Afghanistan MujahadeenAfghanistan MujahadeenTactics, Techniques, & Tactics, Techniques, &

ProceduresProcedures

UNCLASSIFIEDUNCLASSIFIED

ObjectiveObjective

►Action: Identify the Tactics, Techniques, Action: Identify the Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures used by Mujahadeen in and Procedures used by Mujahadeen in Afghanistan.Afghanistan.

►Conditions: Given student handoutsConditions: Given student handouts►Standards: Identified the Tactics, Standards: Identified the Tactics,

Techniques, and Procedures used by Techniques, and Procedures used by Mujahadeen in Afghanistan.Mujahadeen in Afghanistan.

AdministrativeAdministrative

►There are no safety requirements.There are no safety requirements.

►The risk assessment level is low.The risk assessment level is low.

►There are no environmental considerationsThere are no environmental considerations

►Evaluations Student ChecksEvaluations Student Checks

TopicsTopics

► ManeuverManeuver► Fire SupportFire Support► Air DefenseAir Defense► Command & ControlCommand & Control► Mobility & Counter-Mobility & Counter-

mobilitymobility► LogisticsLogistics► Denial & DeceptionDenial & Deception

ManeuverManeuver► AmbushAmbush► HarassmentHarassment

2 to 15 personnel2 to 15 personnel Small scaleSmall scale Rapid withdrawalRapid withdrawal

► ResupplyResupply Require more personnelRequire more personnel

► Up to 150Up to 150

LootingLooting► WeaponsWeapons► FoodFood► MunitionsMunitions

ManeuverManeuver► Ambush TeamsAmbush Teams

ObserversObservers Firing ElementFiring Element Alert ElementAlert Element Reserve ElementReserve Element

► Radio or visual Radio or visual communicationscommunications

► 3 Lines3 Lines Fire ElementFire Element Commo ElementCommo Element Command ElementCommand Element

ManeuverManeuver

► Ambush LocationsAmbush Locations Entrance/exit of canyonEntrance/exit of canyon Behind earthen wallsBehind earthen walls

► Early morning or Early morning or eveningevening

► Hit convoys on return Hit convoys on return tripstrips

► Hit rapid reaction forcesHit rapid reaction forces

ManeuverManeuver

► Ambush Lessons Ambush Lessons LearnedLearned Advance recon patrols Advance recon patrols

are necessaryare necessary Helicopter support is Helicopter support is

essentialessential Avoid predictable Avoid predictable

patternspatterns Communicate with Communicate with

replacementsreplacements

ManeuverManeuver

► Sniper OperationsSniper Operations Lack of well-trained Muj Lack of well-trained Muj

shootersshooters► Al Qaeda marksmanship Al Qaeda marksmanship

is generally goodis generally good

Will use canals to moveWill use canals to move Catch targets in Catch targets in

crossfirecrossfire Use of bountiesUse of bounties

► Helicopter crews are Helicopter crews are popularpopular

ManeuverManeuver

► RaidsRaids► Generally against Generally against

isolated outpostsisolated outposts► Probe for weaknessesProbe for weaknesses

Gather forces covertlyGather forces covertly► Prefer cover of nightPrefer cover of night

Attack the objectiveAttack the objective Seize needed suppliesSeize needed supplies Withdraw before Withdraw before

counterattackcounterattack

ManeuverManeuver► Individual & Small Individual & Small

Team TacticsTeam Tactics Probe and assess Probe and assess

reactions/patternsreactions/patterns► Airfield RaidsAirfield Raids

Influenced by Soviet warInfluenced by Soviet war Propaganda valuePropaganda value

► Shelling AttacksShelling Attacks Will attack civilians to Will attack civilians to

prove Gov’ts inability to prove Gov’ts inability to protect themprotect them

ManeuverManeuver

► Mujahadeen TacticsMujahadeen Tactics Fire and moveFire and move Reduce signaturesReduce signatures Delayed fuse rocketsDelayed fuse rockets Survivability is keySurvivability is key Use of minesUse of mines Blend in with populationBlend in with population

ManeuverManeuver► Mountain Defense & Mountain Defense &

AmbushesAmbushes► Caves and tunnelsCaves and tunnels

Used since Mongol Used since Mongol invasioninvasion

► Prepared defensesPrepared defenses Used to attract attacksUsed to attract attacks

► AmbushAmbush Limited routes Limited routes Attack on returnAttack on return

► Use of air supportUse of air support

ManeuverManeuver

► Urban Ambush and Urban Ambush and BombsBombs

► Cover for actionCover for action HomesHomes BusinessesBusinesses MosquesMosques Gov’t buildingsGov’t buildings

► Multiple IED attackMultiple IED attack Max casualtiesMax casualtiesKanhadhar

ManeuverManeuver

► Hostile House-ClearingHostile House-Clearing 6-10 team6-10 team Ak-47, hand grenadeAk-47, hand grenade Room to roomRoom to room Single locationSingle location

► Hostage TakingHostage Taking Tradition techniqueTradition technique Front, rear vehiclesFront, rear vehicles Box vehicleBox vehicle Kill guard/driverKill guard/driver Subdue abducteeSubdue abductee Exit sceneExit scene

ManeuverManeuver

► ArmorArmor Small number assetsSmall number assets Primarily defensivePrimarily defensive T-54, T-55, T-62T-54, T-55, T-62 May still possessMay still possess Fortified/stationary Fortified/stationary

positionposition Dug in defensive Dug in defensive

positionposition Hard to spotHard to spot Alters signaturesAlters signatures Sensor-fused weapons Sensor-fused weapons

hard to targethard to target

ManeuverManeuver► Infantry Anti-tank WeaponsInfantry Anti-tank Weapons

Used as multipurpose direct Used as multipurpose direct fire weaponsfire weapons

Used on aircraftUsed on aircraft Used as crude mortarUsed as crude mortar Used to destroy buildings or Used to destroy buildings or

bunkersbunkers Improvised off-route mineImprovised off-route mine Breach minefieldsBreach minefields Used against light Used against light

armored/soft-skinned armored/soft-skinned vehiclesvehicles

ManeuverManeuver

► Recoilless RiflesRecoilless Rifles 90mm90mm

► No info on useNo info on use

B10 82mmB10 82mm► Not seen in Not seen in

engagementsengagements► Large amounts of ammo Large amounts of ammo

foundfound

SPG-9 73mmSPG-9 73mm► Often fired on shoulderOften fired on shoulderB-10 82-mm Recoilless Rifle

ManeuverManeuver► Rocket-Propelled Rocket-Propelled

GrenadesGrenades Anti-armor weaponAnti-armor weapon Used against helicopterUsed against helicopter Firing signatureFiring signature

► TacticsTactics Wetting groundWetting ground Track flight patternsTrack flight patterns Higher elevationHigher elevation TeamsTeams

► CountermeasuresCountermeasures PhysicalPhysical TacticalTactical

Fire SupportFire Support

► MortarsMortars Primary support weaponPrimary support weapon Team leaves mortar set upTeam leaves mortar set up High elevationsHigh elevations

► 82 mm mortar82 mm mortar Primary indirect weaponPrimary indirect weapon

► 120 mm mortar120 mm mortar Used, not preferredUsed, not preferred

► 60 mm mortar60 mm mortar Found, not usedFound, not used

Fire SupportFire Support

► RocketsRockets No organized unitsNo organized units High elevationHigh elevation Crude, expedient launchCrude, expedient launch Harassment fireHarassment fire Cities and bases targetsCities and bases targets

► 107 mm rocket107 mm rocket Crude time delay firingCrude time delay firing

► 122 mm rocket122 mm rocket Expedient aiming methodsExpedient aiming methods

Fire SupportFire Support

► ArtilleryArtillery Employ Employ

unconventionallyunconventionally Control of warlordsControl of warlords Not employed against Not employed against

coalition forcescoalition forces► 122mm D-3 Howitzer122mm D-3 Howitzer

Most plentiful prior to air Most plentiful prior to air attacks in 2001attacks in 2001

Air DefenseAir Defense

► MANPADSMANPADS Limited numbers may Limited numbers may

still exist in theaterstill exist in theater Work in pairs or small Work in pairs or small

groupsgroups Attempt to use higher Attempt to use higher

elevation (warmer elevation (warmer months)months)

Take off or landingTake off or landing Along take off or landing Along take off or landing

pathpath

Command & ControlCommand & Control

► C2C2 Use of commercial VHF Use of commercial VHF

radiosradios Tactical leaders use, Tactical leaders use,

higher levels use higher levels use operatoroperator

Probable satellite Probable satellite telephone usetelephone use

CouriersCouriers Challenge and Challenge and

Password systemPassword system► ArabicArabic► Dari/PashtuDari/Pashtu

Command & ControlCommand & Control

► Intelligence and Intelligence and ReconnaissanceReconnaissance Human intelligence and Human intelligence and

disseminationdissemination► Family, friends, tribal Family, friends, tribal

leadersleaders

Commercial radio Commercial radio scannersscanners

Know the areaKnow the area Attacks to observe Attacks to observe

countermeasurescountermeasures

Command & ControlCommand & Control

► CheckpointsCheckpoints Traditional fundraising Traditional fundraising

function under Talibanfunction under Taliban Tribal leaders or Tribal leaders or

warlords may keep warlords may keep unofficial tolls to a unofficial tolls to a minimumminimum

Unofficial checkpoints Unofficial checkpoints usually do not hamper usually do not hamper coalition operationscoalition operations

Mobility & Counter-MobilityMobility & Counter-Mobility

► Mine ThreatMine Threat 5 million uncleared5 million uncleared Urban and rural areasUrban and rural areas Iran/Pakistan borders Iran/Pakistan borders

minedmined MarkingsMarkings IndicatorsIndicators

Mobility & Counter-MobilityMobility & Counter-Mobility

► Improvised Explosive Improvised Explosive Devices/Booby TrapsDevices/Booby Traps CouplingCoupling Daisy ChainDaisy Chain

► Up to 200 metersUp to 200 meters

BoostingBoosting SensitizingSensitizing Timed delayTimed delay Vehicle borneVehicle borne

LogisticsLogistics

► Caravan and ConvoyCaravan and Convoy Use to bring in suppliesUse to bring in supplies At nightAt night Vehicles, livestockVehicles, livestock Canyons, caves, dry Canyons, caves, dry

riverbeds, green zonesriverbeds, green zones Advance teamAdvance team Decoy teamDecoy team Main elementMain element

LogisticsLogistics

► CachesCaches Throughout AFThroughout AF In operational areaIn operational area Small to largeSmall to large Caves, houses, possibly Caves, houses, possibly

commercial or commercial or government facilitiesgovernment facilities

May use guardsMay use guards Many Many

individual/households individual/households have small cache for have small cache for self-defense purposesself-defense purposes

Denial & DeceptionDenial & Deception

► Understanding Understanding SignaturesSignatures Basic knowledge of Basic knowledge of

D&DD&D Understand difference Understand difference

between night-vision between night-vision and thermal sensorsand thermal sensors

Information to my Information to my Afghani Mujahideen Afghani Mujahideen BrothersBrothers

Spiderholes, tarps, Spiderholes, tarps, blanketsblankets

Denial & DeceptionDenial & Deception

► Thermal DecoysThermal Decoys Wood fire in shallow pitsWood fire in shallow pits Look like person or Look like person or

vehiclevehicle Method to deceive radar Method to deceive radar

with rocks and pieces of with rocks and pieces of metal approximating metal approximating size of vehiclesize of vehicle

Questions?Questions?