The Soviet Afghan War
A couple of years ago, I developed
an interest in the Soviet Afghan War, and decided to game the
conflict in 15mm scale. My interest focuses on small, skirmish
actions and I have recently completed my first batch of figures
and terrain.
15mm Soviet figures are available
from QRF, Peter Pig, and MJ Miniatures (now Shield Wall, note
that they have had some service problems in the recent past).
Old Glory , Shield Wall, and soon QRF make Afghan figures. Quality
Castings/Battle Honors has a pretty wide Soviet range, but the
figs are somewhat smaller than most other manufacturers; similarly,
Irregular make a decent line of Soviets, but they tend to be a
little bigger than most other manufacturers. I started off working
on QRF Soviet infantry with some BTR-60s, GAZ-66 trucks, a BRDM-2,
and an Mi-24D helicopter, adding BMP-1s, T-55s, and T-T72s a little
later. I chose the Old Glory figs figures to represent the Mujahideen;
they are a little on the tall side, but are very resonably priced.
I filled in some gaps in the QRF line with QC's Soviet figs, but
due to the size difference am not totally happy with the result.
Below are some photos from my first
battle, an ambush of a Soviet column. The battle was just thrown
together to test some new house rules, but provided a fun time
none the less.
An overview of the table, the Soviets
traveling away from us in the photo have lost a couple of BTR-60s.
Soviet GAZ66 trucks (from QRF)continue
past the destroyed BTR60s.
One of my BTR60s (Quality Castings)
with accompanying infantry (QRF).
Old Glory Afghans.
Pics below are a couple views from
HMGS Great Lakes convention Advance the Colors '05.
The game involved a village weep
by a Platoon in BMP1s and an airborne platoon, the Mujihadeen
had around 70 fighters. Soviet forces split into two groups, the
paras attacking down the road (from bottom right in the first
photo), and the mech platoon flanking from the far side of the
stream. A see-saw battle ensued, featuring an Afghan section waiting
in ambush being surprised by a flamethrower (very ugly); and the
T55 IMR, clearing mines from the road, being close assaulted,
and then going out of control down the road, eventually crashing
into a building. In the end the Soviets withdrew, as they could
not dislodge the Afghans, both sides took heavy casualties.
Construction
of Afghan Buildings
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