Question re USSR in Afghanistan
 

There is a lot of information on the web on this subject, but in terms of the weapons the Russians (and, for that matter, the Mujahedeen) used, the information is sometimes contradictory. Thus, a question:
What tanks were actually sent to Afghanistan? Some sites say the Red Army sent T-72s and/or T-64s, others say the most modern tank used in Afghanistan was the T-62. Can anyone help me out?

Re: Question re USSR in Afghanistan
 

The most advanced tanks which was used in Afghanistan in quantity were upgraded (BDD armor etc.) T-62. At the moment I cannot rule out with 100% certainty that small quantities of more advanced tanks might have been sent there for testing purposes for brief periods of time, but it seems rather unlikely.

Re: Question re USSR in Afghanistan
 

That's what I thought...

Thanks,
Spike

Re: Question re USSR in Afghanistan
 

Web Page1

web page2

Re: Question re USSR in Afghanistan
 

AFAIK some 72's were sent there but quickly sent back as they had some issues, like more barrel wear than T-62/T-55, that limited them in infantry support tasks.

Re: Question re USSR in Afghanistan
 

Regarding T-72s in Afghanistan, I also heard a while ago that the limited gun elevation severely restricted their use in mountainous terrain, but I don't know what that info is worth.

Edit: Epoletov, I was browsing the veteran pic site and just came up with this one.

Re: Question re USSR in Afghanistan
 

It is more than just slightly possible that the person who wrote that caption has no real knowledge of what tank that is and the photo is so poor it's no wonder. There are numerous examples in books on WW2 where Pz IV specials are labeled "Tigers"

Don

Re: Question re USSR in Afghanistan
 

Huh, you're right, Don, my bad, I should have checked the pic better before talking... http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/fear.gif

The side skirts (and fuel tanks and exhaust) on the first vehicle on this pic look slightly more T-72-like, but just everything else hints at an engineering vehicle, then probably T-55-based by that timeframe.

Re: Question re USSR in Afghanistan
 

Some BREMs based on T-72 chassis were sent there AFAIK. It is the combat tanks that I am skeptic about.

Digging I found some rumors about some T-72s being sent there early in the war and supposedly withdrawn because the suspensions were too delicate for the local terrain.
Whatever. I would not trust these tales too much.

Re: Question re USSR in Afghanistan
 

http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif"Delicate" is not a word I thought I'd hear in reference to Russian tanks http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Don