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

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Page 262 The O<strong>the</strong>r Side of <strong>the</strong> Mounta<strong>in</strong>: <strong>Mujahideen</strong> <strong>Tactics</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Soviet</strong>-<strong>Afghan</strong> <strong>War</strong><br />

However, this was not <strong>the</strong> first nor <strong>the</strong> last battle for <strong>the</strong> resistance.<br />

They were fight<strong>in</strong>g a war of attrition and refused to become decisively<br />

engaged <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir home area where <strong>the</strong> civilians and villages would bear<br />

<strong>the</strong> brunt of <strong>the</strong> damage. In this area, <strong>the</strong> civilian population rema<strong>in</strong>ed<br />

<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir homes throughout <strong>the</strong>war.<br />

Tactically, <strong>the</strong> <strong>Mujahideen</strong> massed <strong>the</strong> fires of <strong>the</strong>ir light anti-tank<br />

weapons at close range. Several anti-tank gunners would fire at <strong>the</strong><br />

same target simultaneously. This greatly <strong>in</strong>creased <strong>the</strong>ir probability of<br />

hit, prevented effective counter fires, demoralized vehicle crews, created<br />

confusion among <strong>the</strong>ir enemy's tank and motorized columns and<br />

prevented <strong>the</strong> employment of accurate, <strong>Soviet</strong> <strong>in</strong>direct artillery fire<br />

<strong>in</strong>to <strong>the</strong> area. Heavy mach<strong>in</strong>e guns usually backed up <strong>the</strong> anti-tank<br />

gunners to separate <strong>the</strong> dismounted <strong>in</strong>fantry from <strong>the</strong> armored vehicles,<br />

keep <strong>the</strong> vehicle crews buttoned up so that <strong>the</strong>ir vision was<br />

obscured, and provided cover<strong>in</strong>g fire should <strong>the</strong> anti-tank gunners<br />

need to leave <strong>the</strong>ir positions.

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