“The Soviet’s primary weapon in Afghanistan was the Hind helicopter gunship, which ravaged the afghans from the air, and for which they had no answer until we sent them the Stingers. All the Chinese rifles in the world were useless against them.”
The Stinger missile story is a popular one, but simply not true:
*The Soviets suffered 70,000 casualties in 10 years of war. The vast majority before the the Stingers showed up in 1986.
*The Afghans had shot down plenty of Soviet helicopters using Chinese made AA guns and missiles before we sent them the Stingers
*The Soviets decision to withdraw from Afghanistan was made before the first Stinger missile arrived in theater.
*The Soviets decision to withdraw from Afghanistan was made before the first Stinger missile arrived in theater.*
Interesting-didn’t know that-Proof?