Question re USSR in Afghanistan

[Spike11]

There is a lot of information on the web on this subject, but in terms of the weapons the Russians (and, for that matter, the Mujahedeen) used, the information is sometimes contradictory. Thus, a question:
What tanks were actually sent to Afghanistan? Some sites say the Red Army sent T-72s and/or T-64s, others say the most modern tank used in Afghanistan was the T-62. Can anyone help me out?

[Marcello]

The most advanced tanks which was used in Afghanistan in quantity were upgraded (BDD armor etc.) T-62. At the moment I cannot rule out with 100% certainty that small quantities of more advanced tanks might have been sent there for testing purposes for brief periods of time, but it seems rather unlikely.

[Spike11]

That's what I thought...

Thanks,
Spike

[Epoletov_SPR]

Web Page1 (http://afgan.ru/42/mfoto1.htm)

web page2 (http://www.afgan.ru/19/we11.htm)

[Marek_Tucan]

AFAIK some 72's were sent there but quickly sent back as they had some issues, like more barrel wear than T-62/T-55, that limited them in infantry support tasks.

[PlasmaKrab]

Regarding T-72s in Afghanistan, I also heard a while ago that the limited gun elevation severely restricted their use in mountainous terrain, but I don't know what that info is worth.

Edit: Epoletov, I was browsing the veteran pic site and just came up with this one (http://afgan.ru/10/mfoto7.htm).

[DRG]

PlasmaKrab said:
Edit: Epoletov, I was browsing the veteran pic site and just came up with this one (http://afgan.ru/10/mfoto7.htm).



It is more than just slightly possible that the person who wrote that caption has no real knowledge of what tank that is and the photo is so poor it's no wonder. There are numerous examples in books on WW2 where Pz IV specials are labeled "Tigers"

Don

[PlasmaKrab]

DRG said:It is more than just slightly possible that the person who wrote that caption has no real knowledge of what tank that is and the photo is so poor it's no wonder. There are numerous examples in books on WW2 where Pz IV specials are labeled "Tigers"

Huh, you're right, Don, my bad, I should have checked the pic better before talking... http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/fear.gif

The side skirts (and fuel tanks and exhaust) on the first vehicle on this pic (http://afgan.ru/1/mfoto8.htm) look slightly more T-72-like, but just everything else hints at an engineering vehicle, then probably T-55-based by that timeframe.

[Marcello]

Some BREMs based on T-72 chassis were sent there AFAIK. It is the combat tanks that I am skeptic about.

Digging I found some rumors about some T-72s being sent there early in the war and supposedly withdrawn because the suspensions were too delicate for the local terrain.
Whatever. I would not trust these tales too much.

[DRG]

http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif"Delicate" is not a word I thought I'd hear in reference to Russian tanks http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Don

[Epoletov_SPR]

Rus web page (http://otvaga2004.narod.ru/Otvaga/wars0/page/1_afghan_1.htm)

Originally tank divisions of 40-th Army have been armed by tanks T-55. But, as general Gromov recollected, in a prediction of fighting operations, since January, 1980 of an army have started to receive tanks T-62 and T-64. The last, the truth, tests by high mountains have not sustained: brought a duple diesel engine, and in DRA they for a long time were not late. But T-55 and T-62 in mountains were at war long enough.