Soviets in the Colonies

[Taz]

The Ogaden War (1977-78) was the most serious border conflict between Ethiopia and Somalia. Beginning in the early summer of 1977, SNA units and WSLF guerrillas, a movement of ethnic Somali opposed to incorporation in Ethiopia, occupied vast tracts of the Ogaden and forced the Ethiopian army into fortresses at Jijiga, Harer, and Dire Dawa for almost eight months. The intention was to separate the Ogaden from Ethiopia to set the stage for ethnic Somali in the region to decide their own future.

It was only with Soviet and Cuban assistance that the Derg regained control over the region by early 1978. The Soviet Union not only provided massive amounts of military equipment but also advisers, who trained Ethiopian soldiers and pilots. Moreover, Cuban troops spearheaded the counteroffensive that began in March 1978. Cuban and Ethiopian troops quickly defeated the SNA and WSLF once the counteroffensive began. Many WSLF fighters returned to their villages or took refuge inside Somalia. In addition, some 650,000 Somali and Oromo fled from southeastern Ethiopia into Somalia by early 1978 to escape unsettled local conditions and repression by Ethiopian armed forces. After the defeat, Somali opposition reverted to sporadic guerrilla ambushes and occasional acts of sabotage.

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On the night of 28 November 1977, the Soviet Union launched a major military airlift of arms and materiel bound for the Horn of Africa.In succeeding weeks the U.S.S.R. employed An-12 (NATO Cub) and An-22 (NATO Cock) transport aircraft along with seagoing cargo vessels to deliver an estimated $1 billion in fighter-bombers, tanks, artillery, and ammunition to the Ethiopian regime of Lieutenant Colonel Mengistu Haile Mariam. Mengistu's armies were staggering in the Ogaden desert under the attack of Somali-backed rebels, trying to capture territory claimed by the Mogadiscio government as part of a "Greater Somalia." Although this resupply campaign did not rival the scale of the 1973 effort to rearm the Arab states in the wake of the October War, it was highlighted by the speed of Soviet reaction and the morale boost it provided the beleaguered Ethiopian army. As a result of the weapons supplied by the U.S.S.R. and the augmentation of Mengistu's forces by Cuban combat soldiers and Soviet technicians and advisors, Ethiopia mounted a successful counteroffensive to regain the Ogaden in February and March of 1978.

Column of Cuban-manned Ethiopian tanks seen near Jijiga, in March 1978.

[Taz]

In 1987 the relationship between Syria and the Soviet Union appeared to be close and deep. Syria was clearly favored among Soviet client states in the Third World. For over twenty years, Syria had obtained most of its military equipment from the Soviet Union. In addition, there was a large Soviet military presence in Syria; by mid-1984 there were an estimated 13,000 Soviet and East European advisers in Syria. However, many of these advisers were withdrawn in 1985 during a dispute so that in 1986 between 2,000 and 5,000 remained.

Syrian-Soviet relations were upgraded and formalized in the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation signed by Assad in Moscow in October 1980. The treaty runs for twenty years and has automatic five-year extensions, unless one of the parties terminates the agreement. It provides for regular consultations on bilateral and multilateral issues of interest, coordination of responses in the event of a crisis, and military cooperation.

A secret protocol to the treaty reputedly details Soviet military obligations to Syria and may mandate the dispatch of Soviet troops to Syria in case of an Israeli invasion. Syrian defense minister Tlas warned in 1984 that the Soviet Union would dispatch two Soviet airborne divisions to Syria within eight hours in the event of a conflict with Israel. Tlas's has also stated that the Soviet Union would use nuclear weapons to protect Syria. Tlas' statements, however, were not endorsed by the Soviet Union. Syrian-Soviet nuclear cooperation is limited to a February 1983 agreement for cooperation and exchange for peaceful purposes.

THE SOVIET FROG-7
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When Syria's President Hafez al-Assad assumed power in November 1970, he immediately began to strengthen military relations with the Soviet Union. One of the immediate results was the purchase of Syria's first surface-to-surface missile, the FROG-7 (Free Rocket Over Ground). Within a year, Syrian technicians were invited to the Soviet Union to train on the FROG system. The FROG is an unguided, solid fuel missile with a maximum range of about 70 kilometers. It can be fired from mobile launchers and can be equipped with either a high explosive or a tactical nuclear warhead weighing 450 kilograms.

The Soviet Union first shipped a half dozen transporter erector launchers (TELs) and a half dozen reload vehicles in 1972. By early 1973, an additional six TELs and six reload vehicles were sent. And by the October 1973 Arab-Israeli war, the Syrians had assumed complete operational control of the missiles.

THE SOVIET SCUD-B
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The FROG's poor performance led Syria to start looking for better missiles. Within a year, Moscow had agreed to replace the FROGs Syria had used in combat, and also agreed to provide Scud missiles. In 1974, a group of Syrian officers went to the Soviet Union for Scud training, and by the beginning of 1976, the Soviets had shipped a dozen Scud launchers and their support equipment.

The Soviet Scud-B is a single-stage missile that is liquid-fueled, inertially guided, and can carry a 770-860-kilogram payload up to 300 kilometers. The Soviets intended it to deliver nuclear warheads, which explains its low accuracy (CEP--circular error probable, a measure of missile accuracy--is 930 meters when fired to its full range).

It is uncertain how many Scud-Bs the Syrians now have. Syria has passed on some of the Scud-B missiles it got from the Soviet Union to Iran. The number of operational TELS in Syria is also uncertain. Intelligence analysts say it is difficult to distinguish TELs (both with and without missiles) from reload vehicles (both with and without missiles) and replacement missiles. The Middle East Military Balance, an annual survey of military capabilities published by Israel's Jaffee Center for Strategic Studies at Tel Aviv University, estimates that as of 1994 Syria had 18 FROG-7 launchers, 18 Scud-B launchers and 7 or 8 Scud-C launchers. The TELs, along with their missiles, are reportedly stored in caverns in the mountains outside Damascus. It can take 24 hours to prepare a Scud for launch, and up to 60 minutes reaction time after it arrives at its presurveyed launch site.

THE SOVIET SS-21
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When Syria was defeated during the June 1982 fighting with Israel in Lebanon, Damascus blamed Soviet weaponry. Within a year, the Soviets had agreed to supply Syria with the SS-21, the first delivery of this missile outside Warsaw Pact countries. The missiles were shipped in October 1983. The mobile, single-stage, solid-fuel SS-21 "Scarab" can deliver nuclear, chemical or conventional payloads up to 120 kilometers. It is relatively accurate, with a CEP of approximately 300 meters, making it more accurate than the FROG-7. The SS-21's flight time is between 3-7 minutes and its launcher can be reloaded in 15 minutes.

In 1988, Syria asked the Soviet Union for its more capable and longer-range, solid-fuel SS-23 "Spider" missile, which the Soviets had designed to replace the 1960s-vintage Scud. The SS-23 was designed to fly 500 kilometers, is more accurate than the Scud, and has a shorter refire time. Under the INF Treaty signed by Moscow in December 1988, however, the Soviet Union agreed to eliminate its SS-23 missile and not to transfer it to other countries.

This Syrian - Russian Friendship Medal is unfourtunatly for us Post Soviet era.

[Taz]

Here is an interesting article from Abdel-Malek Khalil about the Soviet built Missile Defence in Egypt.
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We sat around our cups of red tea, warming ourselves against the chill of Moscow's autumn. Field Marshal Alexei Smirnov, former assistant commander of the Soviet Missile Forces and Air Defence, and Brig. Gen. Constantine Popov, former commander of the Missile Battalion and head of the Association of Veteran Fighters in Egypt, had agreed to meet me to discuss the role they played in Egypt -- a role which, though previously unknown, was instrumental in shaping history.
"It was December 1969 when Field Marshal Patetsky, commander of the Soviet Missile Forces at the time, chose me to accompany him and a group of specialists to Egypt," began Smirnov. On their arrival, no less a personage than President Gamal Abdel-Nasser came to meet them. "At the time, Israel was conducting continuous air raids against Egypt. The country's defence system had been seriously weakened by the Six Day War. Israel was aiming to destroy the majority of Egypt's airports so as to deny Egyptian fighter pilots the opportunity of defending their country," explained Smirnov. Hence the mission they were assigned was to protect the Egyptian skies. Immediately after his return to Moscow, Smirnov set about choosing the men who would join him in Egypt to undertake the construction of a "missile wall".

"Our mission was, of course, undertaken on the orders of the Soviet government and the political bureau of the Soviet Communist Party, in execution of the agreement between us and the Egyptian leadership. On our return to Egypt, we began to implement the plan; our only form of communication with Egyptian soldiers was sign language; there were no translators available." Despite this handicap, the communication was fruitful. "I don't remember that I ever argued with an Egyptian soldier; we worked in total cooperation and great friendship and that is why we still today have great friends in Egypt," added Popov.

As a result, a protective shield was put in place that covered Egypt from Marsa Matrouh through Alexandria all the way down to Aswan. Egyptian troops and military sites in Ismailia were also given particular consideration.

"We knew that Israel had Phantom, Skyhawk and Mirage warplanes and hence we focused on preparing Egyptian fighters to confront these types of aircraft. We also requested missiles which were able to track a plane at altitudes as low as 25 metres -- a capability the Israelis did not expect," he recalled. Some 300 missiles were soon in place ready to bring down enemy warplanes 24 hours a day.

Paradoxically, the first plane brought down by the newly installed system was a Soviet fighter plane piloted by two Egyptians. "The pilots did not give the necessary signals and so we shot them down. We wanted to reprimand the Soviet officer [who fired the missile], but the Egyptians said, 'No, it was the pilot's mistake'," Smirnov recalled.

The system scored a major success on 30 June 1970 when the first Israeli Phantom plane was brought down, followed by another five on 3 August. It was Popov who was responsible for this feat which earned him the highest military medal -- "Hero of the Soviet Union".

Popov pointed out, however, that for 20 years this episode remained a military secret. "We were not allowed to talk about our presence or work in Egypt," explained Popov. "How the world has changed!"

According to the military agreement at the time, both Smirnov and Popov worked in Egypt wearing Egyptian uniform but without rank. "They [the Egyptians] gave us uniforms which shrank with every wash. I had a pair of pants that was about to turn into a pair of shorts!" said Smirnov. They worked in difficult conditions. "The temperature would reach 70 degrees C and it would be impossible for us to touch the metal as it would burn us immediately. There was dust which looked like snow but was as hot as fire," he remembered, adding, "Once, one of our officers was completely covered in dust and I could not tell who he was. Only when he smiled, there was a line of white teeth. Yet he said to me: 'The weather today is a lot better than yesterday!'"

Eight Soviet soldiers died on 18 July 1970 and 4 pilots and a brigadier-general, recounted Smirnov.

He pointed out, however, that as a result of the success of the missile wall, Israel noticeably decreased its air raids and limited itself to high altitude flights.

Smirnov concluded, "I never forgot Abdel-Nasser's words to us in 1969. He said: 'Do not forget you are defending the skies of Cairo, Alexandria and the whole of Egypt'. I would remember these words whenever Israel bombed a city, school or village. That's why we did our best to defend the military positions, factories, urban centres and the people of Egypt."

Both expressed great admiration for the success achieved by the Egyptian forces in 1973, after they had left Egypt. "The Egyptian army is modern and courageous and the 6 October War is a glorious one for sure," said Popov.

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(Co Al-Ahram Weekly)

[Taz]

Now this Medal was issued to Soviets!
Sorry I haven't found a pic yet.
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Obverse: Pentagonal silver medal with rayed points. In the circular center, a depiction of the dam with a rising sun above it, high-power lines leading off to the right, and Lake Nasser behind it. Surrounding, an inscription in Arabic and Russian.

Ribbon: Medium ?, two white stripes.

Thanks to Christophe we have now got the Medal but the Ribbon colours are still unclear. This would be important for spotting the Medal on uniforms.

Eddie.

[Taz]

With a star on the ribbon, mid 1950s. issued to Soviets assisting the Chinese during the Korean War.

http://www.soviet-awards.com/forum/s...iet+Friendship

Eddie.

[Taz]

Instituted on June 20, 1960, the Friendship Decoration was awarded to foreigners, who supported and helped the Vietnamese in the defense of their country.
This medal may possibly be a very early version of the Decoration. It is a 30mm round disk. The obverse depicts two hands shaking with the North Vietnamese flag in the background. The inscription reads, DOAN KET CHIEN THANG GIAC MY (Solidarity against American Aggression).

I'm not a 100% sure but this North Vietnamese Medal was most likely also issued to Soviets serving in Vietnam.

Eddie.

[Taz]

Here is another version of this Medal with S/N.

(pic CO Yuri Yashnev)

[Taz]

The Soviet Union supplied much of the materiel for the NKPA. Of primary importance was the T34 medium tank, a mainstay of the Soviet armored force in World War II that weighed 32 tons and mounted an 85-mm. gun. The Soviets also supplied artillery support that resembled the weaponry of the older Soviet division of World War II: 76-mm. and 122-mm. howitzers, 45-mm. antitank guns, and 82-mm. and 120-mm. mortars. At the outset of the war North Korea had about 180 Soviet aircraft- 60 YAK trainers, 40 YAK fighters, 70 attack bombers, and 10 reconnaissance planes. Like the ROK Navy, the North Korean naval forces had only a few small vessels- sixteen patrol craft and several coastal steamers.

After Kim Il-song visited Moscow in 1984, Soviet military aid to North Korea increased dramatically. The Soviets provided MiG-23/FLOGGER, MiG-29/FULCRUM, and Su-25/FROGFOOT aircraft, plus SA-3/GOA and SA-5/GAMMON surface-to-air missiles. North Korea also received technical aid and training for these new systems.
This military equipment, economic aid, and technical aid could appear as a Soviet attempt to placate Pyongyang for Moscow's participation in the Seoul Olympics or as a counterbalance for new equipment the South received. It also could be an attempt to soften the shock of cultural and economic ties with South Korea.

Shanghai Air Defense Order
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The Shanghai Air Defense Order was issued to Soviets during the Korean war.
note with the shaking hands, it looks more like a Friendship badge

(pic CO R.L.)

[Taz]

Somalia's leaders, many of whom had been educated in Italy and Britain, were initially well disposed to the West. Their desire to be nonaligned, however, led them to establish close ties with the Soviet Union and China. During the 1960s, the Soviet Union provided both military and economic aid, while China provided considerable development assistance.
The Soviet Union, which already had a foothold in the army in the 1960s, became the dominant foreign influence in the 1970s. It armed, trained, and gave development assistance to Somalia. As Somalia became more pro-Soviet, its relations with the United States became strained, and in the early 1970s, the United States suspended aid to Somalia.

[Taz]

The Cubans who went to Africa did so voluntarily. The mystic of the guerrilla war motivated them. “We dreamed about revolution” one meditated. “We wanted to be part of it, to feel that we fought for it. We were young and the children of a revolution.”
The volunteers didn’t receive public praise in Cuba. They left “knowing that their history would remain secret.” They didn’t win medals or receive material rewards. Upon their return they could not boast about their feats because what they had done was secret.

Angola expanded Castro’s horizons. In Ethiopia, in 1978, 16,000 Cuban soldiers helped to repel the invading Somali army. Tens of thousands of Cubans remained in Angola during the 1980’s, offering invaluable assistance. Smaller Cuban military companies served in the Congo, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique and Benin. The Cuban military instructors trained Namibian, Rhodesian and South African guerrillas.
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Soviets in Cuba

The Soviet government realized in 1959 that any future war would be largely nuclear, and in that same year the Strategic Rocket Forces were founded. The Soviet government became increasingly militaristic in the face of Kennedy's rearmament program. In response, the Soviets decided to install nuclear weapons in Cuba, a Caribbean nation off the coast of Florida which had recently established a nationalistic government under President Fidel Castro; Cuba's government sought Soviet Union support after the collapse of its relations with US due to the expropriation of US properties in Cuba and a subsequent CIA backed attempt of invasion of Cuba known as the Bay of Pigs Invasion. Soviet reasoning was two-fold -- first, to defend this new Communist state from American or American-sponsored invasion, and second, to shift the nuclear balance of power away from the US

Roughly 20,000 Soviet citizens lived in Cuba, many of them sent by the Kremlin as soldiers, engineers and other technical specialists.



Eddie.