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

Page 308 The Other Side of the Mountain: Mujahideen Tactics in the Soviet-Afghan War
troops carrying chain saws. They planned to cut their way through the
orchards, destroy them and deny this refuge to the Mujahideen. We
had planted mines in front of our positions which deterred the poorlytrained
DRA soldiers. We maintained a steady fire from well-situated
positions. We kept a reserve of 160-200 men in reserve resting. Every
evening, the relief group would move forward, carrying rations and
relieve the force who would go back and rest for two days. Then they
would rotate forward again. It was usually calm at night when we carried
out the relief. In this manner, we kept up the defense for 18 days.
We did not resupply during the day, but brought food, water and
ammunition forward only at night. The DRA could not break through,
but they did cut some trees before we shot them down. It was winter
and it was cold. Our positions were good, although resupply was
tough. Throughout the fighting, the enemy bombed and shelled all
suspected bases in the area. One bomb, intended for our position in
Pakha Polan, missed the target and hit the western city gate, killing
many civilians. They could not hit us at the front line positions
because we were so close to their line and so our front line was safe
from air and artillery attack.
COMMENTARY: Throughout the war, the Soviets and DRA were never
able to bring Kandahar under complete control. Mujahideen urban
groups fought sporadic battles within the city walls and Mujahideen
mobile groups maintained control over the suburbs. Unlike other
areas of Afghanistan, there was little in-fighting among the factions
involved in the fighting around Kandahar and the Mujahideen ran the
fight cooperatively through regular meetings of a coordination council.
This cooperation provided tactical flexibility to the Mujahideen and
their redundant fortifications ensured that Soviet/DRA offensives
would never progress far. Most notable is the regular rotation of
Mujahideen from the forward positions. A relief in place is a difficult
procedure for the best-trained troops. The Mujahideen routinely
relieved front-line forces without a loss in combat effectiveness. This
is very impressive for any force, and even more so for a force that is in
direct contact and is heavily outgunned and poorly supplied.
There was a significant DRA/Sbviet force garrisoned in the area.
The DRA 2nd Corps, 15th Infantry Division, 7th Tank Brigade, 3rd
Border Guard Brigade garrisoned Kandahar city. The Soviet 70th
Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade, the DRA 366th Fighter Regiment,
the DRA 379th Separate Bombing Squadron and a Soviet Spetsnaz
battalion garrisoned the Kandahar international airport. The