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Ambush Of BMP-1
long_tom
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Posted: Thursday, December 01, 2016 - 11:07 PM UTC
I wanted to depict one by mujahedeen, but how did they exactly go about it? Were BMP-1 crews inexperienced, or were they aware and still mange to get hit?
GulfWarrior
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ARMORAMA
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Posted: Thursday, December 01, 2016 - 11:17 PM UTC
Could've been a combination of things. Sometimes it's just dumb luck or wrong place / wrong time.

I remember rolling through a wadi in southern Iraq once telling my team leader, "Ya know, this would be a great place for an ambush." No sooner did the words reach her ears then we came to a screeching halt to find that an Iraqi artillery convoy had had that exact thing happen to them. We even found the firing positions that the partisans (or whoever) used to shoot RPGs into the vehicles below...
obg153
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Posted: Friday, December 02, 2016 - 12:39 AM UTC
It's also likely that the mujahedeen would have a better knowledge of the area(s) they choose for an ambush since it's their turf. Or maybe not so much inexperienced crews, but inept or incompetent commanders. The terms Custer and Little Big Horn come to mind.
HeavyArty
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Posted: Friday, December 02, 2016 - 12:43 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Or maybe not so much inexperienced crews, but inept or incompetent commanders.


Not everything in warfare is the fault of the officers. Shat happens in war and the enemy always gets a vote. Like GulfWarrior said, it is usually "just dumb luck or wrong place / wrong time."
jasegreene
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Posted: Saturday, December 03, 2016 - 04:33 PM UTC
Well you see I do some hunting myself during hunting season so I know all the best places to be at so I can bag.That would be the same way where else during an ambush because the locals will always know the ground better than the invader.
Cookiescool2
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Posted: Saturday, December 03, 2016 - 08:15 PM UTC
I can give an example from the Soviet-Afghan war if it helps you.

During the war the Soviets had only one main route that could be used to get fuel and supply shipments directly from the Soviet Union to Kabul. However, it was a road pass placed in a valley surrounded by a mountain range. The mountains on both sides of the road would often be thousands of feet high. In other words, they were basically ambushed daily on these roads.

The Soviets often placed BMP's, BTR's, and other escort vehicles attempting to guard their supply trucks, but the Mujaheddin would often be camouflaged into the mountainside in small ditches or caves. They would then use RPG's or Recoilless guns to target the convoys.

If you wanted to depict something like that, I'd have the BMP-1 crews on alert watching all directions. However, the Mujaheddin would be high up in the mountains or hills, and not close to the vehicles.
MLD
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Posted: Saturday, December 03, 2016 - 09:46 PM UTC
I have read that one of the problems with the BMP-1 was the inability to elevate the main gun enough to engage the enemy above. So if you want to do a very narrow, but tall diorama, you would be on good footing geographically.

Google up Salang pass (tunnel?) to get a sense of the steepness of the terrain around these roads.
long_tom
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Posted: Sunday, December 04, 2016 - 01:28 AM UTC

Quoted Text

I have read that one of the problems with the BMP-1 was the inability to elevate the main gun enough to engage the enemy above. So if you want to do a very narrow, but tall diorama, you would be on good footing geographically.

Google up Salang pass (tunnel?) to get a sense of the steepness of the terrain around these roads.

Thanks! Trouble is, the mujahedeen figures I saw were pointing their weapons horizontally and none downward. I also wondered what weapons could pierce the sides of the BMP-1...and if that was expected by the soldiers using them. ("Hey! I thought this gun couldn't penetrate this vehicle!")
MLD
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Posted: Sunday, December 04, 2016 - 06:18 AM UTC

Quoted Text


Quoted Text

I have read that one of the problems with the BMP-1 was the inability to elevate the main gun enough to engage the enemy above. So if you want to do a very narrow, but tall diorama, you would be on good footing geographically.

Google up Salang pass (tunnel?) to get a sense of the steepness of the terrain around these roads.

Thanks! Trouble is, the mujahedeen figures I saw were pointing their weapons horizontally and none downward. I also wondered what weapons could pierce the sides of the BMP-1...and if that was expected by the soldiers using them. ("Hey! I thought this gun couldn't penetrate this vehicle!")


well Afghanistan is a big country. I am sure there are flat parts too.. -grin-
Have you seen a copy of the ancient Concord book on the Afghan war? Lots of good 'action' (read as: staged) Russian photos and some candid Mujhadeen snaps.
long_tom
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Posted: Wednesday, December 14, 2016 - 08:44 PM UTC
OK I just got the Trumpeter kit. Were the original BMP-1's in Afghanistan simply the dark green? That's what the painting directions say, and the markings simply consist of a number. But the directions give no indication if this was a generic BMP-1 or used anywhere.
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