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BOOK REVIEWS<br />
Another area where the Chechens excelled was their ability to improvise weapon systems out<br />
of everyday parts. Thus, despite the fact that they lacked access to formal weapon systems such<br />
as rocket launchers, they were able to maintain stocks by building their own. For example, they<br />
would salvage the driveshaft covers from MAZ trucks to serve as the launch tube<br />
for 57‐mm S‐5 rockets and, similarly, the driveshaft covers from Ural trucks for<br />
80‐mm S‐8 rockets. Sights for these weapons were developed by utilizing half-binoculars or<br />
something similar. The rockets themselves were usually salvaged from shot-down helicopters.<br />
Billingsley has drafted his text in a series of vignettes, each accompanied by a map in colour,<br />
that serve to highlight a different aspect of Chechen asymmetric warfare techniques. He<br />
emphasizes Chechen strengths and weaknesses under different fighting scenarios, providing<br />
detailed accounts of the battles as recounted by individuals present on the field, followed by a<br />
commentary that encapsulates the lessons to be drawn from the encounter. His chapters are<br />
broken out by operational type, such as “Defense of an Urban Area,” “Raids,” “Ambush and<br />
Counterambush” and “Defense of Lines of Communications,” and may be read all together or<br />
individually without breaking the flow of the narrative.<br />
Source: Wikipedia<br />
A Chechen fighter near the burned-out ruins of the Presidential Palace in Grozny, January 1995<br />
I liked Billingsley’s writing style and the way he summarizes the chapters, providing a quick<br />
and accurate synopsis of the lessons to be gleaned from the Chechen experience. Although the<br />
book is focused exclusively upon the Chechens themselves, it is evident from the accounts of<br />
the later battles in the 2000s that the quality and professionalism of the Russian forces had also<br />
improved dramatically. The book includes a good bibliography of printed works and videos.<br />
Helion Publishing has produced another high-quality book that is worth the reader’s<br />
investment of time and money. The author’s unique insights, backed up by his close working<br />
relationship with the Chechens, makes for a technical but interesting read. His narrative is<br />
blunt, honest and balanced, and he does not shy away from critical conclusions about the<br />
Chechen efforts where warranted.<br />
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