Chapter 10: Ambush
The rumbling sound echoed, the BMP infantry fighting vehicle's tracks stirred up dust as it moved forward continuously. The low-profile turret on top was rotating, and the 73 mm caliber low-pressure smoothbore gun, with its rapid firing rate and minimal blind spots, could almost hit anywhere.
Muhammad looked at the two bombs that were properly set up, especially the wires of the fuses, which must be ensured to be intact; otherwise, when used tomorrow, if they misfire, it could delay the opportunity for battle
With a loud bang, the truck exploded in mid-air, disintegrating like a firework, with fireballs flying everywhere; wherever they landed, there was a great fire.
Muhammad selected two locations, approximately 50 meters apart, which happen to fall within the lethal radius of two roadside bombs. Thus, even if the opposing convoy consists of more than ten vehicles, it would be sufficient to blow them all sky-high.
While eating and waiting, I soon felt the tremor of the ground
Following this infantry fighting vehicle, there are seven Kamaz trucks, fully loaded with military supplies
Just as I pressed the switch of the intercom, I heard an explosion coming from behind me
This is Muhammad's plan, to first attack the convoy
After walking for three hours, we finally arrived at the designated location, a narrow intersection flanked by towering peaks, which is indeed an excellent place for guerrilla warfare
Two roadside bombs could nearly annihilate this convoy, and moreover, the combat capability of the convoy is quite weak. The formidable troops have all been deployed to eliminate the guerrillas, leaving only the second-line forces to undertake the task of transporting supplies. In the later stages, this responsibility was even handed over to the Soviet-controlled Afghan government forces.
Of course, Muhammad has not been idle either. In recent days, he has been able to provide some guidance on the training of these guerrilla fighters. For instance, regarding marksmanship, although the Khewaaja is quite skilled, Muhammad believes that the Khewaaja is a natural sharpshooter. He himself shoots very accurately, but he does not know how to train his own troops.
The beef jerky is quite hard. Muhammad kept it in his mouth for over ten minutes before it could be softened, and then he slowly chewed it with his teeth
This time, Khawaja was full of confidence; the plan devised by Instructor Muhammad was very meticulous, and Khawaja was certain of its success
These military supplies are somewhat excessive for resupplying a sentry post. However, reports from Jalalabad indicate that there will be another operation to encircle the Afghan guerrillas in the nearby mountains, especially since a few tanks were lost by the armored units a few days ago, all due to the nearby guerrillas. They seek revenge and aim to make the Afghan guerrillas aware of their strength
After all, they have great trust in this instructor; however, they have not seen a shell that can explode without being fired from a cannon, and moreover, it is said to have considerable power, which makes them not fully convinced.
These past few days have passed quickly
Tonight, on this mountain, most people have fallen into a deep sleep, except for the one on watch
The formidable infantry fighting vehicle, amidst the explosion of this shell, seemed like a small boat in a tempest, lifted up and then heavily crashed down to the ground
Muhammad, behind the stone, looked at this pleasing sight and felt at ease
"Hurry, retreat, withdraw from here first, and call for our support," said Captain Victor
This truck is equipped with a communication radio, and the vehicle in which the squad leader is seated is a double-cab truck, with two soldiers in the back.
This powerful shockwave has surely sent everyone inside to the realm of bliss
The journey has been very safe so far, however, they are still cautiously attentive to everything around them
There was no time for him to hesitate; a large number of Soviet guerrillas charged down from the hillside on one side.
Muhammad quietly stuffed a piece of beef jerky into his mouth, as his stomach was already growling. This was the convenient food carried by the guerrillas when they went out, and it was only during missions that they could enjoy such delicacies
All-wheel drive, turn left to go down," Victor said
The guerrilla fighters held their breath, knowing that this moment was the most critical.
If that infantry fighting vehicle were still operational, at this moment, this infantry fighting vehicle could turn those guerrilla fighters into fragments, but now...
It becomes very easy to intercept this convoy, especially since this is already the most advanced outpost. Other outposts have received supplies, and the vehicles should return. Therefore, the number of vehicles arriving here last will not be too many; based on past observations of the guerrilla forces, it will not exceed ten.
At that time, whatever one says, they will listen. Now, if one were to completely command this guerrilla unit, it would be equivalent to seizing power from Hevajja, and this fellow may not necessarily be pleased.
On top of it was a Kamaz truck fully loaded with fuel, and shrapnel easily penetrated the bottom of the truck, drilling into the driver's cabin and into the bodies of the Soviets inside. Some shrapnel also pierced the outer shell of the fuel tank, entering the tank itself, and due to its high temperature, the shrapnel immediately ignited the diesel fuel inside the tank
Having come to this world, to this era, although Muhammad has always fought bravely, he still wishes to return to the afterlife, for that is the world he is familiar with
Muhammad also woke up just before dawn, having only slept for a short while. Upon hearing the news that the Soviet convoy was approaching, he immediately ran to the roadside behind the stone where the bomb was set. The explosion of his bomb served as the signal for the attack.
Originally, Muhammad intended to leave the leading truck in place, so that it could still play a role during the subsequent assault on the outpost. However, upon seeing that the leading vehicle was an infantry fighting vehicle, he immediately revised his plan. Such a thing, if left intact, would only bring disaster, causing even greater damage than a tank. It is best to destroy it.
Muhammad could not sleep, not because of the battle tomorrow, but because he missed home
Victor, in terror, glanced through the right rearview mirror and beheld the scene behind him. What kind of landmine could possess such immense power? It must be an anti-tank mine for infantry, I fear
Inside the infantry fighting vehicle, a squad of soldiers stands ready, observing the outside through the firing ports on both sides of the vehicle, prepared to unleash flames at any moment from either side
In this attack, if it were in the past, Hevaj would have had no confidence, because they were going to assault that outpost. These individuals, even if they approached under the cover of night, would still be shot dead by machine guns
The cool mountain breeze blew over Muhammad, who was dressed in a long robe that nearly covered his entire body. Relying solely on his two legs to walk, Muhammad showed no signs of fatigue.
At this moment, the sun has long set, and the serene moonlight casts its glow upon the ground, with countless stars seemingly gazing down upon this small group of guerrillas
The explosives within the grenade's warhead ignited with excitement, akin to a bustling market, and in the midst of the rapid combustion, the gases within the body expanded dramatically, rupturing the shell and propelling hundreds of shrapnel pieces in all directions
"Here, dig a hole, bury our bomb, and connect the fuse to the stone over there," said Muhammad
Therefore, Muhammad is waiting
Diesel is not easily ignited, but once it catches fire, it burns with extraordinary intensity
Leading the way is a BMP infantry fighting vehicle
Everything is in place, and the night has grown deep
When did the Afghan guerrillas acquire these weapons
"Creak." A truck in the middle made an emergency stop, and sitting in the passenger seat was the commander of the transport company responsible for this transportation task
Thus, this outpost serves as the forward base for the offensive mountain guerrilla forces, which they have designated as a stockpile base. Apart from the food loaded on the truck at the front, the trucks in the middle and at the back are loaded with ammunition and fuel
This truck successfully caused damage to the several trucks behind it
A few days have passed, and Muhammad has been quite comfortable in this camp
The sensation of electric shock surged through, as if the explosive was a temperamental woman, immediately unleashing its power, igniting itself, while simultaneously, as it burned, the flames leapt towards the surrounding grenade's warhead
"Yes, we are going to attack the outpost, but before we do that, what we need to deal with first is the convoy that delivers supplies to the outpost," said Muhammad.
With this sound, the individuals inside the BMP infantry fighting vehicle felt as if they were seated on a bumpy airplane, their bodies involuntarily tilting to one side
Slowly, dawn has arrived
At this moment, Muhammad seemed to have become a guerrilla leader, commanding the guerrilla fighters to carry out tasks, and the guerrilla fighters, without any hesitation, immediately sprang into action upon hearing Muhammad's orders
In the later stages of the Soviet-Afghan War, the majority of tanks were withdrawn, while the number of infantry fighting vehicles increased severalfold
In order for these guerrillas to truly regard themselves as instructors and to heed his commands, Muhammed felt that a bit more time was needed. After one or two more battles, once he has demonstrated his command abilities, these fellows will come to admire him.
Directly attacking the outpost is almost an impossible task, as our side lacks heavy weaponry. Assaulting that outpost would result in significant casualties.
Suddenly, with no warning, a tremendous sound erupted.
On the fourth day, at last, the two guerrilla fighters who had gone to scout returned, weary from their journey.
"Hurry, everyone get up, the Soviet convoy is coming soon," Hekvaja whispered as he woke up the guerrilla fighters one by one.
Meanwhile, the high-pressure gas from the grenade explosion arrived shortly thereafter, lifting the truck into the air. During this brief flight, the fuel being transported at the back of the truck was finally ignited
Upon learning of the return of these two individuals, Muhammad was immediately summoned by Khawaja to the cave. After their discussion, the entire guerrilla unit was urgently assembled, equipped with their respective gear, along with two modified roadside bombs, and commenced yet another offensive
If those two bombs cannot explode, then they must quietly slip away as if they had never been here
The current immediately flowed through the wires buried underground and into the electric explosives
In the distance, on the road, dust was flying, and a convoy slowly emerged
As he pondered in this manner, gazing at the myriad stars in the sky, it seemed as if they were conveying something to him, leaving him completely devoid of sleepiness
The tracks of the infantry fighting vehicle continue to rotate, as the massive body moves forward
Muhammad first detonated a roadside bomb in front of him. At this moment, the vehicle behind had not yet fully entered the area of the roadside bomb behind. Now, with this delay, as the vehicle approached, he then connected the wires to the terminals of the battery.
"Instructor, aren't we supposed to go to the outpost? Why are we planting bombs here?" Durani quietly asked during a break in their work.
Muhammad started training them with basic movements
This is a tracked infantry fighting vehicle, a type of transport used by the Soviet motorized infantry. This infantry fighting vehicle is better suited for mountainous combat in Afghanistan than tanks, with lower fuel consumption and reduced logistical demands. On the low turret, there is a 73 mm low-pressure smoothbore gun, which has a high line of fire and is very suitable for striking targets in mountainous terrain. Above the gun barrel, there are anti-tank missiles, making it fully capable of assault operations.
Upon seeing the war chariot, Muhammad realized that he needed to revise his plans
The car that followed closely behind was also lifted up, and this car subsequently exploded, sending flames soaring into the sky
The mountain wind blows, and on the bare mountain, a rustling sound is heard
In the belly, it felt as if something was churning; as soon as he opened his mouth, a mouthful of blood was spat out. Then, everything went dark before their eyes, and they were left in a state of confusion.
Upon hearing the command from the company commander, the person at the back immediately began to call out
The entire guerrilla unit was equally excited, as if they knew they were about to achieve a splendid victory