Home›Small Arms And Sidearms›Wars Used In›Soviet-Afghan WarWarSoviet-Afghan WarContemporaryReference and ClassificationDevelopingThe Soviet-Afghan War was fought from December 1979 to February 1989 after the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan to prop up its faltering communist client government against a growing insurgency of Islamist and nationalist Afghan mujahideen fighters. Soviet forces controlled major cities and lines of communication but struggled for a decade to suppress a rural guerrilla insurgency that operated across difficult mountainous terrain and drew extensive covert support, including Stinger anti-aircraft missiles from 1986 onward, funneled through Pakistan by the United States, Saudi Arabia and other states opposed to Soviet expansion. The war became a prolonged and costly quagmire for the Soviet Union, inflicting tens of thousands of Soviet casualties and far greater Afghan losses, including millions of refugees who fled to Pakistan and Iran. Mikhail Gorbachev ordered a full Soviet withdrawal, completed in February 1989, and the war's cost is widely cited among the contributing pressures on the Soviet Union's eventual collapse, while the power vacuum left in Afghanistan fed directly into the civil war and rise of the Taliban that followed.FactsSoviet-Afghan WarConnectionsIn the Other AtlasesSourcesComments (0)Reader Challenges (0)FactsStart YearWell-attested1979 1End YearWell-attested1989 1CombatantsWell-attestedSoviet Union and the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan versus the Afghan mujahideen, backed by Pakistan, the United States and others 1OutcomeWell-attestedMujahideen victory; Soviet withdrawal by February 1989 and the fall of the PDPA government in 1992 1ClassificationConflict TypeWell-attestedCivil War 1Soviet-Afghan WarFilter Results17 entriesWeapon FamilyAllAssault Rifles (3)Assault Rifles of China (2)Assault Rifles of Russia and the Soviet Union (1)Bolt-Action, Lever-Action and Historic Rifles (4)Other Small Arms and Personal Weapons (1)Pistols and Revolvers (1)Rifles and Carbines (11)Semi-Automatic and Battle Rifles (3)Semi-Automatic Pistols (1)Semi-Automatic Pistols of Russia and the Soviet Union (1)Sniper, Designated Marksman and Anti-Materiel Rifles (1)Submachine Guns (4)Weapon Type or ClassAllAssault rifle (3)Bolt-action rifle (3)bolt-action, magazine-fed repeating rifle (1)Carbine (1)recoil-operated, semi-automatic anti-materiel rifle (1)Recoilless rifle (1)Rifle (1)rocket-propelled flamethrower (1)roller-delayed blowback submachine gun (1)Semi-automatic pistol (1)Submachine gun (3)CaliberAll.30-06 Springfield (1).303 British (1).40 S&W (1).45 ACP (1).45 caliber (1).50 BMG (1).50 caliber (1)106 x 607 mm R (1)10mm Auto (1)5.45x39mm (2)5.56x45mm NATO (1)7.62x25mm (1)7.62x39mm (3)7.62x54mmR (1)7.62×25mm Tokarev (1)7.92x57mm Mauser (1)7x57mm Mauser (1)9x18mm (1)9x19mm (2)9×19 mm Parabellum (2)Introduced EraAll1888 (1)1891 (1)1895 (2)1917 (1)1941 (1)1942 (1)1951 (1)1953 (1)1955 (1)1956 (1)1966 (2)1974 (1)1975 (1)1978 (1)1979 (1)1983 (1)1989 (1)Service StatusAllIn Service (15)Retired (4)OperatorAllBundeswehr (2)People's Liberation Army (3)Red Army (1)Russian Armed Forces (1)Soviet Armed Forces (1)United States Army (1)United States Marine Corps (1)Wehrmacht (1)ManufacturerAllBaldwin Locomotive Works (1)Bangladesh Ordnance Factories (1)Barrett Firearms Manufacturing (1)Birmingham Small Arms Company (1)China North Industries Group Corporation Limited (2)Eddystone Arsenal (1)General Motors (1)Hanyang Arsenal (1)Heckler & Koch (2)Ishapore Rifle Factory (1)Izhevsk Mechanical Plant (1)Kalashnikov Concern (3)Lithgow Arms (1)London Small Arms Co. Ltd (1)Manufacture d'armes de Châtellerault (1)Pakistan Ordnance Factories (1)Remington Arms (2)Royal Small Arms Factory (1)Savage Arms (1)Sestroretsk arsenal (1)Tula Arms Plant (2)Watervliet Arsenal (1)Westinghouse Electric Corporation (1)Winchester Repeating Arms Company (1)BrowseCompareSelect all 17AK-74Soviet-Afghan WarAKS-74USoviet-Afghan WarBarrett M82 RifleSoviet-Afghan WarHanyang 88Soviet-Afghan WarHeckler & Koch MP5Soviet-Afghan WarLee-Enfield RifleSoviet-Afghan WarM1917 EnfieldSoviet-Afghan WarM3 submachine gunSoviet-Afghan WarM40 recoilless rifleSoviet-Afghan WarMakarov PM PistolSoviet-Afghan WarMosin-Nagant RifleSoviet-Afghan WarMP5 Submachine GunSoviet-Afghan WarNorinco CQSoviet-Afghan WarPPSh-41Soviet-Afghan WarRPO RysSoviet-Afghan WarType 56 Assault RifleSoviet-Afghan WarType 81 assault rifleSoviet-Afghan WarConnectionsAssociated WithAK-74, Weapons Systems Well-attested ConnectedThe AK-74, chambered for a new small caliber round, was the Soviet infantry rifle of the Soviet-Afghan WarDragunov Sniper Rifle, Weapons Systems Well-attested ConnectedSoviet marksmen carried the Dragunov sniper rifle during the Soviet-Afghan WarStinger Missile, Weapons Systems Well-attested US-supplied FIM-92 Stinger missiles given to the mujahideen from 1986 sharply reduced Soviet air superiority and are widely credited with turning the warSource Wikipedia: Soviet-Afghan Wartier 4Stinger Missile, Weapons Systems Well-attested ConnectedAmerican supplied Stinger missiles, in the hands of Afghan mujahideen, took a heavy toll on Soviet aircraft during the Soviet-Afghan WarUses152 mm gun-howitzer D-20, Weapons Systems Well-attested Source Wikipedia: 152 mm gun-howitzer D-202B14 Podnos, Weapons Systems Well-attested Source Wikipedia: 2B14 Podnos2K11 Krug, Weapons Systems Well-attested Source Wikipedia: 2K11 Krug2S1 Gvozdika, Weapons Systems Well-attested Source Wikipedia: 2S1 Gvozdika2S3 Akatsiya, Weapons Systems Well-attested Source Wikipedia: 2S3 Akatsiya2S7 Pion, Weapons Systems Well-attested Source Wikipedia: 2S7 Pion2S9 Nona, Weapons Systems Well-attested Source Wikipedia: 2S9 Nonatier 29K32 Strela-2, Weapons Systems Well-attested Source Wikipedia: 9K32 Strela-2tier 2AGS-17, Weapons Systems Well-attested Source Wikipedia: AGS-17AK-74, Weapons Systems Well-attested Source Wikipedia: AK-74tier 4AKS-74U, Weapons Systems Well-attested Source Wikipedia: AKS-74UBarrett M82 Rifle, Weapons Systems Well-attested Source Wikipedia: Barrett M82BGM-71 TOW, Weapons Systems Well-attested Source Wikipedia: BGM-71 TOWtier 4Blowpipe Missile, Weapons Systems Well-attested Source Blowpipe (missile), WikipediaBM-21 Grad, Weapons Systems Well-attested Source Wikipedia: BM-21 GradBMP-2, Weapons Systems Well-attested Source Wikipedia: BMP-2BTR-50, Weapons Systems Well-attested Source Wikipedia: BTR-50BTR-70, Weapons Systems Well-attested Source Wikipedia: BTR-70BTR-80, Weapons Systems Well-attested Source Wikipedia: BTR-80D-30 Howitzer, Weapons Systems Well-attested Source Wikipedia: 122 mm howitzer 2A18 (D-30)FIM-43 Redeye, Weapons Systems Well-attested Source Wikipedia: FIM-43 RedeyeFIM-92 Stinger, Weapons Systems Well-attested Source Wikipedia: FIM-92 StingerGP-25, Weapons Systems Well-attested Source Wikipedia: GP-25Hanyang 88, Weapons Systems Well-attested Source Wikipedia: Hanyang 88Heckler & Koch MP5, Weapons Systems Well-attested Source Wikipedia: Heckler & Koch MP5KPV heavy machine gun, Weapons Systems Well-attested Source Wikipedia: KPV heavy machine gunLee-Enfield Rifle, Weapons Systems Well-attested Source Lee-Enfield (Wikipedia)M134 Minigun, Weapons Systems Well-attested Source Wikipedia: M134 MinigunM18 Claymore Mine, Weapons Systems Well-attested Source Wikipedia: Claymore mineM1917 Enfield, Weapons Systems Well-attested Source Wikipedia: M1917 EnfieldM203 Grenade Launcher, Weapons Systems Well-attested Source Wikipedia: M203 grenade launcherM3 submachine gun, Weapons Systems Well-attested Source Wikipedia: M3 submachine gunM40 recoilless rifle, Weapons Systems Well-attested Source Wikipedia: M40 recoilless rifleMakarov PM Pistol, Weapons Systems Well-attested Source Makarov pistol, WikipediaMk 19 Grenade Launcher, Weapons Systems Well-attested Source Wikipedia: Mk 19 grenade launcherMosin-Nagant Rifle, Weapons Systems Well-attested Source Mosin-Nagant (Wikipedia)MP5 Submachine Gun, Weapons Systems Well-attested Source Wikipedia: Heckler & Koch MP5MT-LB, Weapons Systems Well-attested Source Wikipedia: MT-LBNorinco CQ, Weapons Systems Well-attested Source Wikipedia: Norinco CQNSV machine gun, Weapons Systems Well-attested Source Wikipedia: NSV machine gunPPSh-41, Weapons Systems Well-attested Source Wikipedia: PPSh-41tier 2R-17 Elbrus, Weapons Systems Well-attested Source Wikipedia: R-17 ElbrusRenault FT, Weapons Systems Well-attested Source Wikipedia: Renault FTtier 4RPG-18, Weapons Systems Well-attested Source Wikipedia: RPG-18RPK-74, Weapons Systems Well-attested Source Wikipedia: RPK-74RPO Rys, Weapons Systems Well-attested Source Wikipedia: RPO RysRPO-A Shmel, Weapons Systems Well-attested Source Wikipedia: RPO-A ShmelStinger Missile, Weapons Systems Well-attested Source Wikipedia: FIM-92 StingerT-34, Weapons Systems Well-attested Source Wikipedia: T-34tier 2TOW Missile, Weapons Systems Well-attested Source Wikipedia: BGM-71 TOWtier 4Type 56 Assault Rifle, Weapons Systems Well-attested Source Wikipedia: Type 56 assault rifleType 81 assault rifle, Weapons Systems Well-attested Source Wikipedia: Type 81 assault rifleZastava M72, Weapons Systems Well-attested Source Wikipedia: Zastava M72ZSU-23-4 Shilka, Weapons Systems Well-attested Source ZSU-23-4 Shilka (Wikipedia)In the Other AtlasesAlso in History Atlas: Soviet-Afghan War, the same subject.Sources1. Wikipedia: Soviet-Afghan Wartier 4WikipediaLead section (start year)the conflict resulted in the deaths of one to three million Afghans, while millions more fled from the country as refugeesLead section (end year)the conflict resulted in the deaths of one to three million Afghans, while millions more fled from the country as refugeesLead section (combatants)the conflict resulted in the deaths of one to three million Afghans, while millions more fled from the country as refugeesLead section (outcome)the conflict resulted in the deaths of one to three million Afghans, while millions more fled from the country as refugeesConflict-type attribute (soviet-afghan-war)Mikhail Gorbachev ordered a full Soviet withdrawal, completed in February 1989, and the war's cost is widely cited among the contributing pressures on the Soviet Union's eventual collapse, while the power vacuum left in Afghanistan fed directly into the civil war and rise of the Taliban that followed.View the SourceWikipedia: T-34tier 2WikipediaUses: T-34, infobox wars field: 'Soviet?Afghan War'View the SourceLee-Enfield (Wikipedia)Uses: Lee-Enfield Rifle, infobox wars field: 'Soviet?Afghan War'View the SourceWikipedia: AK-74tier 4WikipediaUses: AK-74, infobox wars field: 'Soviet?Afghan War'View the SourceWikipedia: PPSh-41tier 2WikipediaUses: PPSh-41, infobox wars field: 'Soviet?Afghan War'View the SourceMosin-Nagant (Wikipedia)Uses: Mosin-Nagant Rifle, infobox wars field: 'Soviet?Afghan War'View the SourceWikipedia: Barrett M82Uses: Barrett M82 Rifle, infobox wars field: 'Soviet?Afghan War'View the SourceWikipedia: Claymore mineUses: M18 Claymore Mine, infobox wars field: 'Soviet?Afghan War'View the SourceWikipedia: Heckler & Koch MP5Uses: MP5 Submachine Gun, infobox wars field: 'Soviet?Afghan War'Uses: Heckler & Koch MP5, infobox wars field: 'Soviet?Afghan War'View the SourceWikipedia: BGM-71 TOWtier 4WikipediaUses: TOW Missile, infobox wars field: 'Soviet?Afghan War'Uses: BGM-71 TOW, infobox wars field: 'Soviet?Afghan War'View the SourceWikipedia: Renault FTtier 4WikipediaUses: Renault FT, infobox wars field: 'Soviet?Afghan War'View the SourceWikipedia: BM-21 GradUses: BM-21 Grad, infobox wars field: 'Soviet?Afghan War'View the SourceWikipedia: 2S1 GvozdikaUses: 2S1 Gvozdika, infobox wars field: 'Soviet?Afghan War'View the SourceWikipedia: 122 mm howitzer 2A18 (D-30)Uses: D-30 Howitzer, infobox wars field: 'Soviet?Afghan War'View the SourceWikipedia: AGS-17Uses: AGS-17, infobox wars field: 'Soviet?Afghan War'View the SourceWikipedia: M40 recoilless rifleUses: M40 recoilless rifle, infobox wars field: 'Soviet?Afghan War'View the SourceWikipedia: M134 MinigunUses: M134 Minigun, infobox wars field: 'Soviet?Afghan War'View the SourceWikipedia: M3 submachine gunUses: M3 submachine gun, infobox wars field: 'Soviet?Afghan War'View the SourceWikipedia: GP-25Uses: GP-25, infobox wars field: 'Soviet?Afghan War'View the SourceWikipedia: Mk 19 grenade launcherUses: Mk 19 Grenade Launcher, infobox wars field: 'Soviet?Afghan War'View the SourceWikipedia: BTR-70Uses: BTR-70, infobox wars field: 'Soviet?Afghan War'View the SourceWikipedia: BTR-50Uses: BTR-50, infobox wars field: 'Soviet?Afghan War'View the SourceWikipedia: BTR-80Uses: BTR-80, infobox wars field: 'Soviet?Afghan War'View the SourceWikipedia: 152 mm gun-howitzer D-20Uses: 152 mm gun-howitzer D-20, infobox wars field: 'Soviet?Afghan War'View the SourceWikipedia: R-17 ElbrusUses: R-17 Elbrus, infobox wars field: 'Soviet-Afghan War'View the SourceWikipedia: FIM-92 StingerUses: Stinger Missile, Infobox, wars fieldInfobox wars field lists: Soviet-Afghan WarUses: FIM-92 Stinger, Infobox, wars fieldInfobox wars field lists: Soviet-Afghan WarView the SourceMakarov pistol, WikipediaUses: Makarov PM Pistol, Infobox, wars fieldQuote, Uses: Makarov PM Pistol, Infobox, wars fieldInfobox wars field lists: Soviet-Afghan WarView the SourceBlowpipe (missile), WikipediaUses: Blowpipe Missile, Infobox, wars fieldQuote, Uses: Blowpipe Missile, Infobox, wars fieldInfobox wars field lists: Soviet-Afghan WarView the SourceWikipedia: 9K32 Strela-2tier 2WikipediaUses: 9K32 Strela-2, Infobox, wars fieldQuote, Uses: 9K32 Strela-2, Infobox, wars fieldInfobox wars field lists: Soviet-Afghan WarView the SourceWikipedia: 2S3 AkatsiyaUses: 2S3 Akatsiya, Infobox, wars fieldQuote, Uses: 2S3 Akatsiya, Infobox, wars fieldInfobox wars field lists: Soviet-Afghan WarView the SourceWikipedia: 2S7 PionUses: 2S7 Pion, Infobox, wars fieldQuote, Uses: 2S7 Pion, Infobox, wars fieldInfobox wars field lists: Soviet-Afghan WarView the SourceWikipedia: 2S9 Nonatier 2WikipediaUses: 2S9 Nona, Infobox, wars fieldQuote, Uses: 2S9 Nona, Infobox, wars fieldInfobox wars field lists: Soviet-Afghan WarView the SourceWikipedia: Type 56 assault rifleUses: Type 56 Assault Rifle, Infobox, wars fieldQuote, Uses: Type 56 Assault Rifle, Infobox, wars fieldInfobox wars field lists: Soviet-Afghan WarView the SourceWikipedia: 2B14 PodnosUses: 2B14 Podnos, Infobox, wars fieldQuote, Uses: 2B14 Podnos, Infobox, wars fieldInfobox wars field lists: Soviet-Afghan WarView the SourceWikipedia: M203 grenade launcherUses: M203 Grenade Launcher, Infobox, wars fieldQuote, Uses: M203 Grenade Launcher, Infobox, wars fieldInfobox wars field lists: Soviet-Afghan WarView the SourceWikipedia: AKS-74UUses: AKS-74U, Infobox, wars fieldQuote, Uses: AKS-74U, Infobox, wars fieldInfobox wars field lists: Soviet-Afghan WarView the SourceWikipedia: RPK-74Uses: RPK-74, Infobox, wars fieldQuote, Uses: RPK-74, Infobox, wars fieldInfobox wars field lists: Soviet-Afghan WarView the SourceWikipedia: M1917 EnfieldUses: M1917 Enfield, Infobox, wars fieldQuote, Uses: M1917 Enfield, Infobox, wars fieldInfobox wars field lists: Soviet-Afghan WarView the SourceWikipedia: NSV machine gunUses: NSV machine gun, Infobox, wars fieldQuote, Uses: NSV machine gun, Infobox, wars fieldInfobox wars field lists: Soviet-Afghan WarView the SourceWikipedia: KPV heavy machine gunUses: KPV heavy machine gun, Infobox, wars fieldQuote, Uses: KPV heavy machine gun, Infobox, wars fieldInfobox wars field lists: Soviet-Afghan WarView the SourceWikipedia: RPG-18Uses: RPG-18, Infobox, wars fieldQuote, Uses: RPG-18, Infobox, wars fieldInfobox wars field lists: Soviet-Afghan WarView the SourceWikipedia: Hanyang 88Uses: Hanyang 88, Infobox, wars fieldQuote, Uses: Hanyang 88, Infobox, wars fieldInfobox wars field lists: Soviet-Afghan WarView the SourceWikipedia: MT-LBUses: MT-LB, Infobox, wars fieldQuote, Uses: MT-LB, Infobox, wars fieldInfobox wars field lists: Soviet-Afghan WarView the SourceWikipedia: RPO-A ShmelUses: RPO-A Shmel, Infobox, wars fieldQuote, Uses: RPO-A Shmel, Infobox, wars fieldInfobox wars field lists: Soviet-Afghan WarView the SourceWikipedia: FIM-43 RedeyeUses: FIM-43 Redeye, Infobox, wars fieldQuote, Uses: FIM-43 Redeye, Infobox, wars fieldInfobox wars field lists: Soviet-Afghan WarView the SourceWikipedia: Type 81 assault rifleUses: Type 81 assault rifle, Infobox, wars fieldQuote, Uses: Type 81 assault rifle, Infobox, wars fieldInfobox wars field lists: Soviet-Afghan WarView the SourceWikipedia: Norinco CQUses: Norinco CQ, Infobox, wars fieldQuote, Uses: Norinco CQ, Infobox, wars fieldInfobox wars field lists: Soviet-Afghan WarView the SourceWikipedia: Zastava M72Uses: Zastava M72, Infobox, wars fieldQuote, Uses: Zastava M72, Infobox, wars fieldInfobox wars field lists: Soviet-Afghan WarView the SourceWikipedia: RPO RysUses: RPO Rys, Infobox, wars fieldQuote, Uses: RPO Rys, Infobox, wars fieldInfobox wars field lists: Soviet-Afghan WarView the SourceZSU-23-4 Shilka (Wikipedia)Uses: ZSU-23-4 Shilka, Wikipedia article textQuote, Uses: ZSU-23-4 Shilka, Wikipedia article textThey were also used to suppress defensive positions around the presidential palace during the initial coup in Kabul at the start of the Soviet-Afghan war.View the SourceWikipedia: BMP-2Uses: BMP-2, Wikipedia article textQuote, Uses: BMP-2, Wikipedia article textIn service since 1982, it saw service during Soviet-Afghan War.View the SourceWikipedia: 2K11 KrugUses: 2K11 Krug, Wikipedia article textQuote, Uses: 2K11 Krug, Wikipedia article textThe 2K11 was briefly operated by the Soviet army during the war in Afghanistan in 1979 and 1980, but was withdrawn several months after the initial invasion.View the SourceComments (0)No comments yet. 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