ceilings, dugouts, and caponiers for armored personnel carriers.
The checkpoints were surrounded by continuous minefields. A focal mining system was used: approaches were covered with OZM-72 ("Witch") and POMZ-2 antipersonnel mines, and wire-guided MON-50 mines.

Remote Mining Tactics (Blocking Caravans)

Sappers not only removed mines but also actively planted them to destroy convoys from Pakistan. In 1984, the VSM-1 helicopter mine-laying system was widely used:
Mi-8 helicopters, flying at low altitude, dropped thousands of tiny PFM-1 (Petal) anti-personnel mines in plastic casings over mountain paths and passes.

KAMAZ-5320 / KAMAZ-5410: Modern trucks of the time became the backbone of the autobattalions. Drivers valued them for their load capacity and maneuverability. However, in the mountains, their diesel engines suffered from oxygen deficiency.
Ural-4320 and ZIL-131: Used to deliver cargo directly to mountain garrisons outside the main highways due to their phenomenal cross-country ability.
Tanker trucks ("Nalivanki"): Kamaz-ATZ and Ural-ATZ. The most dangerous vehicles in Afghanistan. A simple bullet or shrapnel could turn a vehicle carrying gasoline or jet fuel into a blazing torch, destroying the accompanying vehicles in the convoy.

Autobattalion Tactics: Breaking Through Ambushes

By 1984, the movement of individual vehicles was completely prohibited. Supplies were strictly carried out in protected convoys:
Makeshift armor: Drivers protected their own cabs. They hung bulletproof vests on the doors, placed sandbags on the floor (to protect their feet from mines detonating from below), and partially covered the windshields with steel sheets with slits for the eyes.
Combat security: A column of 50-100 trucks was always reinforced with armored personnel carriers—BTR-70s, BMP-2s, and T-62M tanks with mine trawls. Every few trucks were assigned ZU-23-2 anti-aircraft guns, mounted directly in the back of KamAZ or Ural trucks. Thanks to the guns' elevation angles, these ZUs instantly suppressed mujahideen ambushes on the mountaintops.
"Fire on the Move" Tactics: When caught in an ambush, drivers were strictly forbidden from stopping. Braking meant the death of the entire convoy. The instructions called for driving at maximum speed, firing machine guns from the cab windows, and breaking through the fire zone. If the vehicle in front caught fire, the following truck or armored personnel carrier was to ram it into a chasm or onto the side of the road, clearing the way.

PMTP-100 / PMTP-150: Field main pipelines (100 and 150 mm in diameter). These were quick-assembly steel pipes with special socket joints. They were laid directly on the ground along roads.
Fuel pumping stations (PSG-160 / PNU-100/200): Powerful pumping stations based on ZIL or Ural trucks, which were installed every few kilometers to push fuel up into the mountains (the ascent to the Salang Pass exceeded 3,300 meters).

The pipeline troops waged a war on two fronts: against mujahideen sabotage and against fuel theft by the local population.
"Colander" on the pipe: The mujahideen constantly fired at the pipeline with automatic weapons or blew it up. Huge puddles of kerosene or gasoline formed, which were immediately ignited. The pipeline workers' task was to advance to the site of the accident under constant enemy fire, shut off the valves, replace the broken section of pipe, and weld or seal the holes.
Line security: Small fortified checkpoints (garrisons of 5-10 people) were built along the pipeline every 1-2 kilometers. Patrols were carried out in armored personnel carriers along the entire route.
Pipeline Special Forces: Mi-8 helicopters were widely used to quickly respond to accidents in 1984. An emergency team, armed with a supply of new pipes, would rush to the explosion site immediately after receiving a signal about a drop in pressure in the system, operating under the cover of Mi-24 helicopters.

AKS-74 and AKMS: Border guards actively used both the 5.45mm and the proven 7.62mm calibers. GP-25 underbarrel grenade launchers and night sights (NSPU) were widely installed on the assault rifles.
PKM and RPK-74: Units were supplied with machine guns beyond their standard equipment to ensure maximum firepower in ambushes.
SPG-9 "Spear": The mounted anti-tank grenade launcher was widely used to destroy mud fortifications and mujahideen firing points in villages.
AGS-17 "Plamya": Every unit had one. They were mounted on checkpoints, armored personnel carriers, and even helicopters.
Mortars: 82mm 2B9 Vasilek mortars and 120mm mortars were an essential element of the MMG's firepower during defense and support of raids.
BTR-70 (and modernized BTR-60PB): The primary transport for border guards. The APCs were often equipped with additional makeshift armor to protect against RPGs, and carried double the ammunition load.
BMP-1 / BMP-2: Used in motorized maneuver groups to break through fortified areas in the "green zone".
The border troops had their own powerful aviation force, based in the USSR (in Mary, Dushanbe, and Przhevalsk). The mainstays of this force were Mi-8TV helicopters (heavily armed attack variants) and Mi-24s. Coordination between helicopter pilots and border guard ground teams was rigorous.

Operations of the Airborne Assault Maneuvering Groups (AAGMG)

In 1984, the Air Assault Groups (for example, the Kerkinskaya and Pyandzhskaya) were the elite of the border troops. They lacked heavy armor and operated exclusively from helicopters:
"Air Bag" Tactics: Helicopters would suddenly drop troops onto commanding heights around a mujahideen base or village, blocking all escape routes.
Clearing from the top down: Unlike regular infantry, which stormed the mountains from the bottom up, the border guards, having landed on the peaks, attacked the enemy from above, pinning him in a gorge, where helicopters and artillery finished him off.

Actions of motorized maneuver groups (MMG)

The MMGs were powerful armored fists that were stationed in key points in northern Afghanistan (Andkhoy, Mazar-i-Sharif, Faizabad).
Establishment of strongholds: MMGs equipped autonomous, well-fortified bases with all-round defense, minefields, and caponiers for armored personnel carriers.
Raids and convoy escorts: the MMG strictly controlled their areas of responsibility. Whenever the mujahideen attempted to approach the Soviet border or attack peaceful villages (which cooperated with the PLA), the MMG advanced in armored vehicles and destroyed the gang.

Reconnaissance, search and ambush operations

The border guards were masters of ambushes:
"Hunting at the Junctions": Ambushes were set up at the junctures of the various Afghan tribes, where the mujahideen did not expect to encounter Soviet troops.
Border guards made extensive use of night reconnaissance equipment, seismic and radar sensors (such as the "Realiya" system), which were secretly deployed along trails. When movement was detected by a sensor, an artillery strike was immediately launched or a helicopter team was dispatched to the designated area.

KGB Specifics: Working with the Population

KGB border guards fought not only with weapons but also with undercover operations. In 1984, they actively implemented "divide and conquer" tactics:
With the help of KGB intelligence officers, border guards concluded peace treaties with local elders and so-called "contractual" gangs.

KAMAZ-5320 / KAMAZ-5410 (Mustang family): The main hit of the Afghan War. Three-axle KAMAZ trucks and tractors were prized by drivers for their superior comfort (compared to ZILs), excellent load capacity, and maneuverability on mountain roads. However, diesel engines at high altitudes (on passes like the Salang Pass) lost up to 30% of their power due to oxygen deprivation.
Ural-4320 (diesel) and Ural-375 (gasoline): Thanks to their all-wheel drive (6x6) and tire pressure regulation system, Urals could navigate areas where KamAZ trucks would stall on bridges. Urals were used to deliver cargo to high-altitude outposts and as chassis for rocket artillery (BM-21 Grad).
ZIL-131: A four-wheel drive truck (6x6), which by 1984 was used primarily as a platform for special equipment (communications vehicles, repair vans, and fuel trucks), as well as in rear-echelon units. Its V8 gasoline engine made it extremely fuel-hungry, but it started quickly in any freezing temperature at high altitudes.
GAZ-66 ("Shishiga"): A two-axle light truck (4x4), favored by paratroopers (VDV) and GRU special forces due to its phenomenal cross-country ability and compact size. The GAZ-66 was often equipped with Vasilyok mortar launchers. Its main drawback was the cab's location directly above the front wheels: if a mine exploded, the driver almost always died or suffered serious injuries.
KrAZ-255B ("Laptezhnik"): A heavy-duty, three-axle, giant truck. It was used for transporting the heaviest loads, evacuating damaged equipment, and as a base for heavy engineering vehicles (pontoon parks, excavators).
Water trucks (ACV-4.5 on a Ural/ZIL chassis): Vital special transport in southern Afghanistan (Kandahar, Lashkar Gah), where temperatures exceeded 50°C and natural water sources were either poisoned by the mujahideen or infected with typhus and cholera. Water was transported by the ton under tight security.

KamAZ-ATZ-7, Ural-ATZ-5, ZIL-157/131 (ATZ-3,4): The most dangerous, but also the most essential vehicles in Afghanistan. Without them, aviation and armored vehicles would not have been able to fight. The mujahideen hunted these tankers, as one well-placed RPG shot would incinerate an entire section of a convoy.
Sanitary and medical transport:
UAZ-452A ("Tablet" / "Loaf"): The main vehicle for evacuating the wounded from hospitals and headquarters.
AS-66: An ambulance based on the GAZ-66, which could accommodate up to 9 wounded on stretchers.
In combat conditions, armored BMM-1s (based on armored personnel carriers) were used for evacuation, as regular medical vehicles were easily shot at from ambushes.
Passenger and team transport:
The UAZ-469: Afghanistan's main command vehicle. Officers from battalion commanders to generals used it. Special forces and border guards often removed the tarpaulins and doors from UAZs, installing PKM machine guns or AGS-17 automatic grenade launchers in the back to create highly mobile firing positions.
LuAZ-967 (TPK – forward edge transporter): A small, amphibious, all-wheel-drive vehicle designed for evacuating the wounded and transporting ammunition under fire. The driver could operate it while lying flat on the cab floor.

The Chinese Type 56 and Egyptian Misr assault rifles were copies of the Soviet AK/AKM in 7.62mm caliber. This was the most widely produced and reliable weapon. The heavy bullet was ideal for mountain combat.
Lee-Enfield ("Boer") rifles: Old British magazine-fed rifles. Despite their age, they were prized by mujahideen snipers for their enormous effective range (up to 1–1.5 km) and colossal penetration, superior to the AK.
PKM machine guns (and their Chinese copies "Type 80"): The main means of creating a density of fire for guerrillas in combat.

Means of destruction of armored vehicles and aircraft (air defense)

• RPG-7 (and Chinese Type 69): The main anti-tank weapon. The Mujahideen used the tactic of mass RPG use: 3-5 grenade launchers from different sides could simultaneously fire at a single Soviet armored personnel carrier or tank.
DShK heavy machine guns (mostly Chinese Type 54s): The main nightmare of Soviet aviation in 1984. They were mounted on commanding heights, dug into cliffs, and hidden in caves. Fire from 12.7mm rounds inflicted fatal damage on Mi-8, Mi-24, and even Su-25 attack aircraft.
The first MANPADS (Strela-2 and Redeye): In 1984, American Stingers had not yet been delivered, but the mujahideen were already actively using Soviet Strela-2 MANPADS (Chinese copies of the HN-5 or captured from the DRA) and American Redeyes. This forced Soviet aircraft to fly at higher altitudes.

Heavy fire support

Chinese 107mm Type 63 MLRS: Lightweight 12-barrel rocket launchers. Guerrillas often disassembled them and transported them on mules. They were used for surprise nighttime attacks on Soviet airfields (Kabul, Bagram, Kandahar). Mujahideen often launched single rockets without a launcher at all, simply placing the shell on an earthen parapet and lighting the contacts with a regular battery.
Recoilless rifles B-10 (82 mm) and Chinese "Type 52/56": Used to shoot at Soviet checkpoints and armored vehicles at long distances.

Classic Mountain Ambush Tactics (Fire Bag)

The Mujahideen's favorite and most effective technique against Soviet automobile columns:

1. Selecting a location: The ambush was set up in a narrow gorge, in the “greenery” (dense vegetation along the roads) or on a sharp turn in a serpentine road, where the vehicles slowed down.
2. Blocking: The first salvo of RPGs and high explosives would blow up the lead and rear vehicles of the column (usually tanks, infantry fighting vehicles, or tankers). The column would be trapped.
3. Dagger fire: From pre-equipped and camouflaged stone firing points (sangars), located one level above the road, a barrage of fire from DShKs, machine guns and automatic weapons was opened at point-blank range.
4. Withdrawal: As soon as aircraft (Su-25 or Mi-24) were called to the Soviet column, the mujahideen immediately stopped fighting, retreated along hidden paths and disappeared into underground caves or peaceful villages before the helicopters arrived.

Mine warfare and sabotage

The mujahideen have turned road mining into a technological process.
In 1984, they began to massively use Italian-made plastic mines that were undetectable by Soviet metal detectors.
Powerful radio-controlled or wired land mines were actively planted under the asphalt. An operator could sit on a mountain a kilometer from the road and wait for a command vehicle or heavy tanker to hit the mine.

Night raids and shelling of garrisons

During the day, Soviet troops controlled the situation thanks to their air force, but the night belonged to the mujahideen:
Small mobile groups (5-10 people) secretly approached Soviet checkpoints or airbases.
A rapid, intense barrage of mortars, grenade launchers, or rockets was launched, after which the group would withdraw. The goal was not to capture the base, but to damage the equipment (especially aircraft parked in the open), wear down the soldiers' nerves, and keep the garrison on constant alert.