The Truth About 9th Company

The Truth About 9th Company Cover art from 9th Company: Roots of Terror (2008) Release Date: February 15, 2008 Developer: Extreme Developers and Kranx Productions Publisher: 1C (in Russia) Platforms: PC Genre: First-person-shooter/Simulator/Documentary

The Truth About 9th Company, (Russian: Правда о девятой роте) is the first Russian documentary computer game. The game simulates the historical battle for Hill 3234 which took place on 7–8 January 1988 in southern Afghanistan between Soviet paratroop units of the 345th Independent Guards Airborne Regiment and mujahideen.

The game was made in response to the 2005 Russian film The 9th Company." which deviated extensively in terms of historical accuracy for the sake of the narrative. Famed Russian translator, writer and activist Dmitry 'Goblin' Puchkov was the ideological leader and inspirer of development, and announced the idea of the game as a response to "the intentional destruction of historical memory of the people".

The Truth About 9th Company received a mixed reaction from video game review websites. The following weapons appear in the 2008 video game The Truth About 9th Company:

Assault Rifles

AK-74

An AK-74 is depicted during an in-game video sequence.

AK-74 - 5.45x39mm

Fallen Soviet VDV paratrooper with AK-74

AKS-74

The AKS-74 rifle (alongside optional GP-25 grenade launchers) is used by the Soviet VDV paratroopers. It is depicted in a "jungle-style" taped-together magazine configuration.

AKS-74 5.45x39mm

Soviet VDV paratroopers with AKS-74s

Soviet VDV paratroopers aiming their AKS-74s

Lateral view of Soviet VDV paratroopers aiming their AKS-74s

Hip-aiming the AKS-74

Aiming the AKS-74's iron sights

Light machine guns

RPK-74

The RPK-74 light machine gun is used by the Soviet troops. It features a 45-round box magazine and bipods for stationary deployment.

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

Soviet VDV paratrooper with RPK-74

Another view of the RPK-74

Hip-aiming the RPK-74

Aiming the RPK-74's iron sights

Heavy machine guns

NSV 12.7mm 'Utes'

The NSV 'Utes' 12.7mm heavy machine gun is used by the Soviet troops. The NSV is also featured in the cover of the game and also in in-game real life photographic footage.

Tripod-mounted NSV heavy machine gun 12.7x107mm

NSV render

In-game view of the NSV

Firing the NSV

Photo of Vyacheslav A. Alexandrov, Guards Junior Sergeant, commander of the NSV 12.7 mm caliber heavy machine gun ("Utes"), featured in the game's mission selecton menu

Sniper rifles

SVD Dragunov

The SVD Dragunov sniper rifle is used by the Mujahideen and by Soviet soldiers.

SVD Dragunov sniper rifle - 7.6x54mm R

Soviet VDV paratrooper wtih SVD Dragunov

Soviet VDV paratrooper aiming the SVD Dragunov

Hip-aiming the SVD Dragunov

Grenade launchers

GP-25

The GP-25 series 40mm grenade launcher is used by the Soviet VDV paratroopers. It is however depicted inaccurately, as it appears to have the barrel of a BG-15, a wooden stock (BG-15s probably had these) and an M203-styled trigger guard and trigger.

Experimental BG-15 grenade launcher (note the hole in the grip)

GP-25 grenade launcher - 40mm)

M203 grenade launcher - 40mm. Notice the trigger guard)

Soviet VDV paratropper with AKS-74 and underbarrel GP-25 40mm grenade launcher

A closer view of the GP-25

Rocket Launchers

RPG-7

The RPG-7 is used by the Mujahideen and Soviet soldiers.

RPG-7 40mm