John Kettler Posted October 11, 2021 Share Posted October 11, 2021 (edited) This is a must see, because almost the entire thing is about operations in Afghanistan. Has tons of footage showing not just helo ops but the country, terrain, the people, the muj, Soviet troops and weapons, etc., and is on YT. Am not providing a link because there is some gory stuff in the video, and I don't wish to get a rocket from the Mods for violating the no gore stricture. Regards, John Kettler Edited October 11, 2021 by John Kettler 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sgt.Squarehead Posted October 11, 2021 Share Posted October 11, 2021 (edited) Dude, it's Discovery Channel, so I reckon we are on safe ground: Edited October 11, 2021 by Sgt.Squarehead 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sgt.Squarehead Posted October 11, 2021 Share Posted October 11, 2021 (edited) Interestingly, at about 34:00 when the documentary starts waffling (it does that quite a bit) about the Stinger, it appears to show the Mujahideen using what looks like a Milan ATGM...I'd heard these were supplied to the Mujahideen, but I don't recall ever seeing one before. PS - Interesting vehicle at 42:15, looks like some sort of T-55 based combat engineer vehicle with what may be a ZU-23-2 on the deck. Edited October 11, 2021 by Sgt.Squarehead 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sgt.Squarehead Posted October 11, 2021 Share Posted October 11, 2021 While we're on the subject: 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Kettler Posted October 12, 2021 Author Share Posted October 12, 2021 (edited) Sgt.Squarehead, According to information I've seen, the muj got MANPADS: Redeye (IR-guided tail chase only) via CIA, some small quantity of Blowpipe (MCLOS) from UK (source unknown) and, ultimately, Stinger (all-aspect IR) from the CIA. When I was at Rockwell, I got to watch the Pentagon's FOUO Betamax video of the Stinger in action with the muj, and it was eating up helicopters and fighters (saw no Su-25) being used for ground attack. Offhand, I see no reason why Milan couldn't (kinematics permitting) be used effectively against a helicopter. In one of the Mi-24 vids I saw, there was mention of a HOT air-to-air kill on an Iranian ground attack aircraft in the Iran-Iraq War, and the Russian CLGMs were designed to deal with ATGM armed attack helos as well as ATGM launchers on the ground outside of effective tank cannon range. Am aware of the Mi-24 snatch but will certainly watch the video. Good spot on the engineering vehicle. Image was too poor for me to ID. The ZU-23 on the back is an obvious field expedient to provide capability against high elevation threats. ZU-23 admirably suited as a day-ruiner for muj! Regards, John Kettler Edited October 12, 2021 by John Kettler 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sgt.Squarehead Posted October 12, 2021 Share Posted October 12, 2021 7 hours ago, John Kettler said: Offhand, I see no reason why Milan couldn't (kinematics permitting) be used effectively against a helicopter. It's not being used against a helicopter. AFAIK footage of the Milan in Afghanistan is pretty bloody rare.....I've never seen any before. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Kettler Posted October 12, 2021 Author Share Posted October 12, 2021 Sgt.Squarehead, Misunderstood you, but I still think it could down helcopters. Found a really useful Wiki page on muj weapons of the Soviet-Afghan War. Among other things, it shows the UK was the second largest western MANPADS supplier, with 50 Blowpipe launchers and 6 Blowpipe missiles per launcher. Stingers supplied amounted to 800 total. 160 Milan launchers were delivered by France in 1988 vs 80 TOW. No missile count provided for either.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_military_equipment_used_by_mujahideen_during_Soviet–Afghan_War According to a spook directly involved in getting weapons to the muj, Milan did to tank formations what the Stinger did to helicopter squadrons. Called it "devastating." Milan was deployed on orders of the White House and was supplied after the Stingers were sent in.https://books.google.com/books?id=a3Z_AwAAQBAJ&pg=PA103#v=onepage&q&f=false Regards, John Kettler 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hacketäuer Posted October 13, 2021 Share Posted October 13, 2021 (edited) Quote https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_military_equipment_used_by_mujahideen_during_Soviet–Afghan_War Interesting indeed. Astonishing to see how late some modern equipment was handed out to the muj. The Milan as late as 1988 so with the soviets well on their way out. Edited October 13, 2021 by Hacketäuer 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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