Mujahideen Tactics in the Soviet-Afghan War - Bennett Park Raiders

Page 184 The Other Side of the Mountain: Mujahideen Tactics in the Soviet-Afghan War
Enemy Bases Overrun during the Operation
1. Debili Base 4. Tori Zhawari Base
2. Dargo Base 5. Kaftarkhana Base
3. Pul-e Estehkam Base 6. Spina Thana Base
(Engineer Bridge Base)
restored bridge at Dargo. The four-kilometer stretch between the two
restored bridges was jammed with traffic when I gave the signal to
open fire. My Mujahideen opened fire along the entire front, taking
the DRA by surprise. Mujahideen firing began at 1600 hours and
continued until 1900 hours in the evening. We inflicted heavy losses
on the trapped columns. The DRA columns retreated into Sarobi.
PHASE FOUR
My Mujahideen withdrew without DRA interference. They broke
contact during the night following the ambush and returned to their
bases.
DRA/Soviet Losses
Total losses during the entire operation include:
• Forty-two tanks and APCs, six BMPs, nine artillery pieces, one
BM-13 MRL, one bulldozer, two cranes, 65 soft-skin vehicles, two
jet aircraft and one helicopter gunship destroyed or damaged. Most
vehicle losses were inflicted during the Phase 3 ambush.
• Over 500 soldiers killed or wounded and 212 soldiers and 11 officers
captured.
• Four pistols, 261 assault rifles, two flare guns, three light machine
guns, four medium (PK) machine guns, three heavy 7.62 machine
guns, three 12.7 DShK machine guns, seven ZGU-1 14.5mm heavy
machine guns, two AGS-17 automatic grenade launchers, thirteen
RPG-7 antitank grenade launchers, seven medium 82mm mortars*
and nineteen tactical radio sets captured.
18 killed and 53 wounded.
Mujahideen Losses