Soviet Soldiers Food Afghan War
Soviet soldiers food Afghan war was very different from what people usually imagine.
More than 30 years have passed since Soviet troops began leaving Afghanistan. For about 10 years, soldiers carried out their duty. They spent a long time in Afghanistan, so it is interesting to see how they organized their daily food.
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At the very beginning of the Afghan campaign, the Soviet leadership believed the war would end quickly. But that did not happen. For almost ten years, soldiers had to deal with everyday problems, including food.
It is important to understand that Afghanistan is a very hot country. During the day, the heat is intense, and at night the temperature drops sharply. The terrain includes mountains, gorges, and dry, sunburned land.
Opinions about food varied greatly among soldiers. Some said it was decent, others said it was terrible. But if a person serves in the army, he learns to adapt to even the harshest living conditions.
How was water supply organized? This was a major problem. Water was often in short supply. When soldiers went on missions, they carried water in canteens and thermoses. But during combat, soldiers got tired and drank a lot, so water ran out quickly. Drinking unsafe water could easily lead to infections. Sometimes soldiers still drank it and later tried to treat themselves with herbal decoctions made from local plants like camel thorn.
What about regular food? Most of the time, soldiers relied on canned food, rations, and concentrates. According to the soldiers themselves, dry rations were actually quite decent. They helped for a short time, but hunger returned after a few hours.
A standard ration included about 500 grams of crackers, a can of тушенка (canned meat), a can of porridge with meat, as well as tea and sugar. Food was usually prepared in field kitchens set up in the open. Officers ate separately from regular soldiers. Senior officers used plates, while soldiers ate from mess tins. Every soldier had his own spoon.
Soldiers’ meals were mostly organized through field kitchens. These were set up in the open, often based on a ZIL-131 truck. Food supplies were delivered every 7 to 10 days, usually together with ammunition. Two helicopters would arrive at the base and hover above without landing, while supplies were lowered down. Obviously, more ammunition was delivered than food. So if a soldier did not find extra sources of food, he could go hungry.
There were ways to get additional food. These depended on the situation. During missions in the mountains, soldiers could sometimes bring back a few sheep. These were given by local shepherds. Taking more than two was considered looting, and if soldiers took three or more, shepherds could respond with weapons.
Sometimes soldiers also got wounded animals – horses or camels, and even monitor lizards. When food was very limited, they would go out специально to hunt them. According to soldiers, lizard meat was quite watery. This actually helped in hot conditions when water was scarce, as it reduced dehydration.
Meat was mostly supplied to soldiers in the form of canned food – canned meat. Fresh meat was rare. Fish was also uncommon. Soldiers called it “red and white fish,” usually pollock in tomato sauce or oil. It was not fresh fish, but again canned. Food from cans quickly became boring, and it often made soldiers very thirsty.
As some veterans recall, many of them still cannot even look at тушенка today. They had too much of it during the war in Afghanistan. According to eyewitnesses, vegetables and fruits were rarely available. All canned food became tiring very fast.
Because of the hot climate, there were serious problems with supply. Perishable products like fresh meat, milk, fruits, and vegetables were usually delivered only to the seriously wounded or sick. Many soldiers suffered from vitamin deficiency. They lacked fresh food.
Bread was the main staple. Soldiers often baked it themselves. It was considered the best food they had, because it was fresh, not canned.
Sometimes soldiers could treat themselves with small comforts like condensed milk or biscuits. Potatoes were usually delivered in powdered form. They had to be mixed with water, and after cooking they looked more like paste than real potatoes. The taste was far from what you would expect.
Many soldiers remember their service in Afghanistan differently. Some say the food was acceptable, others could barely stand it.
More interesting articles:
What Soviet Soldiers Really Ate During WW2
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Soviet Camouflage Uniform. From WW2 to 1991 (Red Army to USSR)
Soviet Army Breeches (Galife Pants). Why Soldiers Used Them
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