In 1978, I was admitted to Harbin Institute of Technology

Chapter 240 The Afghan-Pakistani Border: Guerrillas, Rocket Launchers, and T-72 Armored Units
"Alright, anyway, the school will be in your hands from now on."

Looking at Xie Wei's serious expression, Li Rui felt that the kid's reaction was very abnormal.

Although Xie Wei said he had put in a lot of effort to find out, and given that Cao Hequan was indeed a key technical member at the 52nd Research Institute, and since the 52nd Research Institute mainly researched protective armor, he didn't bother to dwell on it.

"However, you should still talk to him. If he's unwilling to go, things will get complicated."

"There's nothing to talk about."

That being said, Xie Wei still made contact with this future chief weapons expert before Li Rui approached the leaders of Institute 52.

"Our school has a tank project that needs someone to be in charge of research on armor protection materials and armor research... If you're willing, you can be in charge of this technology. The funding is guaranteed to be sufficient, and no one will interfere with your research direction..."

Upon meeting Chief Cao, who was in his prime and had not yet begun research on armor protection materials, Xie Wei handed over his specially written paper, "Metal Tubular Spacer Composite Armor and Explosive Reactive Armor," and began to speak.

Chief Cao, who had not yet begun designing the armor, was greatly shocked.

He stared at Xie Wei in disbelief.

This thing...

How come it coincides with some of my own thoughts?

After quickly flipping through the paper, Chief Cao found that the content was even more complete than he had imagined. He stared at Xie Wei in a daze for a long time.

"You are?"

"Harbin Institute of Technology. He's the president of Harbin Institute of Technology. After the university started preparing for the third-generation tank project, he made some inquiries and learned that some of your ideas coincided with ours..."

Xie Wei pointed to Li Rui standing to the side.

Li Rui glared at Xie Wei. Damn it! What does this have to do with me?
Didn't Xie Wei inquire about it several times?

And the other person is just a mechanical designer, and they're just putting him in a school to be in charge of armor protection design and related materials research... what will happen then?

"Yes! Many people have recommended you to me..."

Despite his many concerns, Li Rui nodded out of trust in Xie Wei.

"But my organizational affiliation is with the Fifth Ministry of Machine Building..."

"The school will take care of your organizational affiliation as long as you're willing."

Thus, the future chief weapons expert, without any hesitation or even worry about whether he could handle the job, was lured to the school by Xie Wei.

"We'll have to trouble the principal with the people from 671..."

Looking at Xie Wei's smile, Li Rui couldn't help but feel that the kid had ill intentions.

Even after Principal Li analyzed it thoroughly, he couldn't find the specific cause of the problem.

He wanted Xie Wei to go with him to see the leaders of Factory 617, but Xie Wei made an excuse that he had a lot of things to do at school and couldn't waste time.

Moreover, Xie Wei's ability to intervene in many matters at the school was not due to his position or rank, but rather because of the importance the school leaders placed on him.

As it turns out, Xie Wei's many proposals not only accelerated the school's development, but also aligned with policy at every step, and various projects brought great returns.

So Xie Wei boarded the train back to school alone.

Pakistan.

Ministry of National Defense.

"...That's the situation. The tank project is just the foundation of cooperation. If it works well, I think we'll not only be able to establish our own tank industry, but also have our own design and manufacturing capabilities for fighter jets...Even if we can't, we can still export them through our own connections."

Murita Zardak carefully explained the situation to the group of generals.

"Can $8000 million really design a tank that outperforms the T-72?"

"The T-72 not only puts pressure on us, but also on China, whose most advanced tank is the Type 69!"

Imohan Farouk did not directly question the general, saying, "Since they brought it up, they must be confident. After years of cooperation, the Chinese side is not making empty promises."

"It's not about whether they're talking nonsense, but about China's foundation..."

Another senior defense official expressed his concerns.

"Perhaps their actual skill level is quite different from what we know."

Murita Zalidak glanced at General Ahmed, the head of the expedition team, and seeing that he remained silent, said helplessly.

General Ahmed neither supports nor opposes this cooperation.

"How can it be!"

"If they had more advanced tanks, wouldn't the PLA equip themselves with them? They face far greater pressure than we do!"

"The most advanced technology, they probably won't sell it..."

Many high-ranking officials did not believe it.

They all believed they had a very good understanding of China's industrial base and technological level.

"Generals, since China's reform and opening up, military spending has been continuously reduced, and many projects have stalled due to lack of funding... Even if we have a deep friendship, would they open up their most advanced technological projects to us before they have been successfully developed?"

Seeing Murita looking at him, Imokhan straightened his chest and retorted to the assembled high-ranking officials, "Putting aside everything else, the rocket launchers we brought back this time are the most obvious example..."

Are tank technology and rocket launcher technology the same?
Does developing an advanced rocket launcher automatically lead to developing an advanced tank?

What a fuss!

"The rocket launchers we've procured this time are different from those on the market. The high-explosive fragmentation type doesn't offer much of an advantage in performance compared to other models, except for the price; and the armor-piercing type... if they can develop rocket launchers with such strong armor-piercing capabilities, the tank's armor protection must be far beyond that thickness... This collaborative project is based on China's WZ-122 tank project, which has been under research for over ten years. If it weren't for its advanced performance and the enormous funding required, we wouldn't have had this opportunity..."

Murita added.

The Ministry of National Defense does not oppose collaborative research and development, but questions whether the Chinese can truly develop a tank with such performance.

"Let's see how effective the rocket launcher and sniper grenade launcher are in actual combat before making a decision!"

The Pakistani military has suspicions about whether China's technological level differs from its understanding, but lacks evidence.

Coincidentally, the rocket launchers and sniper grenades brought back from there had already been taken away by the CIA.

We'll know the results soon.

Eastern Afghanistan, along the Kunar River.

Near Asadabad.

Jiaqi Valley.

A dirt road stretches along the valley, connecting Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Due to the complex terrain of the valley, this area became a frequent site of guerrilla activity. The guerrillas' main task was not to attack the Soviet army, but to use the complex terrain to maneuver against the Soviet army and transport weapons and equipment provided by Western countries from Pakistan to the interior.

The Soviet army was also aware of the frequent guerrilla activities in the area. The 66th Independent Motorized Rifle Brigade, stationed in Asadabad, was constantly sweeping away guerrillas throughout the Gach Valley.

The powerful firepower and mobility of the T-72 tanks and BMP infantry fighting vehicles equipped by the 66th Independent Motorized Infantry Brigade posed a significant threat to the guerrillas who were only equipped with AK-47s and a small number of 40mm guns and relied on donkeys to haul supplies.

The guerrillas operating in this area have suffered heavy losses in recent encirclement and suppression campaigns.

now.

On one side of the road in Jiaqi Valley, dozens of guerrillas, dressed in robes and headscarves, with ages ranging from over 40, were lying in ambush behind the bare rocks on the side of the valley road.

"Sened, are these rocket launchers really that effective? If they can't threaten the Soviet tanks, we're in danger..."

A middle-aged man in his early forties with a large beard lay on the ground, looking at the road in the distance of the valley, and asked the younger bearded man next to him with a worried expression.

"Jabard, don't worry! Everything will be fine!"

Senid held up his worn-out binoculars and looked at the bend in the valley in the distance—the direction from which the Soviet sweeping troops had come.

"These rocket launchers have never been used before..."

Jabard glanced at the cylindrical rocket launcher beside him. Because it was sealed, they didn't even know what the rockets inside looked like.

They had just gotten their hands on it yesterday, and the CIA liaisons immediately asked them to use it today to ambush and sweep through Soviet armored forces that were partisans.

The area where they lay in ambush was less than 100 meters from the road as the crow flies. Once the rocket launchers failed to pose a threat to the Soviet tanks, they wouldn't even have a chance to escape.

Tanks and armored vehicles have difficulty moving in mountainous areas, but this place is very close to Asadabad, and Soviet armed helicopters can reach it in a very short time.

Under the heavy firepower of the enemy's tanks and armored vehicles, the armored infantry will keep a close watch on them.

Moreover, it's not just armed helicopters; given enough time, Soviet ground attack aircraft will also arrive.

"Do not worry!"

Senid glanced at the rocket launcher in the tube next to him, feeling the same worry, but he couldn't show it.

The CIA major in charge of liaising with them made a clear request, also to test the actual effectiveness of these rocket launchers. If they could destroy the Soviet T-72s, more of this type of rocket launcher would be provided to the partisans.

"Boom~"

Before the armored vehicle convoy could be seen, the roar of engines could be faintly heard from behind the distant hillside.

"Coming~"

"Everyone, get ready!"

Senid immediately became serious.

The guerrillas, who had been chatting and laughing quietly, also became tense.

Before this, apart from encountering Soviet infantry and launching counterattacks based on the terrain, the guerrillas never dared to attack Soviet armored forces.

Soon, an armored unit rushed out from the side of the hillside and appeared in the line of sight of the ambushing guerrillas.

When the entire armored force came into view, Senid and the others' expressions instantly turned grim!

10 T-72 tanks and 14 BMP-1 infantry fighting vehicles.

It was almost three times the size of the intelligence reports of 3 tanks and 4 infantry fighting vehicles.

Upon seeing such a large armored force, the dozens of guerrillas lying in ambush instantly panicked.

"The information is wrong!"

All eyes turned to Captain Senid.

"Sened, let's retreat! There are so few of us, we're no match for them..."

Jabad looked terrified.

They did not carry a large number of rocket launchers, only 10 armor-piercing and 10 explosive fragmentation types.

"We can't retreat! In the previous sweeps, the Soviet armored units were all in small squads... and what we're facing now could very well be the vanguard... such a large-scale operation could very well have discovered our camp!"

Senid shook his head.

After occupying the border region, the Soviet army continued to sweep away the guerrillas.

As the CIA and Western intelligence agencies increased their support, the guerrilla forces that resisted aggression grew larger and larger.

Even so, Soviet ground attack aircraft and armed helicopters continued to conduct reconnaissance and bombing missions in the mountains, while the main task of the armored forces was to find the areas where the partisans were hiding.

There has never been such a large-scale armored force before!
The fact that they were mobilized meant that the guerrilla camp had been discovered.

In the mountainous region, there were caves everywhere, and neither ground attack aircraft nor armed helicopters could completely destroy the guerrilla camps. The Soviet army could only send armored forces to clear them out from the ground.

"impossible!"

Jabard shook his head, utterly disbelieving that the approaching armored forces were heading straight for their camp.

Although located in the mountains, in the Jiaqi Valley at an altitude of 1000 meters and a maximum altitude of only 1800 meters, tanks and infantry fighting vehicles can reach their camp.

“We were the only resistance force in the Jiaqi Valley… and the border pass was the only passage across dozens of kilometers of border, and we had been helping the CIA smuggle weapons into the interior…”

"But……"

10 tanks and 14 infantry fighting vehicles!

Although the RPG rocket launchers carried by the team could destroy infantry fighting vehicles, they could not damage the T-72.

"They have 10 tanks, we have 10 anti-tank rocket launchers!"

Senid gritted his teeth and said, "Once we destroy their tanks, those infantry fighting vehicles can be destroyed with explosive or 40mm guns..."

"What if it doesn't work?"

The ambush position was too close to the armored units.

Once they are exposed, the dual-purpose machine gun on top of the tank will make them suffer greatly.

Tank guns, on the other hand, posed little threat to them.

Moreover, the BMP-1 rotating turret following behind also has twin 7.62mm machine guns and a 73mm low-pressure smoothbore cannon, which are quite powerful.

"Once a fight breaks out, the camp will know what's going on. Before their reinforcements arrive, the camp can relocate, at least to move the weapons that the CIA just delivered!"

As the armored forces drew ever closer, Senid gritted his teeth and said.

The hatches of the first 10 T-72 tanks were open, revealing the upper bodies of the tank commanders, who were holding 12.7mm anti-tank and anti-tank machine guns and vigilantly observing both sides of the valley.

The armored forces were not moving very fast.

Even though the guerrillas in the Gach Valley didn't have much heavy firepower that posed a threat to the T-72 tanks, the unit remained highly vigilant.

The armored convoy maintained a distance of over 100 meters from the tanks.

When tank units are attacked and their tank guns are unable to engage guerrillas at close range, the 73mm guns on infantry fighting vehicles, which maintain a safe distance, can be effective.

"Let's retreat! We're no match for them. If we're exposed, we'll all die!"

Fear was on everyone's face in the group.

Jabad was trying to persuade Senid.

A stealthy retreat is currently the only way to survive.

"No retreat! Anti-tank rocket launchers, prepare! One person, aim at one tank! Let them get close before firing! Demolition rocket launchers and 40mm grenades, aim at the armored vehicles behind, wait for the tanks to pass before firing!"

Senid suppressed the urge to turn and run away.

No matter what, we have to fight!
The tank convoy, moving at a slow pace, passed directly in front of the ambush force. The tank commander, who was holding a dual-purpose machine gun, did not notice the guerrillas lying in ambush on one side.

As the tank convoy passed by, the ambushing guerrillas opened the front cover of the launcher and, using the additional sights mounted on it, aimed the crosshairs of the sights directly at the assigned tanks.

The guerrillas, armed with explosive weapons, also aimed their weapons at the rapidly advancing BMP-1 infantry fighting vehicles.

"beat!"

When the distance between the tank in front and the infantry fighting vehicle behind was about the same, Senid roared, emerged from behind the hidden rocks, knelt on the ground, aimed the scope at the tank, and pulled the trigger without hesitation.

"Boom~"

The propellant was ignited, and the thrust of the explosion blew off the rear cover, propelling the rocket inside to quickly detach from the launch tube and fly towards the side and rear of the T-72 tank, which was less than 200 meters away.

After the rocket flew out of the launcher, Senid didn't care whether it hit the target or not. He threw the launcher off his shoulder, grabbed the AK-47 on the ground, fell to the ground, and pulled the trigger at the tank commander whose upper body was exposed on the tank.

"Da da da~"

The crisp sound of an AK-47 gunshot rang out instantly.

"Boom boom boom~"

A barrage of rockets hurtled towards the tanks and armored vehicles.

The moment the rockets left the launch tubes, the guerrillas threw away the launch tubes, picked up their rifles, and opened fire on the valley.

"Enemy attack!"

(End of this chapter)