Boom, boom." The sound of propellers paddling through the air was heard in the sky.
Following the sound, two huge helicopters flew past at an altitude of 800 meters, one thousand meters apart from each other.
Above the head is a huge five-blade propeller, stirring the air with a loud noise. The two bubble-like cockpits in the front are arranged high and low, and at the back is a wide cabin, like a pregnant doe. Therefore, this helicopter is also nicknamed the Doe by NATO.
However, if you regard this helicopter as a gentle doe, you are totally wrong. Not to mention the machine gun under the nose, which can reap lives at any time, just looking at the rocket pods mounted on the short wings on both sides is very intimidating. Those large-caliber rockets can cover it at any time and turn everything on the ground into ashes.
The Mi-24 helicopter has been very active in the battlefields of Afghanistan, although many were lost in the early days due to mechanical failures. But now, the Mil Design Bureau has further improved the Mi-24 helicopter, increased the power of the engine, improved the stability of the pilots during rough operation, and, as the pilots gradually become familiar with the war, their ability to control the Hind is constantly improving.
"Attention, we are about to reach the designated airspace. Lower the altitude and look for our tanks." said the pilot Colonel Ivanov in the helicopter in front.
His words were heard by his wingman and the crew members behind him at the same time.
Hearing his words, the two infantry squads of soldiers loaded into the doe's big belly also looked down.
After more than two years of fighting, almost every battalion of the Soviet Army stationed in Afghanistan has established a reconnaissance company composed of the most outstanding soldiers, who are responsible for the most difficult tasks.
That's exactly what happened this time. Their two squads of scouts were going to rescue a tank company of their own that had come under attack, carrying two helicopters. They were very confident that once they got there, the Afghan guerrillas might have already escaped.
Even so, they still looked to both sides and entered the mountainous area. At this time, the helicopter's altitude had lowered and they could encounter various emergencies at any time.
In front is the valley mentioned in the intelligence.
The helicopter flew over, and from a distance, Ivanov saw two hit tanks on one side of the valley.
"Target spotted, 500 meters ahead, 02, be alert." Ivanov shouted on the radio.
The two helicopters covered each other during the operation. Now, Ivanov's helicopter had to land on the open ground, put down the reconnaissance squad behind it, and start the search. In this process, the most dangerous takeoff and landing were the takeoff and landing.
Therefore, the helicopter behind needs to rise to a higher altitude and be alert to the surroundings.
After flying a low circle, there was a large open space in front of us.
No Afghan guerrillas have been spotted yet.
Ivanov gently lowered the total distance with his left hand and held the operating lever with his right hand. The female deer slowly descended like a gentle fawn, and the propeller blew the surrounding sand everywhere.
The landing gear slowly extended, and then the tires touched the ground. The hydraulic shock absorbers of the tires retracted a little, and the entire fuselage shook a little before finally stopping.
The hatch opened, and Xie Luoan, the squad leader of the reconnaissance squad, jumped down first.
Following him, another man jumped down, and the two of them formed a fan-shaped defense, and several soldiers behind them followed suit.
After dropping off the scouts, the helicopter took off again. At this time, it was time for another helicopter to come down and drop off the soldiers, while Ivanov's helicopter needed cover.
Xie Luoan looked at the entire infantry squad coming down, and immediately waved his hand, dispersed, and slowly moved towards the two scrapped tanks on his side.
Rushing forward in a swarm would be the stupidest thing to do. What if there is an Afghan who is not afraid of death hiding in the tank? A volley of bullets could knock them all down.
Slowly, they were getting closer and closer. As long as someone attacked them, the helicopter above their heads would be able to provide support in the first time, so although they were cautious, they didn't have to worry too much.
"Sergeant, there are two people in front, sitting together, very close to the tank." At this time, a scout in front said, he could see it clearly.
"Afghans?" Sheloan asked.
"No, it's ours," said the scout.
Sitting together, not dead yet? Xie Luoan took out the telescope. The sunlight was too bright just now and he couldn't see clearly.
He brought the telescope close to his eyes and suddenly saw very clearly that they were two tank soldiers, but, as if they were dead or alive, there were two corpses in the distance.
This should be a tank crew.
"Be careful, there are mines under your feet." said Xie Luoan.
If these two people were unharmed, it was very likely a trap, so the closer he got, the more careful Xie Luoan became.
"Hey, shorty, are you still alive?" someone shouted from a distance.
Although today's tanks are much more spacious than those during World War II, the space inside is still cramped. Therefore, if you want to be a tank soldier, a very important condition is height.
Markov knew that the person on the other side didn't mean any harm in his words, but he was in no mood to joke around in this situation.
"We are all still alive, but we will almost die soon." Markov said: "The Afghan guerrillas left an hour ago. You came too quickly."
Hearing this, Xie Luoan walked up boldly and said, "Shorty, are there only two of you here? Where are the others?"
"Two of our tanks were destroyed, four retreated safely, and one was hit by an RPG, and the people inside didn't get out. Our tank had a mechanical failure and overturned. We climbed out, but then the commander and gunner were killed by the guerrillas." Markov said, his throat was very dry, and every word he said felt like he was torturing his throat.
"Then why weren't you two killed by the guerrillas?" She Luoan asked, "Those Afghan guerrillas often skinned the prisoners alive."
There are many legends about guerrillas. To Soviet soldiers, guerrillas were like demons. If they were caught by the guerrillas, it would be a blessing to die quickly.
So, seeing these two people next to the tank, they must have encountered guerrillas. Now they are still safe and sound, and all the parts of their bodies are intact. Xie Luoan is very curious.
"It feels like something could explode under our butts at any time. We haven't dared to move for more than an hour. Fortunately, you guys finally came." Markov licked his cracked lips and said.
Was he mistaken for a booby trap? Hearing this, Xie Luoan became cautious.
On the battlefield, if you are not careful, you may be sacrificed at any time. Everyone is mentally prepared for this. However, in many cases, the Soviets buried booby traps, such as in abandoned tanks and on discarded weapons. If the Afghan guerrillas saw them, they would definitely pick them up. As long as they touched them, they would explode.
Now, two of their own tank soldiers were mistaken for booby traps. This was the first time that a living person was used as a booby trap. Moreover, these two tank soldiers were not carrying their own tank soldiers on their backs. They knew that if they moved, they would explode. This was the first time.
It seems that the Afghan guerrillas are really stupid. Sheloan asked: "What do you have under your buttocks?"
If it is a pressure-activated mine, it would be very troublesome. After it is pressed, it will explode as soon as the pressure is released. If this is really the case, there is nothing they can do.
However, I have never heard of Afghan guerrillas having landmines. They are lucky to have the outdated AKM in their hands.
"When the damn guerrillas left, they said we were sitting on pressure-activated mines, but I think what we were sitting on was the grip of a grenade," said Ilyich.
Sitting on a grenade? Shelov pulled out a pack of Pamir cigarettes from his pocket as if nothing had happened.
He lit it, put it in his mouth and took a sip, then stuffed it into Markov's mouth.
Markov looked at Sherov gratefully, took two deep puffs, and then picked it up with his hands.
Sherov lit another cigarette and handed it to Ilyich.
Ilyich shook his head: "I don't smoke."
Smoking is strictly prohibited on the battlefield. Smoking will expose one's position and may cause accidental fires. However, when soldiers are really on the battlefield, smoking is a way for them to relieve stress.
Now, the same is true for Shelov. If he wants to save these two unlucky tank soldiers, he needs to calm down first.
"Your company commander just abandoned you like this and didn't come to rescue you?" Shelov asked.
The battle report they received was that there were a large number of Afghan guerrillas and their tank troops were in danger, so they were dispatched urgently. When they arrived here, they found out that the tank troops had already withdrawn, leaving behind these two soldiers who were toyed with by the Afghan guerrillas.
It seems that the commander of the tank company should be punished.
Company commander, thinking of the company commander, these two people didn't know what to say. Under the circumstances at that time, the company commander seemed to have done nothing wrong. But now think about it, in fact, based on what I saw, among the dozens of guerrillas, it seemed that only two people were carrying rocket launchers.
"Forget it, this is Jalalabad's business. Let me take out the stuff under your butts first," said Shelov.
"Sergeant, let me do it." A soldier at the back said. After all, removing booby traps is dangerous. He rushed to do it now because the squad leader had saved his life before.
"Milo, stay back, this is an order." Shelov ignored Milo and looked around: "All of you hide behind that big rock, don't stick your head out."
Although Shelov was very confident, removing the booby trap was still very dangerous. In order to prevent himself from getting into trouble, he had to let others reach a safe place.
Shelov didn't know that the place he asked others to go was the most dangerous place. He was not facing the indigenous Afghan guerrillas, but opponents from another world who had undergone rigorous special forces training and countless actual combats. The booby trap set by Muhammad was more than just a means of scaring people by using a grenade as a pressure mine.