Solo Afghanistan campaign: it all kicks off in Kabul!

As promised, my next post on my solo Afghanistan COIN (counter-insurgency) campaign, where I'm running the Soviet side in a strategic level simulation of the USSR involvement in the country in the 1980s. 

Up to this point in the game, everything had been going relatively smoothly. Indeed, a negotiated ceasefire with the mujahideen in the Panjsheer Valley had left much of the country looking relatively quiet and peaceful as we moved into the end of 1982.

All that was about to change however...

1983: The rebels attack Kabul

Going into this year there was little rebel activity although some civil unrest in the Kandahar area. This was because rebel forces were secretly massing for a big attack on Kabul. I had to dice to see if local Afghan regime forces would remain loyal in Kabul. Luckily they did, and the attack was driven off. Soviet troops were also pulled out of the Panjsheer Valley as I did not want to tie down too many escorts keeping them supplied up there.

Above we see mujahideen units attacking Kabul. Green and black pieces are rebel units - yellow are heavy artillery - e.g. 122mm rockets. Red pieces are Soviet forces in Kabul. The square red hammer & sickle counters are the elite Spetznaz brigade. Blue counters are DRA troops, in this case the Afghan commando brigade. Aircraft squadrons take no role in tactical battles and are generally used for pacification operations. The 2 of Spades is tracking the level of morale in local Afghan forces.

1984: Panjsheer Valley in flames again

The attack on Kabul, although unsuccessful, kicked off a massive amount of rebel activity elsewhere in Afghanistan. We saw a major revolt in the Panjsheer Valley as Masud scrapped his ceasefire deal. There was also a big uprising in Kandahar. Having driven off the attack on Kabul, troops and choppers were immediately dispatched to deal with the trouble.

We ran into an ambush immediately in the high passes, and took losses among both my motorised infantry units and even the Spetznaz, who got called in to help clear the way into the Panjsheer. Fighting was intense. In retrospect this turned into the bloodiest battle of the campaign. Most of the Soviet losses - among ground forces - occurred in the second half of 1984 in the high passes and in Kandahar.

Here we have mujahideen forces attacking a Soviet motorised infantry force that is escorting supplies through the mountains. This is the road to the Panjsheer Valley, which can be seen top right where more Soviet forces are operating. The pink counter is the truck convoy. The 7 of Diamonds is specifically tracking the level of local resistance in the Panjsheer Valley.

1985: Here some the Stingers

Inevitably the CIA made its move, and began to provide rebel forces with Stinger missiles. This makes helicopters more vulnerable in tactical operations. With the levels of heavy fighting in-country, Moscow decided to send in a new armoured division to help out, which was welcome.  Soviet forces began losing helicopters in both the Panjsheer Valley and indeed in Kandahar where the fighting raged on throughout 1985. I lost more ground troops here too, including Afghan commandos.

Western media began covering the effects of the war more intensely, which began to swing the sentiment of world opinion against the USSR. With foreign reporters roving freely in refugee camps in Pakistan, Moscow began to lose control over the narrative. 

A routine operation in the Hindu Kush. Soviet tanks with helicopter escort testing for ambush en route to Herat. An Afghan motorised infantry division can be seen already in Herat, engaging local rebel forces. Soviet Hinds are flying overwatch for the armour. This local Afghan unit remained in Herat for most of the game, suffering little loss, and indeed Herat  ended up being the quietest part of the country...

Next time: the finale. Can the Soviets hang on until 1988?