COMBAT APPLICATION: OPERATION "DANUBE" In the spring of 1968, an acute political crisis erupted in seemingly prosperous Czechoslovakia. Riots, pogroms, attacks on the police began in Prague, Bratislava, and other cities of Czechoslovakia. By August 1968, the situation in

The use of armored fortification in Belgium. The activities of the engineer Brialmont. The fortresses of Liege and Namur. The use of armor in other small states. If in the main states of Western Europe armor in the second half of the 80s found itself still relatively limited

End of publication about the memoirs of a scout paratrooper Valeria Marchenko () , now a holder of two orders of the Red Star and the Order of the Red Banner of the Republic of Afghanistan, a reserve lieutenant colonel who served in Afghanistan from 1979 to 1989.

Part 3. "DUSHMAN TRAP"

An air detachment of two pairs of helicopters - combat Mi-24 and general support - Mi-8, with a capture group of the 80th separate reconnaissance company of the 103rd Guards Airborne Division on board, pressing against the ground, headed south. Departing to the left of the Kabul-Kandahar highway, the helicopters glided like shadows near the villages of Chakharasiab and Dekhi-Kalan, rounded the Safedsang peak and, passing over the muddy waters of Logar, turned onto the snowy Spingar.

The powerful ridge impressed the scouts with the peaks of eternal snows that engulfed the subtropics of Nangarhar with a leaden ebb of ominous gorges. All around were the villages left by the dekhkans, defeated by Amin’s aviation during the years of the Saur Revolution, which did not spare either their own or others, as well as ours, which also did not stand on ceremony during the cleansing of the floodplain of the Logar River by Soviet troops. There is a war here!

“Oh-oh-oh,” the scouts perked up, “Sikaram peak!” Soaring to a height of 4745 meters above sea level, it occupied a dominant position over the peaks of the Jalalabad "greenery", as if proclaiming to strangers: do not poke your head here - you will die. It is in these picturesque mountains that the saddle of the Paivar Pass fits in, perhaps one of the few, through which the caravan routes of the Great Silk Road led from Pakistan to neighboring Afghanistan.

Descending from the ridges to the sun-scorched steppe of Tobagi, which is closer to Kabul, they scattered to the vilayets of Nangarhar, Ghazni, Logar. It was on the fertile lands of Logar, covered with greenery, that the armed opposition detachments were hiding, controlling the Kabul-Ghazni-Kandahar highway. Dushmans from the ethnic group of Tajiks, who spoke the Persian dialect of Farsi-Kabuli, and the Khazarians who joined them, whose life principles were not in a tribal way of life, like the Pashtuns, but in a settled way of life - in villages historically tied to their ancestral territories.

Dushmans furiously attacked the transport columns of the Soviet troops, supplying material supplies to the garrisons of Gardez, Kandahar, Shindant, burning them along with the escort personnel. Combat operations of a limited contingent in the spring and summer of 1980 partly reduced enemy activity, certain sections of the road were taken under control, but the enemy did not leave aspirations, continuing to attack KamAZ columns.

Throughout the route was stuffed with mines, land mines. Sappers did not detect them with probes, and loyal assistants - mine detection dogs - did not smell dangerous traps. Dushmans wrapped "Italians" (TS-50) in cellophane, doused with kerosene, solarium, oils. People died, technology! Logar, Gardez, Ghazni ... The most dangerous areas for the marches of Soviet and government troops.

In the autumn of 1980, the leadership of the Afghan opposition confessed to their patrons - the US State Department - that they were weakening their influence on the central provinces of the country. On the one hand, the Dushman formations in battles with a limited contingent suffered losses in manpower, on the other hand, they lacked weapons and ammunition. The American office of the CIA in Pakistan reacted quickly to this signal. The leaders of the opposition parties, who had combat detachments on the territory of Afghanistan, were supplied with weapons by caravan.

First of all, the weapons went to the Dushman detachments, which retained their combat potential in operations with the Soviet troops. Its acquisition was carried out by the leaders of the opposition parties, field commanders at the expense of funds received on bank accounts in Pakistan. Military property, ammunition, communications equipment, and medicines were also purchased with the proceeds from the smuggling of opium and heroin potions. Through Pakistan, it entered the ports of the Indian Ocean, where it was sold to dealers in international drug trafficking and the seas - oceans went to all continents of modern civilization.

Many players fit into the well-established supply chain - to Pakistan of drugs, back - of weapons - for whom the presence of Soviet troops in Afghanistan turned into an attractive business. Some of them pursued political ambitions by trampling down counties and provinces, while others played commercial interests by trading in smuggled goods: carpets, stones, lapis lazuli, precious metal. Heroin and opium - sacred! And no matter what platform the games were played on - political, religious, economic, the forces of the Afghan opposition made profit, dividends! Their involvement in the fight against the Soviet troops was a damn profitable project! A huge amount of money from American taxpayers went under its implementation! Thus, the "punching" of caravan routes across the border with Pakistan in the activities of many forces, including the Afghan resistance, was of particular importance.

The command of the 40th Army recorded the strengthening of the Dushman detachments due to the supply of weapons from Pakistan. Having assessed the danger to the Karmal regime and its own troops, it decided to put up a barrier to the movement of means of warfare to Afghanistan by the method of caravan postings. Lieutenant General Boris Ivanovich Tkach, who took command of the 40th Army in September 1980, assigned this task to the reconnaissance units of a limited contingent.

The reconnaissance of the Airborne Forces in Afghanistan was ordered to carry out special tasks to combat caravans in cooperation with army aviation. By the decision of the army commander, we, the scouts of the 103rd Guards Airborne Division, were assigned a zone of active measures to intercept or destroy caravans, which included the territory of the vilayets of Nangarhar, Kabul and Logar.

Logar - al-jihad Bab (gate of jihad) - this is how the name of the province is translated from Farsi-Kabuli, which by the end of 1980 became the strategic corridor of the Afghan opposition in the supply of weapons to Afghanistan. Its territory is convenient for moving goods along secret paths and gorges. The eastern counties of the province border on Pakistan, propping up the mountainous subtropics of Nangarhar, the western counties adjoin the central province of Kabul. From north to south, a beautiful landscape is crossed by a river with the same name - Logar. Along its banks, a kishlach massif stretches in a long chain, immersed in the greenery of fruit trees.

Lieutenant Colonel Skrynnikov, the head of intelligence of the 103rd Guards Airborne Division, received information about the “spiritual” wires through the thin channels of the “gereush” intelligence of the General Staff of the USSR Armed Forces, the intelligence service of the state security of Afghanistan - KHAD (khedmat-e amniyat-e doulati), including aviation reconnaissance based on the MiG-21R squadron.

In order to conduct reconnaissance and ambush operations on the routes of escorting caravans, reconnaissance groups of the 80th separate reconnaissance company of the division were thrown into the coordinate points indicated by information sources. Adapting to the conditions of the terrain, kishlak massifs, they raided caravans of pack animals, wheeled vehicles. Thus, they developed tactics for combating dushman postings, gaining experience in a new direction of combat work.

Meanwhile, the flight commander led the helicopter group in such a way that the "spirits" did not get the impression that the Russians were reconnaissance, the possibility of ambush actions was assessed. Once in the caravan route, marked by a source of information from the Afghan intelligence center "Shir", the helicopters entered the combat course. An intricate grid of paths glided through the porthole. According to one of them, dekhkans moved to neighboring villages, solving trade matters in kind, according to others, they drove sheep and camels to a watering place, pastures.

There were roads for wheeled vehicles that exported ores, marble, and granite from stone quarries. The paths that winded along the ridges and got lost in the gorges were used by the dehkans to go to the mountains, where they hid, waiting out the danger. Which of them were involved in the wiring of caravans? - Don't tell right away. There is very little background information to draw conclusions from the assessment of the situation. More accurate data were needed, which were obtained by undercover intelligence and, first of all, by HAD. The Afghan security service received information from local sources close to caravan escorts, from direct participants in the escorts, paying them a paisa (fee).

Outside the helicopter, the colors of green massifs, snowy peaks and a blue-blue sky flashed. Everywhere was full of life! It boiled at the water arteries with countless villages and died away at the dwellings and buildings abandoned by the dekhkans. As the altitude climbed, the landscape of narrow paths changed into a three-dimensional pattern of space, in which the cobwebs of communication lines, gathering in a bundle, scattered in the valley to the southeast - to the border with Pakistan.

“M-yes, caravans of beasts of burden - expanse! I went down to the floodplain of the Logar River, unloaded and everything was done ... Well, well ... But somewhere there is a transshipment base ... From it the weapons go to the final destinations. But where is this base? If not local agents, then who will direct the intelligence of the Airborne Forces to it?

Assessing from the helicopter the locations of ambushes, exits to the points of evacuation of groups after completing the tasks, I marked on the map the transport arteries that converged in the gorges, marked the areas where, from my point of view, it is convenient to lead caravans, landing sites villages as possible transshipment points.

Baravkov interrupted his reflections:

- Comrade senior lieutenant, the crew commander is calling.

The pilot is calling!

In the cockpit, the crew commander nodded:

- Look - tractors with carts.

- Right thirty!

Through the cab blister, I noticed a cloud of dust unmasking cars with trailers.

The air group commander understood my decision right off the bat.

- Inspection! "Twenty-fourths" - in cover. Let's take it in a box! Sit in the head of the "thread", the second side - from the rear.

“Understood,” the pilot shouted cheerfully.

I rushed to the scouts:

- Perkov, readiness - complete! Screening with Baravkov! Azarnov!

- Insure Lieutenant Perkov. Skull twist in a circle!

- Nischenko! General capture provision. Like in the classroom! Questions?

- No way!

– We are working!

Touching the ground. Forward! The scouts rushed to the object of capture, keeping their eyes on the roadside, covered with a prickly head. By blocking the tractors at the same time, both groups of scouts deprived them of the ability to maneuver.

With the signalman Nikolai Esaulkov, they rushed to the leading tractor. From this position, the actions of the scouts were better seen. The “drawing” of the capture turned out to be beautiful, in the sense of professional execution, but with unnecessary movements when throwing towards the object, which violated the synchronism in time. And, damn it, the scouts lacked audacity! Shine in the eyes!

Sprawled on the ground, the tractor drivers stretched out their gnarled hands in front of them. Not running a few steps to their bodies, I stumbled, as I thought, on a lump of camel thorn, but no - the situation turned out to be more dramatic! From above, a pair of twenty-fourths swooped down on us, crushing every living thing in the world with the ringing roar of engines. Having slipped over their heads, the “humpbacks” went into a climb.

“Well, damn it! Stop stop! However ... Well, this is a highlight!

- What if a real caravan is “ironed” with a false entry of “turntables”? And Esaulkov?

- That's right, Comrade Senior Lieutenant! "Dushki" something in shock - look! The signalman nodded at the drivers.

- Well done! Notice! Perkov, Arkhipov - carts, Sokurov, Gaponenko - tractors. Just a minute to check and let's go!

- Baravkov, "remove" information from the Afghans! Are there people from the mountains in the villages? How much? What are they doing?

The deputy, who knew Farsi, joined the survey of drivers.

“Comrade senior lieutenant, the carts are clean, only firewood,” Sokurov reported running up.

- There are rusty keys in the tractors and nothing else, Valery Grigorievich.

- Got it, Pasha. Worked quickly, but there are questions! Let's get to the base!

“Comrade senior lieutenant,” Baravkov called out, “in the villages, strangers, drivers, they say they saw them. There are nights, but who they represent, who is behind them, the drivers do not know or are afraid to reveal. After the attack, the "humpbacks" come to their senses.

- To hell with them, Gena! Let's go! Nischenko, retreat! Cover the group!

With a clenched fist, the sergeant indicated that he understood. They took off and walked over the tractors with trailers. Orient measured four minutes from landing to takeoff. Not bad. Training and combat inspection worked out for a good mark - you can go home.

Almost touching the tops of the orange grove with the landing gear, we went to the main highway and went to Kabul, leaving the villages and greenery on the right, so as not to get a handful of scrap metal on the sides from the DShK.

Having circled the capital of Afghanistan along the eastern outskirts, we landed at the Kabul airfield from Paghman. Stunned by the flight, they descended onto the concrete pavement that smelled of kerosene.

- Pash, check the weapon and - a smoke break. I'm at twenty-four.

- Understood, Valery Grigorievich!

The crews of the "parked" "turntables" cheerfully discussed the task. Sweaty, excited pilots laughed with pleasure on the occasion of the successful end of another combat day. The flying hours are worked out, and you can relax.

- Who, boys, almost "shaved" me?

Rolling with laughter, the pilots pointed to a red-haired boy with a pressure helmet in his hand.

- Come on, five! Well done!

- It's due, commander!

- As it should be!

They stood still, laughed, cooling down from the flight.

- Well? Shall we discuss maneuver, skywolves?

"Strongly, Commander?" Applicable in capture?

- Necessarily! The attack was spectacular! Impressed!

- Let's think of something else!

- Accepted! Worked clean, no complaints! Friendly elbow felt personally. Bath at 20.00, guys, and without delay! And as expected, do not forget the science of Suvorov!

Thanks for the invitation, Commander! We will!

- No doubt! The idea - to fill up the caravan - the fathers-commanders will not leave alone. Will we work?

Let's work, Valera! Until the evening.

- Bye guys!

Another flight for aerial reconnaissance brought results. I mentally grouped them according to signs and directions. In general, an idea was formed about the road network, the location of the kishlak sector, the system of transport and pedestrian arteries, which made it possible to form a plan to fight against caravans in cooperation with army aviation. Options for the use of reconnaissance groups in different directions were born. The developments were real, which he reported to the head of intelligence of the division upon arrival at the location:

- The route network from the Spingar ridge, comrade lieutenant colonel, has conditions for the transfer of goods to the central districts of the country on wheeled vehicles, tractors and pack animals. Provides approaches to villages on the ways of moving weapons and the organization of transshipment points in convenient places. The possibility of storing weapons and ammunition in the floodplain of the Logar River is combined with the presence of roads in it and the camouflage of caravans - "green", most likely provided by local agents for escorting caravans.

- Did you see it from a helicopter, Valera?

- Agents!

No, Comrade Lieutenant Colonel! But without intelligence cover, I would not have dared to lead a caravan to the capital, where the troops of the Shuravi and the “greens” were stuck. Fools don't get paid good money for caravan escorts, Comrade Lieutenant Colonel.

- Hmm ... Don't be rude to the old lieutenant colonel! Continue!

- Presumably, the enemy proceeds from the principle that pulling caravans to the main communications is dangerous. Their movement on the plain is somehow controlled by us, so I believe that there are weapons depots in the Hoshi area. The further movement of military cargo to the final "consumers" is carried out on beasts of burden in small batches with items of trade in the markets. For disguise.

- All right, Valera! I conditionally agree with you. Well, what's next?

Understanding my mood for attacking tactics in relation to caravan postings, Mikhail Fedorovich forced me to analyze the situation. Of course, he wanted to make sure that the operation to intercept caravans was well thought out, that the arguments were justified, which would have the right to life.

- If the command does not rush us to accomplish momentary feats, Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, I consider it necessary to orient undercover intelligence to specific information on our task. First of all, I mean HUD!

- Well, this is ... - Ivan Komar, the commander of divisional scouts, intervened.

- That's right, Ivan Gennadievich! HAD information is slippery and often dangerous, sometimes it does not correspond to reality at all, but it has an operational plus - the speed of passing to us! What prevents us from filtering it through factor analysis, clarifying it with the “stuntmen” and implementing it immediately? Flying blindly, roaming the roads and mandehams, is a useless act. We are convinced of this every time, as soon as we return from loitering in "dukhov" places. However, as now!

- This is true! - said the head of intelligence, lighting a cigarette.

- What to hide, comrade lieutenant colonel? We tease the “spirits” with a flight of aviation in their deep rear, reveal our intentions, and provoke a reaction of countermeasures. They are observant and very careful! Or are my reasonings, Ivan Gennadyevich, not lined up in this vein?

- What are you trying to persuade, Valery? Mosquito waved it off. - Comrade lieutenant colonel, in my opinion, Marchenko's arguments are convincing.

– Any suggestions, Ivan? Spread it!

- I propose to speak to the commander of the group! Go to the caravan!

- Hmm, come on, Valery Grigorievich, quickly and without adventurous intentions! I have a headache without it.

Leaning back on the canopy of the tent, Mikhail Fedorovich prepared to listen to proposals for divisional reconnaissance to enter caravan routes in order to intercept caravans. The division commander, Major General Ryabchenko, needs a result! The result was also needed by the commander of the 40th Army!

- In this operation, I propose to work in two groups. One goes to the caravan and acts in the interests of the realization of information, the other - on the "turntables" will cover the capture. If necessary, we will take it out for inspection. Attracting "armor" is a separate conversation, depending on the situation. At night, with armored vehicles, we insure the exit of groups from tasks or disperse the attention of the “spirits” from observing the target.

- I.e?

- We distract from the group that has fallen into force majeure circumstances.

- Well, yes! interrupted the chief of intelligence. - If the group is squeezed, and time passes by seconds ... Do you understand what I'm talking about?

- Yes sir!

- Until the "armor" is pulled up to the group, nothing will remain of it. Good pun, huh?

- Good, Comrade Lieutenant Colonel! Indeed, the role of "armor" in the operation is not visible - far and will not be in time! Thus, the discussion of the issue of undercover support of the actions of reconnaissance groups behind enemy lines becomes topic number one!

- Again for your ...

- What is meant? Without undercover support of the local population, among which there are, in principle, no civilians, it is impossible to do! The male population is either in the mountains or in the villages in the form of a militia of boys and quite healthy old men. They are damn dangerous!

- Yes, and wounded spooks! We do not fit into their understanding of good and evil, which means that our domestic intelligence agencies will not contact them under any development of events - only through the HAD. This means that one should look for contacts and access to sources of information in the area of ​​caravan postings among the local population through the HAD, where, by the way, everything is bought and sold! Information too! The Khadovites will find the way out! They are! What I was convinced of for the last time, delivering the captured dushmans to their “safety” department no more than a week ago. Do you remember, Comrade Colonel? So here it is! Saur revolutionaries tortured some "spirits" with savage methods, other "spirits" sat nearby and smiled - that means they were their own!

- M-yes-ah, Valera, I understand, but more to the point.

- Got to work! The conditions of our work have a number of features associated with caravan postings at night! It's at night!

Grimacing, as if from a toothache, Mikhail Fedorovich jumped up.

Are you a Soviet man, Marchenko? BUT?

"That's right, Comrade Lieutenant Colonel!" Brought up by the Komsomol and brought up by the party! The officers could hardly contain their laughter from my, if not hooligan, then defiant, antics.

– So why don’t you understand the simple truth on a “silver platter”!

- Listen to the head of intelligence, comrade senior lieutenant! Teach you, teach you what you can talk about and what you can’t! Remember everything! Especially you are an adventurer! Afghan agents are not our com-pe-ten-tion! Do you understand, weirdo? Not na-sha!

“Uncle Misha was carried away ... Although, why blame it? Undercover escort of reconnaissance groups in the "spiritual" rear is not solved in one day. The "Geraushniks" are helpless in this work, the "KGB" do not interfere in military affairs - they are interested in political information for Moscow. Like it or not, it turns out - HUD! You really have to be careful with her!”

So, let's talk! From the Kabul-Kandahar highway to the reconnaissance strip, within which ambushes are planned by two or three reconnaissance groups at the same time, more than thirty kilometers. The boss is right! This is the distance! "Armor" will not have time to support any of the groups that are under attack. The "spirits" will "walk" over them faster than the armored vehicles will pull up to provide assistance, especially since there is no information about the enemy. What squads? How much? Locations? Nothing but general or conflicting data! Let's plunge into the Dushman hotbed without insurance, the "bearded" will tear off our heads and not frown. Again, you can count on the result of intercepting caravans only by night ambushes! Of this I was convinced!

- Why are you silent? Tell me! How did the inspection work?

- BUT? “What is he talking about? - looked at the chief in bewilderment, - Oh, yes ... ”- Normally, Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, he will go. Helicopter pilots came up with a "zest". Well done!

Mikhail Fedorovich liked my report on the "psychic" attack of combat helicopters. Not losing the initiative, he winked at Komaru, saying, support, Ivan.

- Comrade Lieutenant Colonel...

- What else?

– Leaving a group at night without cover is really dangerous! No one will help in the dushman's viper, and they will eat us with pleasure! But even going out to systematically intercept caravans without a night search is an empty business. If you don't mind, I'll take Perkov to capture, and Perepechin will secure on the "turntables".

“But Perkov didn’t fly to the district,” the chief started up.

- At night, all cats are gray, comrade lieutenant colonel, and Pasha has a grip. Let's figure it out!

“Are you still insisting on the night?”

- Yes sir! I looked Mikhail Fedorovich in the eyes.

I think adventurer! Oh, and you are an adventurer, Marchenko!

The change in Lieutenant Colonel Skrynnikov's mood in favor of his subordinates during discussions of combat missions occurred at the moment when he was convinced of the rightness and fortitude of the interlocutor. The reconnaissance chief understood that the proposals of the reconnaissance group commanders were born not with a “bang”, but as a result of practical work in ambushes and analytical studies of the results.

“I won’t go deep, comrade lieutenant colonel, I’ll land about twenty minutes before dark, look around, sniff the air and go out to the ambush site in an hour and a half.”

Buried in the "fifty", Mikhail Fedorovich pondered.

- What else would you pay attention to, Comrade Lieutenant Colonel! See the map - the narrowing of the relief between the ridges. It is here that the roads, gathering into a "bundle", create conditions for blocking several paths in a narrow passage at the same time.

- Significant! Mikhail Fyodorovich nodded.

"Kapkan, Comrade Lieutenant Colonel!" "Dushman trap". The main type of "spiritual" tactics in relation to attacks on the columns of our troops! Pay attention! And what? The wedge is knocked out with a wedge! Let's work with the "spiritual" method!

Ambush actions were discussed at length. More than once, Lieutenant Colonel Skrynnikov jumped up, shaking his fists, until Sergeant Major Andreichuk had a thought:

- It's time to have dinner, comrade officers, it's getting cold!

The next morning brought the expected news - two reconnaissance groups are preparing for ambush actions. Mine - the main one - acts in ambush, Alexandra Perepechina - insures on the "turntables".

With the commander of the helicopter group, they worked out a flight over the Dushman territory in such a way that the enemy did not get the impression that Russian aviation was conducting reconnaissance. Takeoff was carried out by two pairs at a strictly calculated time. Through the porthole, I tracked the passage of landmarks marked on the map, the situation in the fields, villages, in order to have an idea of ​​​​the population density with the departure of daylight hours.

At low level, we passed the turning point to the area of ​​upcoming actions - the crossroads south of the village of Sangarkheil, and entered the task area by a left turn. Thus, we completed the conditional “loop” of flying over the territory controlled by spooks, so that it would be more difficult for them to “tie” the helicopter group to our task.

The evening sun sank behind the crest of the ridges, throwing eerie shadows across the valley that sent goosebumps to her body. Brrr.

“Attention, guys, pack up! We are arriving!

I raised my hand - a signal: "Get ready!". The group has turned into a mechanism with a cocked spring. The eyes that met - mine and the commander of the helicopter flight - were in unison ...

"How is it there? In order?" mine asked.

"We're coming," the "link" nodded.

- See you guys!

With clenched fists, the crew wished us well.

- For the success of our cause - hopeless! - the commander threw in the trail.

- For success!

In the cabin, he bowed to Perkov.

- Be careful behind the rear, Pasha, the "spirits" are very fast! Do not rush! Try to see everything!

“Understood, Valery Grigorievich.

It is hard to imagine the next minute - there, on earth! And will she ever? Forward! The group jumped over the side of the helicopter and took up position for battle. The helicopters left along the route, without creating in the void that surrounded us the impression of a group of scouts being dropped into the Gumaran salt marsh steppe. We lay in the rancid dust, bristling with trunks, and inhaled the smell of the ringing silence around. Now the group should turn into a shadow so that, together with other shadows, they can slide towards the mountain in the triangle of three villages.

It gets dark quickly in the east, which is why the edge of turning twilight into impenetrable night is not always caught, and the silence becomes louder, more dangerous, causing trembling in a tense body. I led the group to a crevice formed by peaks in a section of three hundred - no more than meters, where a "bundle" of numerous roads and paths strove.

I was interested in the peak with a mark of 2102 meters. She jumped up between the village closest to us - in the north - and Mount Sregar, two and a half thousand meters away - in the south. It was her that I chose for the ambush, relying on the dominant position over the area, which allowed me to control the exit from the gorge.

After the landing, he was in no hurry: he adapted the group to the darkness, the sounds of the saline steppe - a witness to a secret invasion. I estimated the distance to the village nearest to us, I was convinced of the "airbag" of safety, which I always created when contact with the enemy was foreseen. He took into account the direction of the wind - a turbulent air mass escaping from the mouth of the gorge into open space.

We got used to the situation, breathed in the air, saturated with the smell of camel thorn and something else, similar to the wormwood of the Volga steppes. “Perhaps I won’t climb into the forehead. I will orient the watch to the ridge, where we will hide in the shadow cast by the ridge - the upper contour of the ridge.

- Did you take a closer look, Ksendikov? Breathe?

- Yes sir!

- Take it to the right and carefully approach the gorushka! Do not rush! Azimuth - ninety. Further three thousand meters ... The height, facing us with a flat slope, is an ambush site in accordance with the decision! Next - signals.

Having “torn off” from the group, the patrol went along a conditional curve, indicated when clarifying the order of approach to the object of ambush actions. Gradually drawn into the shadow formed by the crest of the ridge, they dissolved in it, lost to the enemy ...

The difficult period of involvement in the task sharpened the reflexes by external factors. First of all - sound! Whether a gust of wind, the howl of jackals, the cry of donkeys threw the body on the ground, polishing the reaction of self-preservation given to man by nature. Workout! Workout! And once again - training at the base polished the skill of advancing to the object of interest.

- How, Esaulkov?

- Fine. "We are silent."

We are silent! This means that the signal by the tangent will not go on the air, the phrase: “It’s all right” will not break. We are silent - we will be more whole!

The silence became louder, more dangerous - not silence, but the wolf habit of the "spirits" to sneak in the thick darkness of the cooling night. We have already reached the "bundle" of roads that entered the crevice in a "bundle", as I conditionally called them, seeing from the helicopter.

A crevice is a narrowed space of several hundred meters, formed by ridges located opposite each other. The top of the left ridge closest to us is the place of an ambush on the enemy caravan. If the caravan leaves at night, it will not pass us by. It didn't matter whether he chose the northern road relative to our peak or the southern one - the caravan was doomed on any route. And that's why. The highlight was that no matter which way the senior caravan (caravan-bashi) chose after leaving the gorge: whether it was northern or southern, the caravan would go past our mountain. Northern? - The caravan will be between the ambush group and the village, to which there are two kilometers of open steppe. With sudden fire from an ambush, we will inflict irreparable damage on him and finish him off in an open field. He has nowhere to go! True, this scenario has a significant addition - the possible support of the population of the village (local militia) to guard the caravan. That is, I did not rule out a joint attack by the inhabitants of the village and covering the caravan. This would create a certain problem, but still not a very big one. The enemy could attack us from one direction, consolidated, but only from one direction.

If the caravan went along the southern route, the more it was doomed to death, moreover, without options. He will be squeezed by dagger fire in a crevice where no one will help him! Without the possibility of maneuver, retreat, movement forward, resistance under fire from above, there is only one way - to Allah. With this development of events, the local militia may also join in support of the ambushed caravan, especially since among the cover fighters there may be people from the area of ​​operations. But help for the caravan will come later! The "spirits" will have to sort out the situation, reach the line of attack, which is inconvenient in terms of the position of their villages on the ground. We will win time and we will pull it until the arrival of the "turntables" with the reserve group of Alexander Perepechin.

This is how the alignment of the upcoming battle loomed. In case the caravan goes! Not? We'll take off before dawn and go to the evacuation square to the base and wait for the next time to work properly. Our work, without undercover support in the fight against caravans, was reduced to the principle: "lucky - no luck."

On the right, the "highlight" of the ambush opened - a crevice that hid a "trap" for the enemy. She did not leave a single chance for a favorable outcome to the caravan that got into it. Got involved? And that's it!

- Comrade senior! Caravan!

The sergeant was not mistaken, he was a thousand times right! From the gorge, waddling heavily on potholes, a “burubuhaika” came out. Looking at the colorful object in the flaming strip of dawn, he whispered: “Hurry, hurry!” The subconscious reacted to the psycho-emotional state - danger! Target!

Meanwhile, the beat-up wreck, spitting out the black exhaust of unburned fuel, entered the finish line of the “trap” set for her! She walked into it with some even dignity, dragging the caravan posting along with her. Camels followed, laden with burgundy luggage, bales, moored with leather straps. Behind the "kings of the desert" horse-drawn carts creaked. The horsemen mounted on them, swaying in their saddles, were clearly struggling with sleep. Heavy, apparently, dushman's share! Oh, it's hard!

The pack traction force was accompanied by more than two dozen armed men dressed in dark wide robes. In the same half-asleep they wandered along the sides of the dusty road, restoring their strength from the exhausting journey through the mountains. The fatigue of the dushmans was regarded as a good sign, indicating their lower combat capability and reaction in resisting.

Next came tractors with trailers - not large, but nimble machines capable of pulling over a ton of payload. There and the "tail" of the "spiritual" "thread" - three pickups. They came out of the gorge, illuminated by a ray of sun gliding over the snowy peaks of the Hindkush.

Are you okay, Igor?

“We’ll fight again, comrade senior lieutenant!” Nischenko chuckled.

- Hold on, my friend, I'm going to Azarnov.

With several jerks he ran to the commander of the third section.

- The caravan is on the way, Andrey, gather in a "pile". "Pulling" his parrot-like wreck. Plain! Most likely, the “spirits” had no choice but to use it after overcoming the pass twenty kilometers from here.

– Is the caravan big, comrade senior lieutenant?

- Serious, Andrei, God forbid, "swallow"! We work on assignment! I “shoot” the driver with a “tracer” - a caravan attack signal! You - from the "Flies" (RPG-18) "extinguish" the last car, which will tightly close the "trap". Do you understand?

- Yes sir!

- And there, "fall off" the escort of the caravan! Don't let him lift his heads, but carefully - single. And, as the song says, “write letters in small handwriting!” Good?

- All! I am with Esaulkov - to the right of you, "148th" - at the reception.

He looked at the landmark - a piece of limestone rock. As soon as the “head” of the caravan reaches it, I will signal the beginning of the attack with a shot.

It is unlikely that the “carrier” in a skullcap embroidered with gold thread, pearls, or beads could have guessed that, having been drawn into the crevice, he would lose his maneuver. There was no turning back! It will be closed by camels, tractors with carts that followed. All units of the caravan escort were deprived of the opportunity to turn back in order to take up a combat position during the attack of an ambush group, to get away from the fire from both peaks, forming a narrow passage.

The conclusions from the assessment of the situation were not in doubt. If the speed of the caravan does not change and it follows at the same pace, a large part of the caravan will be exposed to sudden fire. The rest of it, remaining behind the neck of the "trap", will be destroyed by Perkov's group.

The optimism was justified. There was the required density of units of caravan wiring (structure). That is, the distances between cars, donkeys, camels, horses - all put together. It is they who will enter the zone of greatest destruction by small arms and hand grenades from the crests of the ridges. There was still time to figure it out, to make a clarification! He did not have the unaffordable luxury - to tremble, to doubt!

Time - 6.30. Air group takeoff in ten minutes. Building illusions about the equipment involved by dushmans in moving goods from abroad is an empty conversation. Its role did not always consist in the speed of movement and, often, was reduced to the task of reaching the final point of unloading, and there - at least “do not dawn”! This suited the caravan-formers in Pakistan and those who met them on Afghan territory. "The dog barks - the caravan moves on!" The wise Eastern proverb reflected the true mentality of the local population, whose life was built by the will of the Almighty.

The “Spirits” used cars on certain sections of the route, in our case, the final ones, which made us think about the presence in the gorge of transshipment bases and points where weapons, ammunition, communications equipment, and medicines were accumulated. Later, this "good" was "packaged" into detachments and formations, posing a real threat to the Soviet troops.

Where, where are the agents of the KGB, GRU, military counterintelligence, other "exotic" and "securitic" structures that would be engaged in obtaining information on Dushman wires?

Meanwhile, the "fighters for the faith" wandered aloof along the sides of the road, not noticing either the equipment climbing over the stones of the crevice, or the animals that had lost their strength. They walked, "cling" to camels, horses, mules, choosing a place in the caravan's marching order. Most likely, for everyday reasons, than for the interests of security functions - less dust, less exhaust gases. The animals' luggage of bright colors contained water, food, bedding for the night - convenient and everything, like people!

In this case, it did not matter to us the distribution of duties as part of the escort - provision, escort, protection of the caravan. All of them were jointly responsible for its delivery to the destination, which was known only to the caravan-bashi. Well armed, prepared, angry and bloodthirsty.

Ensuring the caravan in the broad sense of the word is its survivability along the route through the Afghan territory. It is “tied” to it by a system of rules and is directed in the interests of undercover escort, attracting the militia, and leading the caravan to safe routes. Based on tactical considerations, the support group in the tasks of escorting had broader and deeper functions than guarding the caravan.

The functions of the guard in relation to the cover object, first of all, implied its combat mission and the immediate safety of the caravan. In the name of his salvation, the guards will fight to the last Mujahideen.

So, the closure of the caravan “fitted” into the zone of influence of the fire of the ambush group. This completely deprived the caravan posting of the possibility of maneuvering, adopting a combat position, countering and getting out of the situation. Moreover, the enemy found himself in a situation of complete inability to attack us from the front or aggravate the situation on the vulnerable right flank.

"Burubuhaika" had to go two hundred meters to the line that served as the beginning of the attack. Behind her, a little behind, a string of camels “floated”, compactly drawn into the defile, then tractors followed, pickup trucks with two DShKs in the cargo compartments. The caravan units "fit" into the boundaries of the area of ​​continuous destruction, within which the fire of the ambush group will concentrate on the guard with the task of destroying it in the first seconds of the battle. Thus, the “spirits” fell into their own classically placed “fire bag” - the “dushman trap”, as we scouts called it!

He fixed his gaze on the target - the driver. A passenger in a white lunga was sitting nearby - no other way than a caravan-bashi! The appearance of a respectable dushman was not misleading, pointing to him as a representative of the management link in the supply chain of goods to Afghanistan. I didn’t have to choose - I’ll be the first to bring it down! A little more, a little more! You can not leave the "tail" behind the neck of the area of ​​​​a continuous lesion! Otherwise, he will fall out of the line of fire of the scouts, and the cut off "spirits" may decide to resist with an uncontrolled maneuver from the rear, flanks. Therefore, Azarnov’s department was charged with the duty of blocking the closure of the caravan in order to deprive him of action.

“Comrade Senior Lieutenant, Baravkov is in touch,” Yesaulkov whispered.

- Listen, "11".

- "Perfume," 03 ". Up to twenty "bayonets" left the village.

So, bastards, they interact ... Again, everything is like with people ... On the clock - 6.40. Helicopter group - in the air. "Oh, it was - it wasn't!"

- "11", "humped" on the way. Let a hundred meters and - with God - forward! Before our attack, do not identify yourself.

- Got it, 03.

On air? Well, did you get caught? No-o-o-o, it's late! Role did not play! The caravan pulled into the narrow part of the crevice, finding itself in the zone of dagger fire of the ambush. If the "spirits" listened to the air, they will not have time to react. Here they are all - “burubuhaika”, a string of animals, guards with a monotonous zombie step and Chinese AKs on their shoulders ... The caravan is in a trap! Time!

- "10", readiness! Reception.

“Understood,” said Perkov.

Tiringly disturbing are the last seconds before the attack! An unpleasant chill in the stomach, the pounding of one's own heart, tearing the vest on the chest ... However, it's time! He combined the front sight of the battle-tested AKMS with the slot of the sight, “imposing” a conditional line of the shot (distance 100 - no more) on the white turban of the caravan bashi, then on the driver. With a couple of movements he practiced the transfer of fire from one target to another and, having taken an extreme look at the caravan, he pressed the trigger of the machine gun.

The caravan-bashi with the driver buried themselves in the instrument panel. Muffled shots from anti-tank hand grenade launchers of Azarnov's subgroup smashed the Burubuhayka and the pickup truck that was closing the column. "Dushman trap" closed! Automatic bursts swept away a bunch of "spirits" of protection and escort. The animals that fell under the bullets blocked the road for the wheeled vehicles, which became easy prey for defeat by the RPG-18 (“Flies”), which are convenient in these cases. Over a dozen Dushman bodies lay where they had been overtaken by death in the first seconds of the attack. The wounded crawled from the line of fire, trying to find shelter behind the corpses of animals, stones, overturned tractor carts.

The destruction of enemy manpower is determined by the second goal of the operation. The "Dukhovskaya" column has turned into a miserable sight!

- "12th", "13th", control the consumption of ammunition, - commanded Nishchenko and Azarnov.

The wounded dushmans and those of them who did not fall under the deadly fire of the ambush attempted to resist. From an uncomfortable position - from the bottom up they fired single shots, probably counting on the support of the militia. "Suppress resistance, otherwise they will organize on the right flank!" - flashed through my head.

- "13", you're under fire! Can't you see, right?

- Get it if you see it! They beat because of the packs and the corpses of horses.

- "03", went around to the left, focused on them.

- In order?

- "Extinguish" these, you are under fire.

Those dushmans who shot back in the Nishchenko sector cannot be reached by Esaulkov and I. The corpses of dead animals interfered.

- "11", what do you have? asked Baravkov.

“Dushars lie down, assess the situation, they hear the battle, but do not take any measures.

- So-a-a-k, Gena, don't wait for them to decide how to proceed! Assess the situation, think what is happening behind the mountain. Maybe they're waiting for reinforcements. Track their movement and report the change in the situation.

- Got it, "03"!

Baravkov controlled the situation from a dangerous kishlak direction, but the surprise factor of the attack had already passed, in five minutes the militia would understand what he had to do, despite the fact that it consisted mainly of sixteen-year-old boys and old people. They are damned mobile and are not afraid of death - they climb ahead.

- "12", "spirits" behind the "burubuhaika", do not take your eyes off her.

- I see! The wounded were dragged behind her.

“They come to their senses and open fire. "Fly" work under the car, ricochet hit them.

- "Smalnu".

A hand-held anti-tank grenade launcher exploded. Stones, crushed stone swept away the “spirits” hiding behind the car with an indirect defeat.

- "03", I'm "11", over.

- Listen, Gena.

- "Spirits" in two groups of ten or twelve fighters left the villages.

– Actions of the first group?

Looks like they're about to attack.

"I think it doesn't count, damn you!" Check out their actions!

- "03", by all indications - they are going to attack.

- Distance?

- Six hundred meters.

- Prepare smoke - "turntables" on the way.

- Got you.

"Orient" showed 6.55. The helicopter group is about to appear on the horizon, it's time to bring it to the target. "Spirits" tried to unblock the caravan.

- Communication with the "turntables", Esaulkov.

The signalman held out the headset of the station for communication with aviation.

- "Dawn", "Dawn", I - "03", over.

- I am Zarya, over.

– Zarya, I’m fighting with a “spiritual” “thread” in coordinates… Attacked from Hoshi’s direction by three groups of “spirits” up to fifteen people each. At the site with the coordinates ... drop off the inspection team to load the captured weapons on board. Ours are there! They will designate themselves with orange smoke, cover the landing. How did you understand? Reception.

The air is silent. The commander of the squadron analyzed the situation, realizing that the evacuation of the group went according to a different scenario, and the current situation in our country increased the risk of losing crews. But the helicopter pilot is determined.

- "03", I'm "Dawn", I go out to you, specify the landmarks.

- I give smoke!

Grabbed the R-148 headset:

- Gena, mark yourself with smoke and urgently - behind the stones! "Turntables" on the way!

- Accepted, "03".

- "10", do you hear us?

Perkov "moved" into the task - excellent. "148th" came to life again:

- "03", I - "11", "spirits" are moving closer.

Got it, Gena! Let me go 300 meters and - single! Solitary! "Zarya" entered the combat course.

- “Dawn”, “Dawn”, I - “03”, ours are marked with smoke: azimuth - 140, as you understand, reception?

- Got it, "03"! Understood! Are you watching me?

- I do not see! I'm on the back slope of the summit.

- I-I-I see...

According to the "148th" - Baravkov:

- Gena, are you watching the "turntables"?

- I see, “03”, “humpbacks” go on the attack.

"What the hell are you talking about?" Defined yourself?

- Yes sir!

Into the 809th microphone:

- "Dawn", I - "03", do you observe the smoke?

- I see! The goal is too.

- Work, dear!

- Attack, "03"!

"Fu, damn, what a heat!". Wiping the sweat from his forehead with the sleeve of his landing jacket, he looked around the caravan. A pitiful sight... The corpses of the dead animals with the bodies of the dushman guards were lying in pools of blood, stimulating the appetite of the Afghan flies. From small shelters occupied by dushmans who had not fallen under deadly fire, the limbs of skinned arms and legs stuck out. But even there, the bullets of the scouts found the “spiritual” bodies, chopping them to pieces.

Shots rang out from the fallen caravan. I singled out three pockets of resistance, from where the "spirits" fired lazily. The screech of the ricochet cut his ear. It is in the movies that bullets whistle overhead, pressing them to the ground, but in real life they rustle - unpleasantly and very disturbingly ...

- What do you have, "11"? asked Baravkov.

- They snap, you bastards!

- How many before the front?

- Forty people - exactly.

- Dolby singles, as taught: "My shot is the first and on target!". What is not clear?

- Understandably! "Spirits" beat for warning, they wait.

“Control them and keep them at a distance.

- "Humpbacks" will not "iron" me?

- Do not worry! They see you, but keep the smokes close at hand - it's calmer with them!

The surviving dushmans dragged out time waiting for reinforcements, not yet knowing that they would be desperately “threshed” by the Shuravi “turntables”. In general, the situation has matured to the final defeat of the caravan. It's time to bring Perkov's hidden group into battle.

Pasha saw the situation in real time, heard the radio exchange on the air and, no doubt, was eager to turn on for the final destruction of the caravan.

- "10", welcome.

- At the reception.

Do you see pockets of resistance?

- Like in a dash.

- Good humor! Distribute the goals between the "pencils" and work on command.

- Got it, 03.

With a no less sudden blow, Perkov finished off the "spiritual" escort of the caravan from the reverse slope of the ridge.

- "03", I - "11", - Baravkov cut in.

- Listen, "11".

- I'm fighting. Two "spiritual" groups are treated with "humpback". Heaped a bunch of them.

- Do not flatter yourself! Hold on!

- There is no time to be seduced! The first "spirits" are really a rod for rapprochement! Freaked out or stoned?

- They "hug" to you, because they leave from the blow of the "turntables".

- Two hundred meters left ...

- Be single! Where will they go?

"Spirits", moving away from the fire of helicopters, crushed the rapprochement of Baravkov's scouts. They knew, the devils, that "turntables" do not work as "nurses" at a close distance from their own.

- "Dawn", I - "03", over.

- At the reception.

- Call for support.

- I understand, they know the situation at the base, they will be in about thirty minutes.

- Good.

On the clock - 7.35. The main thing is done! The situation is reversed in the direction of success! It remains to deal with the trophies, take them to the site for loading on board.

- Comrade senior lieutenant, "humpbacks," the signalman held out the headset.

- "03" at the reception.

- Reports "Zarya", the target is destroyed! Partially "bearded" retreated to the village, where women and children are.

“Understood, buddy, leave them alone!” How are my "pencils" at the hillside? Won't you help?

- I'm watching. They are in contact with a group of "spirits". Very close, I can't see the flanks.

- I'll fix it!

A sip of water, but no time!

- "11", I - "03", over.

There is a rustle in the air and nothing more.

- "11", "11", I - "03", over.

Baravkov did not answer.

- Esaulkov, call "11".

What about Baravkov? Why is silent? The gravity of the fight shifted to the position of his squad - it is obvious, but the sergeant was silent. What happened?

- Baravkov answered, comrade senior lieutenant.

- Gene, mother-peremat ... Why didn’t you answer?

- Deck "spirits" are climbing.

- Be in touch. It's clear?

- Yes sir.

- What do you have? Report!

- Go to full height.

“Vali alone, do you hear me?

- "Humpbacks" will help, mark the flanks with smoke. How did you understand? Reception.

- Take cover when attacking "humpbacks"!

Where is Perkov? What does he have? Sweat flooded his eyes, the vest stuck to his body - at least squeeze it out.

- "10", I - "03", over.

- I am 10.

- How about you?

- The targets were hit, I have no comments when shooting.

Joker! Among intelligence officers, Pasha was known as a reserved, secretive person, and he, it turns out, is a lot of joking. He broadcast a report from the shooting course at the end of the shooting.

- Understood. Control the situation on the “thread” of the “spirits” and ensure the landing of the “eights” with the inspection team. Reception.

- "10" understood.

– Are you sure that it will be clean and will not be processed on boarding?

- Fine.

- Prepare the smoke.

- Accepted, "03".

- Esaulkov, water.

He splashed water on his face and took a few sips. “Oh-oh-oh,” and almost choked. Behind the peak, where Baravkov's scouts were fighting, there was an unpleasant rattle of aircraft guns. "Turntables" walked "obliquely" through the kishlak "spirits".

- "148th", Nikolai.

- "11", I - "03", over.

- "11" at the reception, - answered Gennady.

- The situation?

- Fine. "Turntables" worked out with guns. The target is covered.

- I heard. Do not let the "spirits" fire.

- Got it, 03.

Already good. The situation at Baravkov was settled down by the effective entry of "twenty-fourths". It's time to parachute Perepechin's group!

- "10", I - "03", over.

- Are you ready to meet the G8?

- I'll smoke and cover.

- Work!

A packed caravan sprawled under the hillock. Impressed! Shots are not heard. Hidden? But no, the silence is real. Azarnov and Nishchenko reported on the destruction of the caravan guards and escorts.

- "Dawn", I - "03", the situation?

- I - "Dawn", "cleaned up" the "bearded".

- Drop off troops. Landmark - smoke on the top opposite.

- I understand, "03", I'm going to the site.

- Accepted, Zarya.

He switched to contact with Perkov.

- "10", I - "03", over.

- At the reception.

- Urgent smoke, "turntables" are landing.

- Accepted, "03".

A pair of "eights" went to Perkov's site. "Twenty-fourths", having built a circle over the hill, covered them with airborne weapons.

- "12th", "13th", to ensure the landing of "02nd" (callsign Perepechin).

After landing on the site, it is not easy for Alexander to fit into the dynamics of the battle, to delve into and deal with the enemy. He had superficial information about the capture of the caravan. Nevertheless, his scouts competently jumped out from both sides and, having taken up positions, covered the helicopters leaving for takeoff. Fine!

- "02", I - "03", over.

- "02", at the reception.

Understanding the state of Sasha, who did not have information on the destruction of the caravan, he brought him into the situation:

- It's all right, "02"! Look around, next to you - "10". Pasha is acting under your cover. The situation is under control, we are working according to plan. How did you understand?

- Got you, got it. However…

“Listen carefully: the caravan is in front of you, the guards have been destroyed, but be careful. Get down and thirty minutes - no more - to carry the trophies to the site. You are covered from both ridges. How did you understand? Reception.

- "02", - I orient Alexander, - study "burubukhayka". In her cabin is the senior "spiritual" "thread". Documents, papers, other rubbish - with you.

- Accepted, "03".

The inspection team began to collect weapons, ammunition, documents and everything related to them. Mines, shells, ammunition for small arms Perepechin will destroy on the spot with an overhead charge. But Perepechin needs help collecting weapons and taking them to the landing site.

- "11", I - "03", over.

- "11" at the reception.

- The situation?

- All right, 03. Movement is not visible, the villages are under control.

- It's clear. I impute the general cover of the task. How did you understand?

- Yes, I accepted it.

So Gene is fine. In about twenty minutes, a helicopter link will come up to evacuate trophies and scouts. Gena and Azarnov will be covered, but Alexander needs help! I will strengthen it with Nishchenko's branch.

- "12", welcome.

- At the reception.

- Urgently down, you will assist in the collection of trophies. You fly to the base with "02" and "10". Reception.

- Understood, I'm getting started.

- "02", I - "03".

- I'm listening.

- I give the "12th" to help, evacuate with you, speed up the collection of trophies. Reception.

- Got it, 03.

The main part of the task is completed. What remains is technical support for the evacuation of the captured weapons and the group to the base.

“02,” asked Perepechina.

- I'm listening.

“Walk over the corpses, look at what they have in their bosoms and in their backpacks.

- "Burubuhaiku" worked. Clogged with anti-tank mines and tol! I examined the bodies, seized the documents, I go to the end of the “thread”.

- Accepted.

Well done Sasha! The documents will shed light on the supply of weapons by the West and Arab countries to the Dushman detachments. Consolidation of the Arab world with the Americans on the Afghan issue was an obvious, undisguised act of interference in the affairs of Afghanistan. “The task of reconnaissance of the Airborne Forces is to prevent the supply of weapons to the war-torn country, as well as to present to the world community an evidence base for interference from outside,” the command of the 103rd Guards Airborne Division was confident.

This question was raised at a meeting of the officers by the head of the political department of the division, Colonel Stanislav Andreyevich Timoshenko. Intelligence will present material evidence that will shed light on the dark deeds of a number of countries unfriendly to the USSR.

“Comrade senior lieutenant, turntables,” shouted Yesaulkov.

- Communication, Nikolai.

The ether asked me:

- "03", I - "Zarya-2", reception.

- "03" is listening.

- How is the situation?

- I'm turning. Walk over us - is everything all right?

- Accepted.

The scouts completed the collection of weapons and their removal to the landing site. In touch - Perepechin.

- "03", reception.

- "Burubuhaika" with anti-tank mines is ready for destruction.

- Make sure that all the "pencils" are with you, and "lift" her into the air.

Two minutes later, a black cloud of smoke erupted, the roar of war. For a long time, stones, rubble, the remains of a spaced "burubuhayka" fell. How many lives of crews of tanks, armored personnel carriers, wheeled vehicles survived on the dusty Afghan roads? - Hard to say! But we, the scouts, had information about the Dushman resistance, which received a huge amount of anti-tank mines from Pakistan to fight the armored targets of the Soviet troops. The “spirits” declared a mine war on us, and it must be admitted that they effectively used mines against the equipment of the Soviet Army.

Somewhat later, when the supply of weapons and ammunition to Afghanistan becomes massive, spooks will use the high-explosive method of their use. Losses of Soviet equipment, crews of military vehicles on Afghan roads will increase many times over. This time, we destroyed one of the many batches of mine cargo intended for the Dushman detachments. It's time to go.

- "11", "13", answer "03".

- At the reception.

- Exit to the site!

Baravkov and Azarnov reported that they were ready to take off and go to the opposite slope of the ridge, from where we were evacuating to the base.

- "13", throw forward, cover.

- Accepted.

- "11", I - "03", cover the "13th", he descends from the mountain.

- Ready, I'll cover it.

Andrey's group dashed down. Fifteen minutes later, she climbed to the neighboring peak.

- "Zarya-2", I - "03", reception, - called the commander of the helicopter flight.

- I am Zarya-2.

- Ready to load, I give smoke.

- Accepted.

Perepechin - according to the "148th":

- "02", mark the site with smoke, meet the "eights".

- Accepted, "03".

Baravkov with the squad was on the opposite side of our peak - it's time to "pull" him to the evacuation site.

- "11", I - "03", over.

- Listen to you.

- The situation?

- In order.

- Shoot and throw - to the site opposite. Don't lose your scent - look!

- Yes, "03".

We also filmed with Esaulkov. After Azarnov's scouts, they descended to the road, where a caravan was smeared at point-blank range with dagger fire. Interspersed with the dead camels, donkeys, horses, there were about two dozen bodies of "fighters for the faith." Streaks of blood on stones, gravel. Several bodies lay behind roadside boulders. Probably, they did not come under fire from the first bursts and darted into cover, and Perkov's scouts - Paltsev, Yarukov, Zuev - got them with bullets from the opposite slope.

Here are the bodies of the "spirits" at the blown up "burubuhaika". He looked at the main one - the caravan-bashi, which Perepechin pulled to the side of the road to inspect clothes. He glanced at the dead - over thirty, forty years old, young people are not visible. Multiple wounds left no chance for life, although grabbing the "tongue" did not interfere at all. But Perepechin reported that the guards had injuries incompatible with life. Shabby dressing gowns, vests, torn trousers did not speak of the prosperity of the "spiritual" militants. It can be seen that the Dushman path is not easy. The sandals on the blue feet of corpses covered with scabs are broken, strained. The caravan crossed the Spingar mountain system at an altitude of over 4700 meters, where there are eternal snows and glaciers. Light shoes are not suitable for such trips. But the fact remains.

Here they lie peaceful, quiet and not terrible, as they might seem at first. Myriads of Afghan flies torment the cooling bodies with pleasure... If you didn't know about the wild atrocities of dushmans, you could refer them to the martyrs of Allah... Let him deal with them and judge. M-yes-ah-ah...

- Hurry up, Esaulkov.

- Comrade senior lieutenant, may I take off my “spiritual” “bra”? See Chinese.

- Fast.

The unloading vest of the killed dushman is a good trophy for the scout. The domestic industry did not supply us with the equipment that was still needed in battle - they used trophy equipment.

- "03", I - "Zarya-2", reception.

“In twenty minutes, Zarya will be back for you.

- In the air?

- They take off.

So, "Zarya-2" evacuates trophies, scouts Perkov and Nishchenko. The fighters Perepechin and Baravkov remaining with me will be removed by the Zarya unit, which has been working with us since the morning.

I ended up at the landing site at the moment when the loading of trophies into the "eights" was over. We embraced Pavel, but we had to take off.

- Go ahead, Pasha, go ahead, you deserve a hundred grams!

"Twenty-fourths", attached to the Mi-8, went to Kabul. It's time to bring Baravkov out.

- "11", pull up to me!

Sat down on a stone. Tired. A normal amount of work was done, within our power, but a kilogram or more of nerves was expended - the preventive part of the operation, waiting, ambiguity, changing the situation ...

The villages initially did not bode well. I knew that local dushmans remained in them for the winter, a militia capable of a serious battle. And they sent against us up to fifty angry "bayonets" who rushed to the attack. In the ambush area, the enemy turned out to be much larger than expected by the course of the operation.

No less alarming was Baravkov's report on a full-length "spiritual" attack. Having decided on extreme measures, with a cry: "Allah Akbar", the dushmans were ready even to heaven. It is clear that this is a tactical maneuver to leave the line of air strike! Dushmans were forced to go under the "cover" of the scouts, clinging to their position. What was their calculation based on? It is hard to say! But the conclusion remains the conclusion: even in a calm environment, one should not lose caution.

A lot of dushmans were laid down by helicopter pilots. If you still use the group, you can clean the "spirits" destroyed in the field. They have a lot of weapons left. The outskirts of the village are visible through binoculars, people ... Apparently, they were waiting for us to get out of here to pick up the bodies of dead relatives. Although this is only a handful of "fighters for the faith" of the many thousands of others who crossed the Pakistani-Afghan border with weapons in their hands.

The weapons captured in the caravan are a separate story. It cannot be compared in quality with the one that the "spirits" owned in the early 1980s. During the year of the war, the armament of the Dushman detachments, mine-explosive obstacles, controls in battle, and equipment have qualitatively changed. Radio stations for "spirits" marked "Made in Japan", "Made in China", with the functions of fast and secure transmission of information. These facts speak volumes.

And in combat terms, the "spirits" are different. They masterfully master the tactics of guerrilla operations in combination with mine warfare. The passes covered with snow reduced their activity in the mountains, settlements, but did not at all reduce the war on the roads. In places of the most intensive transfer of military cargo, mines and land mines were laid. Entire columns of military and other equipment took off into the air. The Chinese-made hand-held anti-tank grenade launchers that appeared in the arsenal of the dushmans, the recoilless rifles that were in service with the Swedish army, certainly strengthened their combat component.

In small groups, the enemy conducted successful ambush operations against Soviet and government troops. It became more and more difficult to find effective ways to fight the armed opposition, to keep its increased activity on the pulse ... And what to hide - to play to destroy the combat potential of the consolidated Afghan resistance forces. My thoughts were interrupted by "twenty-fourths" that jumped out from behind the mountain.

- "03", I - "Dawn", reception.

- At the reception, dear.

- I went to the zone, clean, mark the site.

- Smoke - watch!

- "13", welcome.

- The situation?

- Went out to the site. I watch smoke.

- Understood. Landing!

Esaulkov did not lag behind me, was nearby, providing communication with aviation and groups. Well done! A worthy replacement for Kibitkin!

- Gene, is everything in place?

“All right, Comrade Senior Lieutenant.

– Azarnov?

- On site, checked.

- We're leaving.

The last to jump into the cabin of the helicopter. The ground floated below. Out of the corner of my eye, I “grabbed” a clogged caravan, destroyed “spirits”, villages with residents who fled to the field to their defeated relatives. How many fell out! Oh, how intelligence information is needed! Through the inhabitants of the villages, who knew everything about the “spiritual” detachments, one can receive information of paramount importance. Okay, none of our business, remained alive and that's good. Tomorrow we fight again!

“All right, Siegfried?”

“That's right, Comrade Senior Lieutenant,” the blue-eyed blond smiled. - Stopudovo!

- Will live!

Material prepared

Alexander Kolotilo.

"A red star".

Photo from the archive of Valery Marchenko

Afghanistan remains in sight

Afghanistan remains in the chest.

Shared pride and shared grief

United for life ahead.

V. Verstakov

The idea of ​​creating this book is inspired by the memories of the time spent in warring Afghanistan. The years that have passed since Afghanistan are gradually but systematically erasing historical facts, names and exploits of Shuravi in ​​the annals and memory. Constantly emerging new local military conflicts and anti-terrorist operations are replacing the heroism, pain and bitterness of the events that took place more than twenty years ago from people's memory. But, I think, the memory of the people is eternal, and the exploits of the defenders of the Motherland are immortal. At the very least, they will forever remain in the soul and memory of every internationalist soldier who unwittingly went through the harsh Afghan school of survival. Many of them are forgotten, deprived of the attention and care of the Motherland, do not enjoy the well-deserved honor, glory and respect of the people. And although all those who fought do not like to talk about themselves, about their heroic past, Afghan stories will inevitably be passed on from generation to generation, in families and among relatives of military personnel who died the death of the brave in a foreign land.

I cannot, and simply do not have the right to, agree with those "democrats" who are trying to belittle the role of the Soviet soldier in that undeclared war. Some of them made their conclusions without knowing the situation, others - for the sake of opportunistic spiteful critics, others, I do not rule out paid ones, deliberately distorted everything that happened in Afghanistan. We, who fought there, are also not on the way with people who were once comrades in arms and thanks to this received from the state during the reform period significant benefits for doing business and, in pursuit of the chistogan, started an internecine, undeclared war for spheres of influence, blowing up, killing and maiming former combat friends.

From 1979 to 1982, I served in Afghanistan as the intelligence chief of the 103rd Guards Airborne Division. In my subordination to carry out reconnaissance, special and other combat missions, there were several hundred decent, smart, strong, selfless guys who were ready to fulfill the assigned combat mission at any cost. Now contact with many is lost. Life scattered them all over the world. However, in memory they are always alive and always there.

This book is just an attempt to tell about the glorious deeds of some soldiers, sergeants, ensigns and officers of the reconnaissance units of the 103rd Guards Airborne Division, who have been performing their international duty in the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan for ten years. The purpose of the book is to start bit by bit collecting and summarizing the facts and events of the heroic past of the personnel of the Airborne Forces, including intelligence units, whose dedication, courage and bravery, and sometimes the lives of which ensured the implementation of the decisions of the Soviet government, the USSR Ministry of Defense and the orders of the commander of the 40th army.

I offer my most sincere apologies to the scouts whose military deeds did not make it to the pages of the book. Finding all the participants in those events is a very difficult and, alas, long-term matter. The past years have scattered "Afghans" around the world. However, I flatter myself with the hope that thanks to this book they will respond and a new, supplemented and expanded edition will appear, and maybe a new book about all ten years of the intelligence officers' military affairs, including the withdrawal of troops from the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan. The author really wanted to tell about all the soldiers, sergeants, ensigns and officers, with whom he had to perform combat missions in the sands, "green" and in the mountains of Afghanistan. They fought well. No wonder all scouts have military awards. I am deeply convinced that no one has a legal, much less a moral right to question their military heroic past, courage and bravery shown in battles. They are not subject to revaluation.

Over the past years, there have been huge changes not only in the state, but also in the life of everyone who visited that undeclared war. Professions, places of residence, positions, military ranks changed ... Only the principle remained unchanged - loyalty to the service of the Motherland. Despite all the difficulties of the last decades, almost all of them were able to maintain their devotion to their professional cause - SERVICE TO THE HOMELAND. Many today pass on combat experience to the younger generation.

Throughout 1978, the division was literally shaken by various degrees of higher combat readiness, raids by officers of the headquarters of the Airborne Forces and other misunderstandings. So, for example, in March we were alerted and terribly strained by the severity of the situation - to get maps of pieces of the territories of Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran ... Obviously, the command sought to mislead internal and external enemies, but, as always, soldiers (and these are secretaries, clerks , telephone operators, radio operators and other servants sitting on the information) were more knowledgeable than we are - it seems to be commanders and bosses. That is, figuratively speaking, everyone in the market knew, and we could only guess.

The equipment was prepared for landing, ammunition was issued to the units, but no order was received to hand them over.

Somewhere in a month they gave a retreat, and a few days later the officers of the division were put in the barracks. And so it was repeated several times. Looks like things are getting better in the spring.

In April 1978, as the chief of intelligence of the division, the regimental commanders, the commander of the divisional reconnaissance company and the division's command and control officers, I was ordered to be ready to fly to Afghanistan. The task, we were warned, would be set later. They also warned us not to inform anyone about this business trip, not only colleagues, but even wives and best friends. When the time came, the group flew to Chirchik, ostensibly to work in the regiment of our division stationed there. They flew out in military uniform, and already on the spot they changed into civilian clothes. We were joined by a group of three or four officers of the Airborne Forces, headed by Lieutenant General V.N. Kostylev. He set the task - we are flying to Kabul to reconnoiter the routes to important military and government facilities. He transparently hinted that it was not even necessary to ask questions about what this was for.

In Kabul, together with our military advisers, we made “excursions” around the night and daytime city and its environs, trying to firmly fix in our memory how best to get to the “sights” of the Afghan capital we needed.

After this "grant tour", we returned to our daily work, that is, to combat training, but behind the scenes, for ourselves, we decided that we would train soldiers and officers for Afghanistan. True, there was one small nuance: all this work was carried out against the backdrop of incessant rumors about the disbandment of our division. Naturally, in such circumstances, we could not believe it. Moreover, in the fall of 1978, large-scale divisional exercises were conducted under the leadership of a member of the Central Committee of the CPSU, inspector of the USSR Ministry of Defense, Deputy Minister of Defense Marshal of the Soviet Union Moskalenko K.S. True, in 1990 an attempt was made to re-form the 105th division, but it existed, completely unformed, for only two years and was transferred to the Uzbek armed forces.

Therefore, the command of the division, based on the specifics of the neighboring state in which the operation was supposed to be carried out, as far as possible, gave priority to conducting exercises in mountainous areas.

However, a year later, rumors about the disbandment of the division were confirmed. For the paratroopers, the disbandment of the 105th Guards. VDD, especially for veterans left in Ferghana, was very painful. Battalions and regiments left the equipped military camps and departed for different military districts and groups of Soviet troops abroad, where they became the basis for the formation of airborne assault units and units. According to the leadership of the Ministry of Defense, these new formations were assigned an important role in the upcoming large-scale operations, which, as they explained to us, was basically the reason for the disbandment, in my opinion, of the Fergana division, which was especially specific due to the experience of mountain-desert training. But there was also another opinion - supposedly this is necessary for operational camouflage before the troops enter Afghanistan. Many officers called the disbandment the senile nonsense of the elders from the Politburo, who approved the stupid decision of the General Staff.

1979

December 12 - The Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union decided to send a limited contingent of Soviet troops to Afghanistan. It was justified by the request of the Afghan leadership and the situation in and around Afghanistan.

December 14 - two airborne battalions and an artillery division of the 345th separate airborne regiment of the Airborne Forces were deployed to Bagram (Afghanistan).

December 23 - the task force of the Airborne Forces, headed by the deputy commander of the troops, Lieutenant General N.N., arrived in Kabul. Guskov.

December 24 - Minister of Defense of the USSR Marshal of the Soviet Union D.F. Ustinov held a meeting with the participation of his deputies, commanders-in-chief of the Ground Forces, Air Force, Airborne Forces, and Air Defense Forces. At the meeting, the minister announced the decision taken by the leadership to send troops to Afghanistan and signed the corresponding directive.

Scheme of entry and deployment of Soviet troops in Afghanistan.

December 25 - the battalion of the 56th Air Assault Brigade under the command of Captain L.V. Khabarov on armored vehicles made a swift march from Hairatan to the Salang Pass and took it under guard.

December 25-26 - Military transport aircraft with personnel and military equipment of the 103rd Airborne Division and a battalion of the 345th Separate Parachute Regiment crossed the Soviet-Afghan border and landed at the airfields of Kabul and Bagram.

December 27 - The forces of the 103rd Airborne Division and the 345th Separate Airborne Regiment took control of government institutions and the military garrison of the Afghan army in Kabul and Bagram. The 9th company of the 345th regiment, together with the special forces of the KGB and the GRU, participated in the assault on the Taj Beck Palace, the residence of the Afghan dictator H. Amin.

1980

January-February - the concentration of the Airborne Forces group as part of the Limited Contingent of Soviet Troops in Afghanistan was completed. It included: the 103rd Airborne Division, consisting of the 317th, 350th and 357th Airborne Regiments (commander Major General I.F. Ryabchenko); 345th Separate Airborne Regiment (commander - Lieutenant Colonel N.I. Serdyukov). The 40th Army included the 56th Separate Airborne Assault Brigade (commander - Lieutenant Colonel A.P. Plokhikh).

April 1 - The First Panjshir operation against Ahmad Shah Massoud began. It was attended by units of the 56th Airborne Assault Brigade and the 345th Separate Airborne Regiment. The factor of surprise and unpreparedness of the Mujahideen for an open clash, as well as the bold and decisive actions of the battalion of Captain L.V. Khabarov, played a large role in the success of this operation.

On a halt.

April 28 - for courage and heroism shown in battle, senior sergeants G.A. Mironenko and N.P. Chepik were awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union (posthumously). They were the first among the paratroopers of the Airborne Forces group in Afghanistan to be awarded this high award. The title of Hero of the Soviet Union was also received by Captain S.P. Kozlov (56th Air Assault Brigade).

July 24 - The 103rd Airborne Division was awarded the Order of Lenin, the 345th Separate Airborne Regiment - the Order of the Red Star.

1981

July - the participation of units of the 103rd Airborne Division in the operation to defeat the base of the Mujahideen in the Lurkokh mountain range.

1982

January - two battalions of the 103rd Airborne Division participate in the defeat of the rebels' base area near the settlement of Darzab (Faryab province).

April - participation of a battalion of the 103rd Airborne Division in the operation to defeat the Rabati-Jali base on the border with Iran.

Summer - the participation of units of the 103rd Airborne Division in the operation in Panjshir against the armed formations of Ahmad Shah Massoud. The operation was led by Major General N.G. Ter-Grigoryants. The grouping of Soviet and Afghan government troops amounted to 12 thousand people. A feature of the hostilities was the mass landing of paratroopers from helicopters (more than 4 thousand people), which predetermined the success of the entire operation.

Street view of an Afghan city.

1983

February - The Pennant of the Minister of Defense "For courage and military prowess" was awarded to the 345th separate airborne regiment.

April - the participation of paratroopers of the 103rd Airborne Division (three battalions) and the 345th Separate Parachute Regiment (two battalions) in a combat operation in the Nijrab Gorge (Kapisa province). The operation was led by the Deputy Commander of the 40th Army, Major General L.E. Generalov. A total of 21 battalions were involved in the operation.

1984

February 27 - the second stage of the military operation began in the provinces of Parvan, Kapisa, Kabul, Lagman under the leadership of the commander of the 40th Army, Major General L. E. Generalov. Three battalions of the 103rd Airborne Division fought in the Nijrab Gorge.

April 19 - the beginning of a military operation in the Panjshir Gorge against a large group of field commander Ahmad Shah Massoud. The fighting began with the landing of a large landing force, which cut off the retreat of the Mujahideen into the mountains.

March-June - participation of units of the 103rd Airborne and 56th Airborne Assault Brigade in fierce battles in the Pechdara Gorge.

October - the participation of the 345th separate airborne regiment and the 56th airborne assault brigade in the operation to capture and destroy bases and warehouses of the Mujahideen in the area of ​​​​the county center Urgun (province of Paktia). A large number of weapons and ammunition were seized. The operation took place without losses for the Soviet troops.

Column of the Airborne Forces.

1985

May - June - participation of units of the 103rd Airborne Division and the 56th Airborne Assault Brigade in the operation in the province of Kunar. The fighting was distinguished by its scope and fierceness throughout the gorge from Jalalabad to Barikota (170 km).

July - a large-scale operation under the conditional name "Desert". The commander of the 40th separate army, Lieutenant General I.N. Rodionov. According to the operation plan, on July 16, units of the 345th separate airborne regiment, unexpectedly for the enemy, landed by helicopter in the Mikini Gorge, located in the northeastern part of Panshzher. Having put up stubborn resistance to the paratroopers at first, the Mujahideen, under the threat of encirclement, fled. On the battlefield, they left weapons, ammunition, equipment, food and equipment. At the base of the Mujahideen, paratroopers discovered an underground prison.

October - participation of two landing battalions in the operation in the Kaklana gorge (Baglan province).

1986

April - participation of paratroopers in the operation in the Javara region (10 km from the city of Khost). During the fighting, 252 Mujahideen fortified firing positions were destroyed, 6,000 anti-tank and 12,000 anti-personnel mines were neutralized and destroyed, hundreds of missiles and rocket launchers, thousands of rocket and artillery shells were captured. More than 2 thousand Mujahideen were killed.

August - the participation of units of the 345th separate airborne regiment in the defeat of the base of the rebels Kokari-Sharshari (on the Iranian border).

1987

April 12-24 - participation of the 103rd Airborne Division (three battalions) in Operation Circle (Kabul, Logar provinces).

April 12-24 - participation of the 103rd Airborne Division (three battalions) in Operation Spring (Kabul Province).

May 20 - operation "Volley" (provinces of Logar, Paktia, Kabul). The 103rd Airborne Division (three battalions), the 56th Separate Airborne Assault Brigade (two battalions), the 345th Separate Airborne Regiment (two battalions) participated in it.

A group of paratroopers before going on a combat mission in difficult terrain.

1988

January - in the operation "Magistral", which began in November 1987, units of the 103rd airborne division, the 56th separate airborne assault brigade and the 345th separate airborne regiment took part. Thanks to skillful and decisive actions, the paratroopers captured the Satykandov pass, defeated a large Mujahideen base south of the pass. This played a decisive role in defeating the enemy and taking Khost.

April 12 - May 12 - the 345th separate airborne regiment (commander - Colonel V.A. Vostrotin) carried out the combat mission of escorting the columns of the 40th separate army to Kandahar. During the operation, 5 columns were carried out, 8 thousand tons of cargo were transported. The paratroopers inflicted significant damage on the Mujahideen, killed about 100 people, and captured a large number of small arms.

On April 14, the Geneva Accords were signed between the USSR, the USA and Pakistan. The USSR undertook to withdraw Soviet troops from Afghanistan starting May 15, 1988.

June 23 - July 19 - participation of the 345th separate airborne regiment in the fighting in the Faizabad area. The column of the regiment, having overcome the Salang pass, made an 850-kilometer march and ensured the successful start of the military operation. The operation took place with minimal losses of personnel and military equipment of the regiment. The enemy lost more than 180 people, a significant part of military equipment.

July 26 - August 10 - participation of the 345th separate airborne regiment in combing and special mining of the area (Kabul province) to disorganize the actions of the Mujahideen.

September - The 345th separate airborne regiment was given the honorary name "named after the 70th anniversary of the Lenin Komsomol".

1989

January 23 - units of the 345th separate airborne regiment liberated from the Mujahideen and took control of part of the territory adjacent to the Kabul-Khairatan strategic highway, along which the regiment crossed the border of the USSR on February 11 and returned to the Union.

The column of the Airborne Forces crosses the Soviet-Afghan border. February 1989

During the ten years of the war in Afghanistan, 17 paratroopers became Heroes of the Soviet Union, more than 24,000 airborne troops were awarded government awards for their courage and heroism. Parts of the Airborne Forces participated in more than 200 planned combat operations against the rebels.

Prepared by I. A. Lyndin.

Participation of the Airborne Forces in the Afghan War ... In the Afghan War, one airborne division (103 Guards Airborne Division), one detachment took part from the airborne and airborne assault formations of the USSR Armed Forces. an airborne assault brigade (56gdshbr), one separate airborne regiment (345gv.opdp) and two airborne assault battalions as part of separate motorized rifle brigades (in the 66th brigade and in the 70th brigade). In total, for 1987, these were 18 "linear" battalions (13 paratroopers and 5 airborne assaults), which accounted for a fifth of the total number of all OKSVA "linear" battalions (which included another 18 tank and 43 motorized rifle battalions). In virtually the entire history of the Afghan war, not a single situation has arisen that would justify the use of parachute landing for the transfer of personnel. The main reasons here were the complexity of the mountainous terrain, as well as the unjustified material costs in using such methods in the counter-guerrilla war. The delivery of personnel of the parachute and airborne assault units to the mountainous areas of hostilities, impassable for armored vehicles, was carried out only by landing method using helicopters. Therefore, the division of the line battalions of the Airborne Forces in OKSVA into air assault and parachute assault should be considered conditional. Both types of battalions operated in the same way. As in all motorized rifle, tank and artillery units as part of the OKSVA, up to half of all units of the airborne and airborne assault formations were assigned to guard outposts, which made it possible to control roads, mountain passes and the vast territory of the country, significantly restricting the the very actions of the enemy. For example, battalions of the 350th Guards RAP were often based in various parts of Afghanistan (in Kunar, Girishka, Surubi), controlling the situation in these areas. The 2nd Airborne Battalion from the 345th Guards Opdp was distributed to 20 outposts in the Panjshir Gorge near the village of Anava. By this very 2pdb 345opdp (together with the 682nd motorized rifle regiment of the 108th motorized rifle division stationed in the village of Rukha) completely blocked the western exit from the gorge, which was the main transport artery of the enemy from Pakistan to the strategically important Charikar Valley. The most massive combat airborne operation in the USSR Armed Forces, in the period after the Great Patriotic War, must be considered the 5th Panjshir Operation in May-June 1982, during which the first mass landing of the 103rd Guards Airborne Forces in Afghanistan was carried out: only during the first three days, more than 4 thousand people were parachuted from helicopters. In total, about 12 thousand military personnel of various branches of the armed forces participated in this operation. The operation took place simultaneously for all 120 km deep into the gorge. As a result of the operation, most of the Panjshir Gorge was taken under control. In the period from 1982 to 1986, in all airborne divisions of OKSVA, a systematic replacement of regular airborne armored vehicles (BMD-1, BTR-D) with armored vehicles, standard for motorized rifle units (BMP-2D, BTR-70) was carried out. First of all, this was due to the rather low security and low motor resource of the structurally lightweight armored vehicles of the Airborne Forces, as well as the nature of the hostilities, where combat missions performed by paratroopers will not differ much from the tasks assigned to motorized rifles. Also, to increase the firepower of the landing units, additional artillery and tank units will be introduced into their composition. For example, 345opdp, modeled on a motorized rifle regiment, will be supplemented with an artillery howitzer battalion and a tank company, in the 56th brigade the artillery battalion was deployed up to 5 fire batteries (instead of the prescribed 3 batteries), and the 103rd Guards Airborne Division will be given to reinforce the 62nd separate tank battalion, which was unusual for the organizational and staff structure of the Airborne Forces units on the territory of the USSR.