RUSSIAN BMP COMMANDER AFGHANISTAN

The war in Afghanistan, also known as the Soviet intervention in Afghanistan, was fought in the years 1979-1989. The parties to the conflict were the Afghan communist government, supported on a large scale by the USSR, and partisan (mujahedin) troops who did not agree to Soviet intervention and far-reaching secularization and atheization of the state. The Mujahideen relatively quickly received extensive, albeit unofficial, aid from the United States. It is assumed that the Soviet side involved about 100-120 thousand people in the conflict at a time. people, while determining the number of mujahideen is very difficult - most often it is assumed, however, that they had numerical advantage over the Soviet troops. The immediate cause of the conflict was the USSR's desire to increase its role in Central Asia, and above all, to increase its influence in Afghanistan. Soviet troops fighting in this war were part of the so-called The Limited Contingent of Soviet Forces in Afghanistan, which was primarily made up of the forces of the 40th Army. It is worth adding that at the very beginning of the war, the Soviet army engaged about 81,000 in the conflict. people, approx. 2,400 armored vehicles (including tanks) and approx. 500 aircraft. Over time, these forces have grown significantly. The Afghan War was, like the Vietnam War, a classic example of guerrilla warfare, which, in addition, was fought in terrain definitely unfavorable to Soviet troops. Moreover, Soviet soldiers were ill-trained to lead such an asymmetric conflict. Also, the Soviet equipment and doctrine, designed for the full-scale conflict in Central and Western Europe, did not always work. Ultimately, the war ended with the defeat of the Soviet Union, which suffered a huge and prestigious defeat. It is also assumed that the war hastened the collapse of the Soviet Union. The Soviet army probably also lost about 65,000-70,000 wounded and killed.The war in Afghanistan, also known as the Soviet intervention in Afghanistan, was fought in the years 1979-1989. The parties to the conflict were the Afghan communist government, supported on a large scale by the USSR, and partisan (mujahedin) troops who did not agree to Soviet intervention and far-reaching secularization and atheization of the state. The Mujahideen relatively quickly received extensive, albeit unofficial, aid from the United States. It is assumed that the Soviet side involved about 100-120 thousand people in the conflict at a time. people, while determining the number of mujahideen is very difficult - most often it is assumed, however, that they had numerical advantage over the Soviet troops. The immediate cause of the conflict was the USSR's desire to increase its role in Central Asia, and above all, to increase its influence in Afghanistan. Soviet troops fighting in this war were part of the so-called The Limited Contingent of Soviet Forces in Afghanistan, which was primarily made up of the forces of the 40th Army. It is worth adding that at the very beginning of the war, the Soviet army engaged about 81,000 in the conflict. people, approx. 2,400 armored vehicles (including tanks) and approx. 500 aircraft. Over time, these forces have grown significantly. The Afghan War was, like the Vietnam War, a classic example of guerrilla warfare, which, in addition, was fought in terrain definitely unfavorable to Soviet troops. Moreover, Soviet soldiers were ill-trained to lead such an asymmetric conflict. Also, the Soviet equipment and doctrine, designed for the full-scale conflict in Central and Western Europe, did not always work. Ultimately, the war ended with the defeat of the Soviet Union, which suffered a huge and prestigious defeat. It is also assumed that the war hastened the collapse of the Soviet Union. The Soviet army probably also lost about 65,000-70,000 wounded and killed.The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation (FR for short) were officially formed in May 1992 and are seen as the heir to the combat traditions and achievements of the Soviet armed forces. Currently, they are recognized as the second most powerful armed forces in the world, second only to US forces. One of their most important elements is the land component, i.e. the Land Forces of the Russian Federation, which in 2013 consisted of around 250,000 soldiers. Their most numerous component is still infantry - primarily motorized and mechanized. In 2013, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation consisted of 34 motorized rifle brigades. However, it is assumed that in 2016 they already had a motorized rifle division and - in addition - 35 motorized rifle brigades. It is worth adding that at the end of 2016, official information was provided about the formation of two new motorized divisions and two new motorized rifle brigades. At present, it is very difficult to give the exact number of brigades and divisions of the above-mentioned type. The composition of the modern Russian motorized brigade can be given on the example of the 9th Independent Motorized Rifle Brigade stationed in the city of Boguczar. In 2013, it had, among others, 41 tanks, 120 IFVs, 15 tracked armored personnel carriers and 18 multi-rocket launchers. It is worth adding, however, that the composition of individual motorized brigades could have changed significantly since 2013. It is worth adding that the current motorized and mechanized infantry units of the Russian Federation are largely based on vehicles structurally derived from the times of the USSR and they are most often IFVs from the BMP-2 and BMP-3 family, MT-LB tracked transporters or wheeled armored personnel carriers (KTO ) BTR-70 / BTR-80 / BTR-90. Of course, these cars are intensively modernized. It is worth noting that there are also completely new types of weapons introduced, such as the Kamaz Tajfun family of vehicles. However, the main shooting weapons remain the AK-74 and AK-74M.