Evacuation

The Mujahideen evacuated their base as the two ground columns closed on Zhawar. The Mujahideen were unable to evacuate their stores but the Soviet commander knew that he could not destroy the caves in the available time. The combat soldiers were withdrawing as the sappers remained behind to destroy as much as they could. 

The Mujahideen were keen to fall on the heels of their retiring foes; anyone who fell behind would be in serious trouble…

The convoy enters a pass - the two heavy trucks carrying a few engineers and their equipment are escorted by two BMPs. Over-eager officers lead in a jeep

Two groups of Mujahideen open fire on the jeep as it enters the killing zone, but it somehow survives  the torrent of fire (albeit with it wheels blown out and the engine spouting steam)

The trucks pull off the road to leave the infantry take care of things 

The truck to the left is attacked - and the two engineers bail out and take cover

The rear-most BMP disgorges its load, who advance to the ridgeline to take on the ambushing Afghans

The jeep has been stopped (both officers are seriously wounded), but things are complicated: a group of Afghan civilians are crossing the road, an suspected roadside bomb has been spotted up ahead and the jeep has blocked the firing line of the BMP!

The second squad clears the small village, wiping out a second group of Mujahideen. They bundle their wounded man into the rear of the BMP and get the truck moving again

Time to take the alternate route - the going will be slower off-road but they'll avoid the IEDs ahead

One of the Afghan's T-55s was obviously recovered and put back into use as soon as the Soviets withdrew.  Minutes of terror and tension build as every soldier tries to get out of the way!

Thankfully for the Soviets, one of their brave soldiers put an RPG into the tank, knocking out its main gun. The crew stay aboard to return fire with the machine gun, but a shot from the BMP's cannon knocks out the optics and the Afghans bail out and scarper

So much for clearing that village - a crewed .50cal turns up in the rear but is  knocked out by the quick-reacting infantry

Backing away, the BMP covered the withdrawal. A small fireteam holds their position 'til the second truck exits

One last group of Mujahideen makes its move to gun down the unlucky fireteam, killing one and seriously wounding the others.

 The Soviets get both trucks off, though losing the jeep and with multiple casualties. A victory, though one won in the final turn.

Flanking Manoeuvre

After a botched heliborne assault into Zhawar, a renewed ground assault is directed at Dawri Gar. Meanwhile a flanking column is sent eastwards towards the Moghulgai mountain to try to manoeuvre the Mujahideen out of Zhawar.

Squads #1 (restored to full strength for this phase of the operation) and #2 move down a stream bed to the dried river bed south-east of Moghulgai



With their BMP-1s and a BRDM-2 (the last one in the recon platoon!) leading they're confidant about the manoeuvre - though the rough ground prevents the vehicles from making best speed. There are some Mujahideen behind the ridgeline.



The platoon moves along the dried stream bed hugging the banks while some of the column breaks off to the left to secure that flank



Clambering up the steep ridgeline, the Mujahideen strike to ambush - but a rockfall brings half of the group down before they can open fire - which is ineffective (though scaring the hell out of the Lieutenant)



At the lead of the column, a heavy machine gun opens fire, but the BRDM weathers the storm and cuts them down



As the BRDM turns right into the river bed a second Mujahideen group climbs the treacherous banks and its fire is deadly - bringing down all four of the fire team in the open.
The Lieutenant's decision to request the Company Medic pays dividends, as all four get back to their feet - quick action sees only one of the soldiers worse for wear!



A freak dust storm breaks out and now everything is slowed to a crawl, and visibility is severely reduced.
Backing up the team above them, both BMPs inch forward putting pressure on the Mujahideen group lurking in the small forested area



On the other flank, the BRDM suddenly develops a problem with its weapons system, rendering the machine gun ineffective - it still has the heavy machine gun though.
The platoon is making good progress and has a dominant position in the centre of things



A hesitant IED attack - which did hold up the Soviet advance for a while - is thwarted by some quick shooting from the BRDM



A mass of Mujahideen arrive from the direction of the mountain but their shot at the BRDM is ruined with the RPG gunner is taken out [ruining the 'Golden BB' card just picked up!] With that the BMPs roll forward with impunity, there's simply no way for the Afghans to see them off. Funnily enough the BRDM develops an electrical fault and becomes a rather static pill box - how is the unlucky crew going to explain that back at HQ!



On the left flank the platoon clear the woods and the house, and despite a fierce assault by some new arrivals, takes control of that end of the river bed



The Mujahideen's brave effort to separate the infantry from their armoured vehicles come to naught, and to heap insult on injury a full squad of paratroops arrive on the battlefield from an unexpected direction to close down all their options!



A tense battle, though one where the Mujahideen were done no favours by their RPG die rolls - they were helped out by the weather though!

*****

Last post for a week at least, so I'll wish you and yours a good holiday (or Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! to all you traditionalists).

Inch by Inch

As the Mujahideen from Lezhi retreated south a small Mujahideen force blocked the Manay Kandow pass. The Soviets want to dislodge them before the main Mujahideen force has a chance to regroup and prepare the defences.

A switchback trail passes by a few small compounds - difficult ground held by a rearguard of committed Mujahideen



The rest of the platoon participates in the operation, led by the Lieutenant (the Senior NCO is still invalided out) and backed by 3rd Squad's BMP-1 and another BRDM-2 from battalion reconnaisance.



They are joined by a paratroop sniper team, taking cover behind the armoured car.



The platoon PKM team takes position on the rooftop and immediately zeroes in on a lurking RPG team at the far side of this section of trail - the tankies in the unit breathe a sigh of relief



The BRDM's happiness is quickly extinguished as another Muhajahideen group avoids its heavy machine gun and lets loose with an RPG - knocking out the armoured car - one of the crew is seriously injured and the rest drag him back to cover.
The BMP barrels around the corner and opens fire on them, causing havoc but more importantly killing the RPG gunner



Another VDV fireteam runs on, this is going to be more of a challenge than the Lieutenant thought - these paratroopers are heading straight for the ridgeline. It'll be difficult to get over, but if they get there without delay they'll be able to control the entire area



A Mujahideen group in a small copse advance quickly to a lone house on the other side of the ridge - from here they'll be able to drive back the stripey-shirted Soviets!



Another brave move from the BMP crew - they careen around the sharp bend in the trail and drive the Mujahideen out of the house



The paratroopers make it onto the ridgeline without incident and set up on overwatch - someone's got to save those ground pounders!



The Lieutenant, leading the second team out of 2nd Squad to the ridgeline in support of the paratroopers, finds a warmer welcome there. Two men go down - fire is coming at them from all angles



Some men from 3rd squad race across open ground to clear the large building at the end of the first switchback and despite some heavy resistance they clear that compound



The platoon crosses the ridgeline in force, taking control of the lone house and setting it up as an impromptu casualty centre (one of those hit on the ridgeline is dead and another lightly wounded)



Running behind the BMP looking for another commanding position, the sniper team is caught in the open, but their quick reflexes and some support from the BMP drive back the Mujahideen lurking in the wood



Taking that copse of trees, the Soviets prepare to tackle the last compound - their timeline set by Company HQ is almost up



The Mujahideen group which had been resisting from the compound wall, falls back under pressure and holds out behind the main building



The BMP drives through the gate and the Mujahideen are quickly wiped out. A good success for the platoon - the men look approvingly at this new Lieutenant - beaten up badly just yesterday he's bounced back with the result!

Sweep and Clear

Sixth Company has been tasked to take the village of Lezhi, an outlying compound controlling the route deeper into Zhawar. The young lieutenant leading the attack underestimates the task ahead of him and brings just a single squad and its BMP-1 along with the platoon HQ and the attached BRDM-2.

The Soviet squad approaches the village



The Mujahideen machine gun overlooks the entire village and the approaches



It opens fire as the BMP advances and the vehicle brews up immediately - the crew bail out without injury



Chastened the Lieutenant calls up a fire team from the platoon as reinforcements - they pile into the field to cover the main advance, with support from the company's light mortars



The first fireteam, led by the Lieutenant reaches cover - the platoon's sniper specialist is in the lead



The other rifle fireteam, being led by the Platoon's senior NCo come under a concerted crossfire as they advance through the open ground. Taking serious casualties, they withdraw under the cover of the BRDM. The junior NCO takes command, putting fire downrange from an RPG, taking out a Mujahideen sniper team as he evacuates his comrades.



The Lieutenant still feels that there is potential for victory and an aggressive advance through the fields goes wrong. The Mujahideen behind the compound wall catch the advancing fireteam badly off guard



A pair of reinforcements turn up on a ridgetop, and they train their RPG on the armoured car's thin side armour. A timely strike from the light mortar takes them out before they can do any damage



The Soviets advance to the compound, enfilading the main body of the Mujahideen inside



With help from the BRDM, they clear the compound of resistance



The Mujahideen haven't given up yet, and some additional reinforcements head around the flank



Cruelly, just as the platoon appears to be finishing things off, a heavy mortar round knocks out the BRDM - questions remain unanswered as to where this fire came from...



A final firefight takes place, and control over the main compound is disputed



With none of their main objectives clearly held, this is a heavy defeat for the Soviets. They have taken two KIA and six more wounded (as well as both vehicles knocked out).

*****

Back at base, three of the wounded are appraised as being fit to return to duty almost immediately. The Senior NCO refuses to do more than convalesce in his tent; he may be an evil son-of-a-bitch, but he's tough as hell!. Two are evacuated to Baghram for surgery and will be replaced in due time. Two soldiers arrive from the depot to replace the dead: one of these is green as can be and joins 1st Squad. Another veteran joins 2nd Squad.

Despite their victory the insurgency's losses weigh heavily against the region's defenders - and disillusionment begins to creep in.