Afghan Breakdown

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Afghan Breakdown (Afganskiy Izlom) DVD Cover Country USSR Italy Directed by Vladimir Bortko Release Date 1991 Language Russian Dari Pashto Studio Clemi Cinematografica Lenfilm Studio Russkoye Video Ladoga Film Studio Main Cast Character Actor Maj. Mikhail Bandura Michele Placido Katya Klimova Tatyana Dogileva Lt. Colonel Mikhail Zhigalov Sgt. Aleksandr Aksyonov Aleksey Serebryakov Sr. Lt. Nikita Steklov Filipp Yankovskiy Tatyana Nina Ruslanova Pvt. Ivanov Artur Uvarov Gulakhan Khoshim Rakhimov

Afghan Breakdown (Afganskiy izlom) is a 1991 Soviet-Italian co-production war drama directed by Vladimir Bortko. It depicts the story of a Soviet paratrooper unit just before the Soviet pull-out in 1988. Michele Placido appears in the role of Maj. Bandura, war-burned officer who is highly respected by his soldiers but disliked by commanders.

The following weapons were used in the film Afghan Breakdown:

Handguns

Makarov PB

Makarov PB with integral suppressor - 9x18mm Makarov

Makarov PM

Makarov PM - 9x18mm Makarov

Submachine Guns

PPSh-41

A PPSh-41 submachine gun is used by one of the mujaheddin who ambush a Soviet convoy mid-way through the film.

Soviet PPSh-41 Submachine Gun - 7.62x25mm Tokarev

Mujaheddin, including a rebel with a PPSH-41, ambush a Soviet convoy.

Rifles

Lee-Enfield SMLE No. 1 Mk.III* and Lee-Enfield No.4 MkI

Lee-Enfield No.1 Mk.III* and No.4 MkI rifles are carried by several of the mujaheddin fighters, most notably when the Soviet paratroopers attack a rebel village in the film's finale.

Lee-Enfield No.1 Mk.III* - .303 British. This was the main battle rifle of British and Commonwealth forces during the First World War, introduced in 1907 it has seen action throughout the 20th century.

Lee-Enfield No.4 Mk.I - .303 British. This was the main battle rifle of British and Commonwealth forces during World War Two, however, it was supplemented heavily with the older Lee Enfield No.1 MK.III. In service between 1941–Present

An elderly mujaheddin fighter prepares to fire his Lee-Enfield No.4 MkI rifle at Soviet forces.

SVT-40

The Tokarev SVT-40 Rifle is carried by several mujaheddin, and is most clearly seen when the paratroopers ambush a group of rebels in the film's introduction.

Tokarev SVT-40, 7.62x54mm R

A dead mujaheddin fighter lies next to a SVT-40 rifle.

Assault Rifles

AKS-74

The AKS-74 is the standard weapon of the Soviet paratroopers, with some of the rifles being fitted with GP-25 grenade launchers. Most of the rifles have two magazines taped "jungle-style" with blue electrical tape, a common practice among Soviet and Russian soldiers.

AKS-74 - 5.45x39mm

A good view of side-folding stock.

Pvt. Ivanov (Artur Uvarov) carries an AKS-74 with jungle-taped magazines. The personal first-aid kit is attached to the folding stock.

St. Lt. Steklov (Filipp Yankovskiy) holds an AKS-74 during the attack on the convoy.

A closeup of Sgt. Arsenyov's AKS-74. Rubber band and first aid kit are attached to the folding stock.

Soviet paratroopers on patrol. Sgt. Arsenyov (Aleksey Serebryakov) holds his AKS-74 at the right.

Arsenyov fires his AKS-74.

A paratrooper returns fire with his AKS-74.

A radioman with an AKS-74.

AKS-74U

A Soviet tank crew member fires an AKS-74U when a convoy is ambushed by the mujaheddin, wounding one of the fighters who is promptly crushed by the tank.

AKS-74U - 5.45x39mm

The crew member fires a AKS-74U.

AKMS

AKMS rifles are commonly used by the Soviet paratroopers in conjunction with the AKS-74, with most having orange bakelite magazines taped together "jungle-style". Major Bandura (Michele Placido), the leader of the airborne unit, carries an AKMS with a 75-round RPK drum magazine throughout much of the film, before switching to standard metal magazines during the finale.

AKMS, stamped steel receiver w/ slant muzzle brake and under-folding stock - 7.62x39mm

Pvt. Popov (Rinat Ibragimov) fires his AKMS at a pack horse loaded with ammunition.

Major Bandura (Michele Placido) climbs aboard a BMP-2 IFV, AKMS in hand.

Pvt. Ivanov (Artur Uvarov) holds an AKMS during the scene on Afghan bazaar.

Ivanov fires his AKMS in the same scene, taking a beggar for a saboteur.

Bandura returns fire with his AKMS during an ambush.

File:Afghb-AKMS-8.jpg

A closeup of Bandura's AKMS with drum magazine.

Bandura hides behind a wall during the film's finale. His AKMS is loaded with a standard magazine.

AKM

AKM rifles are occasionally seen in the hands of Soviet troops and Afghan mujaheddin, most notably during a scene when a crate of the rifles is given by the Soviets to a local warlord Adil (Muso Isoyev).

AKM, Stamped Steel Receiver w/ slant muzzle brake - 7.62x39mm

A paratrooper at the background holds an AKM, fitted with PBS sound suppressor.

A crate of AKM rifles that is given to Adil as a goodwill gift.

Adil examines an AKM.

A soldier holds PBS-fitted AKM while dismounting from BMP.

A soldier fires an AKM from below the BMP.

Pvt. Onisimov (Nikolai Ustinov) holds an AKM at the left.

Onisimov carries his AKM during the march across the mountains.

Norinco Type 56

Some of the mujaheddin are armed with Norinco Type 56 rifles with under-folding bayonets, which is realistic considering many fighters in real life were supplied with Chinese weapons.

Norinco Type 56 (fixed stock variant) with under-folding bayonet ("pig sticker") which was standard on PLA-issue Type 56s - 7.62x39mm

A mujaheddin fires his Type 56 during the ambush of a Soviet convoy.

A young boy clutches a Type 56 after his village is destroyed by Soviet helicopters.

AIM

What appear to be a Romanian AIM, identified by its typical foregrip, is seen in hands of a mujaheddin.

AIM - 7.62x39mm

An AIM is seen at the left.

Heckler & Koch G3A3

Heckler & Koch G3A3 with wide handguard - 7.62x51mm NATO

Machine Guns and Autocannons

RPK-74

RPK-74 light machine gun with 45-round box magazine - 5.45x39mm

PKM

PKM machine guns are widely used by the paratroopers and the mujaheddins. Both models with long and short flash hiders are seen.

PKM with classic (most seen) version of the flash hider - 7.62x54mm R

A PKM is seen over the front of the BMP.

A paratrooper fires his PKM.

A paratrooper on patrol with a PKM.

PKT

A PKT is mounted on Mi-8. Such usage of PKT was quite common during the Afghan war and local conflicts of 1990s-2000s.

PKT machine gun with 250-round ammo drum - 7.62x54mm R

DShKM

The DShK heavy machine gun is used by Soviet and mujaheddin forces.

A Russian DShKM in 12.7x109mm on Tripod

A DShK machine gun at a Soviet outpost.

A mujaheddin fighter fires on a Soviet convoy with a DShK machine gun.

Yakushev-Borzov Yak-B

Yakushev-Borzov Yak-B mounted on Mi-24 Hind-D - 12.7x108mm

KPVT

KPVT heavy machine gun - 14.5x114mm

ZU-23

ZU-23-2 - 23x152mm

Afanasev-Makarov AM-23

Twin Afanasev-Makarov AM-23 autocannon is mounted in tail mounting of An-12 cargo plane.

Afanasev-Makarov AM-23 - 23x115mm

Shipunov 2A42

Shipunov 2A42 30mm autocannons are mounted on BMP-2 IFVs.

Shipunov 2A42 automatic cannon - 30x165mm

2A42 autocannon is mounted on BMP-2. Coaxial PKT machine gun is shadowed by the barrel.

The muzzle break is seen.

2A42 in action, firing tracer ammunition.

Gryazev-Shipunov GSh-30-2K

Gryazev-Shipunov GSh-30-2 30mm automatic cannon with unfired rounds - 30x165mm

Other Weapons

RPG-7V

Mujaheddin fighters use RPG-7 rocket launchers to destroy gasoline tankers when they ambush a Soviet convoy.

RPG-7 40mm

A mujaheddin fighter fires his RPG-7.

AGS-17

Major Bandura commandeers an AGS-17 grenade launcher in the film's finale, using it to suppress the mujaheddin that are hiding in a village.

AGS-17 - 30mm

Pvt. Onisimov (Nikolai Ustinov) mans the AGS.

Bandura fires the AGS-17.

GP-25

GP-25 40mm grenade launcher mounted on an AKM (7.62x39mm)

F-1 Hand Grenade

F-1 High-Explosive Fragmentation hand grenade

Tucha Smoke Mortar

81-mm 902V Tucha smoke mortars are mounted on BMP-2 IVF. Three barrels are installed on each side of the turret.

Tucha smoke grenade launchers are seen.