Questions on Soviet-Afghan war?

Question

Can you evaluate the Soviet's stratege, and tacticts of fighting guerillas?

Were the Soviets bad at chasing after the Afghans?

I have read some articles that the Soviets were not good at this kind of guerilla fighting, as they landed the helicopters in the open field (which drew rocket attacks from the Afghans) and their calvary units being lured into closed terrain, being mass-killed.

But I want to know more. Were the Soviet tactics still based on the world war 2 experiences?

Overall, were the Soviets good fighters and inflicted many casualties to the Afghans?

Or were they stupid and just got killed?

I want to know as much information as possible.

I want to know their mistakes, favorite tactics, etc.

thanks.

Answer 1

Yes, I can relate what the Soviet High Command themselves said about their strategy in Soviet-Afghan War.
The Soviet forces in Afghanistan, like the American forces in Vietnam, had to learn the tactics of their enemy, and improve their own.
"The conduct of the Soviet-Afghan War can be divided into four phases:
The first phase (Dec. 1979 - Feb. 1980), the Soviet forces stationed their garrisons, secured bases, and various installations. They did conduct combat to support the completion of their mission(s).
The second phase (March '80 to April '85), Soviet forces conducted combat on a wide scale, mainly by Soviet forces, but also in cooperation with Afghan forces. Soviet forces were reinforced, reaching 81,800.
The third phase (April '85 to April '86), the Soviet forces grew to their peak strength. Four divisions, five separate brigades, four separate regiments, and six separate battalions. Of the total of 108,800 personnel, 73,00 were combat units.
The fourth phase (Jan. '87 to Feb. '89), saw the Soviets realize there was no military solution to the Afghan problem. Beginning in January, 1987 the Soviet forces ceased major offensive combat operations. The withdrawal was decided in April, 1988, and conducted in two stages."

I do not think the Soviets were "bad at chasing after the Afghans", since they had air superiority, and could bring in Spetsnaz units on top of the Mujahedin. Yes, this changed considerably when the Afghan Mujahedin were supplied with Stinger shoulder-launched anti-aircraft missiles.
To a degree, they did use WWII tactics, since armor was largely ineffective in many places. Yes, during phase three they hurt the Afghans badly, but not enough to break them.They were not "stupid", but like in Vietnam, and like in Iraq, there was no "victory" to be found in the military situation. The political situation was just as messy and fragile. The CIA and the rich Saudis were pumping in $$ and "martyrs" by the score, the Soviets found it too hard to compete with those resources. When Gorbachev became the President, he fough the war, but already thought of pulling the military out, and "Aghanization" would follow.

To read more about this conflict, read either the book I have listed, or: 'The Bear Went Over The Mountain: Soviet Combat Tactics in Afghanistan' AND 'The Other Side of the Mountain: Mujahideen Tactics in the Soviet Afghan War' by Lester Grau.

Answer 2

Its no longer that the soviets weren't probable stable at technique, is that the Afghan fighters did have the income of the operational fields. the rustic is extremely complicated to regulate with the aid of its vast mountainous section and hiding places. They dig tunnels in the mountains, and have been given coaching from the CIA besides as some anti-tank weapons... So the Soviets weren't in basic terms combating against the Afghans, yet additionally combating against the U. S.... The Soviets, purely choose for to tug out of Afganistan as they did lose too many squaddies and equipment, as a consequence rendering their invasion thank you to intense priced, on an identical time as their usa replaced into on the border of bankrupty... They have been purely no longer in a position anymore to take care of their occupational forces in Afganistan anymore... additionally, strategically speaking, the soviet military replaced right into a typical one, on an identical time as the Afghan did use assymetrical conflict strategies to combat... standard strategies and weapons, can not harm efficiently an ennemy utilising assymetric conflict strategies. They weren't equiped to tackle such ennemies, yet to tell the reality, you may desire to be certain that through your self... the U. S. forces in Irak are transforming into to be a beating suited now through people who use an identical strategies because of the fact the Afghan have used!