For Bravery,U/N 1982,Mortarman,860th Separate Motorised Rifle Regiment,Afghanistan

[Tommy]

war sheet

Award sheet

1. Last name, first name, and patronymic: Akhaladze, Veniamin Nodariyevich
2. Rank: Private
3. Position and unit: Vasilyok ["Cornflower"] mortar layer in the 860th Independent Motorized Rifle Regiment, 40th Army, Turkestan Military District Nominated for: Medal for Courage
4. Year of birth: September 19, 1960
5. Nationality: Georgian
6. Party affiliation: Member of the Komsomol since 1980
7. Participation in combat actions to defend the USSR and the Patriotic War (where and when): No
8. Wounds and contusions received during the Patriotic War: No
9. Since when in the Soviet Armed Forces: Since April 1981
10. Drafted by which military commissariat: Military Commissariat of the Rustavi Raion, Georgian SSR
11. Awards received previously (for which merits): None
12. Permanent home address of the prospective awardee and the address of his family: Village of Kokhnari, Chokhatauri Raion, Georgian SSR. Father: Nodari Grigoryevich Akhaladze
Short, concrete description of his combat feat or merits:

Private V.N. Akhaladze arrived in the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan in May 1982 to provide military assistance to the April Revolution. Serving at the Dzhalgar firing position as a member of a Vasilyok platoon, Private V.N. Akhaladze repeatedly repelled attacks by insurgents on the city of Fayzabad.

On April 22, 1982 a gang of insurgents, numbering up to 40 men, subjected the city of Fayzabad to heavy rifle, machine-gun, and mortar fire. With his accurate fire Private V.N. Akhaladze killed the crew of a Goryunov mounted machine gun and approximately 10 insurgents. In the process Private V.N. Akhaladze displayed decisiveness and bravery.


Conclusion: For his personal bravery and courage, displayed while repelling an attack on the city of Fayzabad, he deserves the Medal for Courage.

Commander of the 860th Independent Motorized Rifle Regiment Lieutenant Colonel [signed] /Arutyunyan/ May 7, 1982

Examined and approved by the Military Council of the 40th Army. May 12, 1982, log file nr. 32.

He deserves to be awarded the Medal for Courage.

Commander of the 40th Army Lieutenant General [signed] /B. Tkach/ May 12, 1982

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[Tommy]

Hope you like it.

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Tom

[Auke]

Unlike conventional mortars, the "Cornflower" could fire in automatic mode using four-round clips. Rounds could be loaded from either the muzzle or the breech. Because of its wheeled carriage, the 2B9 resembled a light artillery piece more than a conventional mortar:

[CtahhR]

It is nice that the citation lists specific locations. Had the recipient been a rifleman rather than mortarman I'm sure this award would have been a Red Star.

Very nice indeed.

[Tommy]

Thank you gentlemen!

The "Cornflower" looks like a formidable piece of kit to say the least!

Tom

[Al-muell]

Always nice to see Afghan war-related awarding. Thanks for posting!

[CtahhR]

Looks like a logistical nightmare if you have to make a hasty retreat. Not as easy to run away with as the usual short piece of drainpipe. 1,400lbs of kit really needs to be on wheels.


The 82mm rounds would make a mess with ease. With just this single piece eliminating 1/3rd-1/4th of an attack and surely suppressing a larger share. A good target for a sniper.