The Other Side of the Mountain: Mujahideen ... - Tribal Analysis Center

Page 16 The Other Side of the Mountain: Mujahideen Tactics in the Soviet-Afghan War
Depending on initial vehicle interval and the commander's ability to
stop the convoy from bunching up, some 70 to 150 vehicles may have
been caught in the three-kilometer gorge. The drivers were dependent
on firepower to rescue them, but the convoy was unable to bring firepower
to bear to save their column.
Helicopters have an important role in convoy security, not only as
scouts, but as a rapid reaction force and as a lift force to move security
elements from one piece of dominant high ground to the next. The
lack of helicopters deprived the convoy of needed warning and firepower.
The Mujahideen needed radios and early warning pickets to alert
ambush forces about the approach of convoys and aircraft. At this
point of the war, few Mujahideen had tactical radio communications