Chapter 43 of 100

Chapter 43

16 min read3,902 words

Seeing Muhammad's keen interest in the helmet, James couldn't help but pick one up as well. He was surprised to see a 7.62mm bullet embedded in the helmet, which had not penetrated it! Looking at the metal inside, he could only sigh, "Damn! The Soviets are so rich!"

It's not entirely because the Soviets are rich. The high-quality titanium ore suitable for mining and smelting is mostly distributed within the Soviet Union. With so many resources and the advantages of a planned economy, the Soviets can mine and smelt as they please, all it takes is an administrative order.

Putting on the helmet, Muhammad continued up the hill, looking at the Soviet soldier holding the radio, who had died while still clutching it tightly. At that moment, the radio was still transmitting, "SP, SP, the Falcon will arrive in five minutes, hold on!"

"Guerrillas are all around us, we are retreating west along the canyon, please provide quick support!" Muhammad picked up the radio and said in hurried Russian.

"Bang, bang." After speaking, he pulled the trigger and fired two shots into the sky, hearing curses over the radio. The gunshots were so close that the sound transmitted through the radio was incredibly loud, possibly deafening the pilot's eardrums.

Putting down the radio, Muhammad gestured to the other guerrillas. Two or three guerrillas changed into Soviet uniforms and ran west along the canyon, with the rest of the guerrillas in pursuit.

This battle was not just about eliminating the Soviet special forces but also luring the Soviet Mi-24s to their deaths!

This was the reason Muhammad waited until the enemy reached the top of the hill and contacted the Mi-24s before ordering the ambush.

Two Mi-24s were flying over the northern mountains. This was not an ordinary unit but the elite and daring SP special forces. If this unit were ambushed and wiped out by the guerrillas, it would have a significant impact on the Soviet army's morale.

The commander of that unit was too arrogant, refusing helicopter fire support. Otherwise, the helicopter would have been patrolling overhead, ready to provide support at any time.

Now, the two Mi-24s were flying over the northern mountains. As they passed a canyon, one of the pilots shouted, "Three o'clock!"

Turning his head, he saw the hillside covered in blood, with the bodies of several Soviet soldiers exposed, still gripping their guns in death, maintaining their combat positions.

"SP, SP, do you copy?" the pilot continued to call. They had arrived overhead but found no living Soviets or guerrillas.

After several calls with no response, the radio signal in the mountains was too poor.

"Boom!" At that moment, an explosion sounded in the distance, smoke rising.

"Chase!" The pilot pressed the control stick, and the Mi-24 turned towards the direction of the explosion.

The propellers stirred the air, making a whirring sound, while the top engine roared. The pilots of both helicopters opened their eyes wide, determined to find and eliminate the guerrillas!

The rocket pods on the short wings were powered and ready to fire at any moment.

They flew low along the canyon. As they turned through the valley, they saw an intense chase scene ahead.

Several Soviet soldiers, covered in blood and in disarray, were fleeing, firing back as they ran.

Behind them, nearly twenty guerrillas were in hot pursuit, stopping occasionally to fire volleys of bullets.

"Prepare to fire!" the pilot shouted.

"No, we're too close, we might hit our own men," the weapons operator said.

The distance between the two sides was less than twenty meters, and any slight deviation would cause the rockets to hit the Soviet soldiers.

"Then get closer!" The pilot pressed the control stick, lowering the Mi-24. He switched the weapon to the machine gun under the nose, determined to get closer and use the machine gun to eliminate the guerrillas!

"James, it's up to you," Muhammad said to James.

The people in front were putting on a show, staying close to avoid being hit by the Soviets, but there was still danger. As they performed, Muhammad and James hid at the entrance of the canyon. The Soviets were focused on the fleeing Soviet soldiers and the guerrillas, not noticing the greatest threat hiding behind a large rock.

Weapons are meant to be used. Now, with the Stinger just in hand, it was time to demonstrate its power.

"No problem." James opened a weapons box and took out the long tube. He inserted the BCU control handle, unfolded the IFF antenna, and removed the protective cover from the front of the launch tube, revealing the transparent and fragile infrared seeker dome.

Shouldering the weapon, James pressed the pulse generator switch, activating the weapon system. The pulse generator energized the BCU, releasing the 6,000 PSI argon gas coolant through the cooling lines to the infrared detector. To detect the infrared target, the seeker needed to be cooled. At the same time, the chemical battery was activated, and the infrared seeker cooling system, gyroscope, detection electronics, and guidance electronics all began to operate at full speed.

James opened the sight and began visual acquisition, seeing the large silhouette of the Mi-24. The infrared sensor on the seeker captured the infrared emissions from the engine, making a crisp "beep."

"OK!" James shouted, "Come on, baby!" He turned his body, keeping the seeker locked on the Mi-24, and then pressed the trigger.

"Boom." A Stinger missile, trailing flames, shot out of the launch tube, hurtling towards the flying Mi-24.

"RPG! RPG!" The pilot of the second helicopter, spotting the incoming missile, shouted a warning to the first helicopter.

Hearing the call over the radio, the pilot pulled the collective, and the large Mi-24 rose from the low altitude. Although RPGs were a threat, they weren't that significant. They were unguided, and often a dozen RPGs would fly past the helicopter, exploding in the sky.

Many times, it was a close call but no harm done.

Thinking this, the pilot began a rapid ascent, a basic skill for pilots in mountain combat.

The pilot of the second helicopter watched helplessly as the RPG turned and followed the first helicopter's ascent, then flew into the engine compartment of the Mi-24. With an explosion, the Mi-24 spewed smoke and began to fall to the ground.

Damn! What kind of RPG is this! It's like it has eyes! The second pilot realized the situation was urgent. This might be a new weapon, and now he needed to quickly escape!

Almost simultaneously, he pulled up and began to climb.

"Damn, we let one get away," James cursed, watching the second Mi-24 about to fly away. The Stinger was complex to operate, and only he knew how to use it. He had taken down one, but there was no time to fire again.

The second Mi-24 would fly away before James was ready.

"It won't get away," a voice said.

James turned his head and was surprised to see Muhammad, also shouldering a Stinger.

Just now, while aiming, it was James's first live fire. He was extremely cautious and focused, with no energy to pay attention to his surroundings.

As James shouldered the Stinger, Muhammad did the same. When James pulled the trigger and fired the Stinger, Muhammad entered the aiming phase.

They had to fire separately; otherwise, two missiles targeting the same helicopter would be wasteful.

Compared to James's high tension, Muhammad was more relaxed, even able to chat while aiming.

"Damn, you'll waste this missile," James shouted. How could an untrained person hit a target with a complex and expensive missile?

"Boom." As James spoke, a Stinger missile flew from Muhammad's shoulder.

James instantly shut up, watching the missile fly towards the helicopter in the sky. Damn, it's out of range!

From the outside, it might seem easy to shoulder a portable missile, aim, and fire, but there were many nuances to learn.

The infrared seeker of this era was still quite primitive. The helicopter's engine was the largest infrared heat source, making it the best target for the Stinger.

When James aimed, the side of the Mi-24 was facing them, presenting the largest target area and making it easier to hit.

Now, as the first helicopter was hit, the second one was climbing and turning, presenting its nose to them.

The nose was the engine intake, the coolest part, making it much harder to hit. It required excellent aiming skills and sufficient lock-on time for the missile.

This one will definitely miss! As James thought this, the missile quickly advanced and then accurately drilled into the top of the Mi-24.

"Boom!" A brilliant explosion filled the sky, and the second helicopter was also easily shot down!

Damn, how did he do that?

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